Now Available from Warner Entertainment.
Since the unfortunate passing of Raul Julia, Warner has spent many years trying to reboot their “Addams Family” property for a new generation. While the animated movies were fine enough, they just couldn’t build enough momentum. Enter Jenna Ortega. Ortega has been one of the hottest and most talented young actresses of the last five years who took the lead in a new kind of “Addams Family” series. This time, with Tim Burton leading the charge, fans got to spend a lot more time with the adolescent daughter of the brood Wednesday.
Shockingly, it works.
And it’s been a humongous success for not only Warner and Netflix but for the fans. While “Wednesday” isn’t perfect, it’s still a pretty marvelous solo series that carries the torch for other Netflix properties like “Sabrina the Teenage Witch.” Jenna Ortega gives her all in the lead as Wednesday Addams, a young girl now coming in to adulthood who is finding it harder and harder to live in normal society. She’s sent to Nevermore Academy by her parents Morticia and Gomez to get her education and be among her own kind. While there, despite initially rebelling against her new school, she forms bonds, builds friendships.
She also has to solve a murder mystery involving local town folks that ends up stretching back farther than anyone realizes. “Wednesday” is a bang up series so far that, despite its controversy off and on set, has managed to become an instant smash with old fans and new fans of the Addams Family mythology. Along with the great lead by Ortega, there are great turns from supporting players like Luis Guzman, and Catherine Zeta Jones, as well Julia Christie, and newcomers like Emma Meyer. Meyer is memorable and often as good as Ortega portraying Enid, the often charismatic spitfire who is trying to fulfill the legacy of becoming a werewolf like her family.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention Fred Armisen who appears for a few episodes as Uncle Fester. There are multiple plot threads presented while the producers deliver on a well balanced and entertaining blend of teen drama and horror, all with some of the most instantly iconic moments in recent television. Who can forget the whole dance to “Goo Goo Muck” that became an absolutely viral meme? “Wednesday” takes what works with the Addams Family and emphasizes it, offering up a freshman year of a show that thankfully helped America fall back in love with Addams family.
Here’s hoping the second season follows that same rhythm and momentum.
Sadly, while the Blu-Ray comes packed with all of the uncut episodes, Warner offers zero extras. There are no bloopers, or trailers, or even episode commentaries. It’s so disappointing. That said, at least the series is great; I highly recommend this physical release.