Review: 'Wednesday' Season 2 on Netflix - The Addams Transition

Season two of Netflix’s 'Wednesday' brings a number of changes for both long-term fans and newcomers to the show, which first premiered three years ago, a time frame that equates to “adolescence” for many of the young cast members. While the new season expands on the supernatural and mysterious aspect, it distances itself from the humor and eccentricity that were part and parcel of Jenna Ortega's Emmy-nominated performance in the previous season.

The season premiere scripts us a catch-up on Wednesday’s summer vacation, hinting at her continually enhancing psychic abilities, and her involvement in a serial killer hunt. Her triumphant return to Nevermore Academy makes her a school-wide celebrity, a status that Wednesday doesn’t fully embrace.

Most notably, the entire Addams family has joined the scene at Nevermore. Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez), capable of shooting electricity from his fingers, is now an enrolled student for unexplained reasons. Wealthy Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) has been given charge of a fundraising committee, alongside her idle husband Gomez (Luis Guzman). The family's inclusion is quite different from the first season, which was praised for not becoming solely about The Addams Family.

The new season has introduced a flurry of new additions which include Billie Piper as a music teacher and Thandiwe Newton as a doctor at a nearby asylum. Unfortunately, one of the negatives is that it’s hard to discern Wednesday’s main goal in this season and the witty one-liners we were accustomed to in the first season seem scarce.

There is no attempt to recreate the iconic dance scene from the first season. Nothing seems to stand up to that scene or any attempt to top it. The over-Addams-ing of the second season, with the emphasis on the Addams family at large, somewhat dilutes their unique charm that stood out in a mundane world.

The second season of 'Wednesday' lacks contrast, choosing to focus solely on a gloomy atmosphere, while the humor and uniqueness fade into the background. The signature element of surprise that Wednesday offered in the first season seems to be forgotten in the second. Despite this, the top-notch production and costume design continue to impress, and Tim Burton's direction in two episodes brings his signature off-kilter creativity to the screen. The second season 'Wednesday' has yet to find the right balance between novelty and tradition, currently leaving fans in limbo.