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Wednesday and Thing
Wednesday and Enid
Gomez, Morticia, and Pugsly
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Wednesday's Child Is Full of Woe
Season1 Episode 1
Originally released October 31, 2022
Written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Directed by Tim Burton
Based on characters created by Charles Addams
Starring: Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams, Gwendoline Christie as Principal Larissa Weems, Riki Lindhome as Dr. Valerie Kinbott, Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair, Victor Dorobantu as Thing, Hunter Doohan as Tyler Galpin, Jamie McShane as Sheriff Donovan Galpin, and Percy Hynes White as Xavier Thorpe .
With: Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzm‡n as Gomez Addams, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, George Burcea as Lurch, Calum Ross as Rowan Laslow, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Ritchie Santiago, Cezar Grumazescu as Coach Vlad, Morgan Beale as Jonah, Karina Varadi as young Wednesday, Daniel Himschoot as Hyde Monster, and Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay.
After Wednesday Addams is expelled from Nancy Regan High School for putting piranhas in the pool, her parents' Morticia and Gomez, enroll her in Nevermore, a school for outcasts. Her roommate, Enid, is a werewolf who can't actually morph into a wolf. All she has are claws.
Wednesday, being allergic to color, dresses in a black version of the school's blue uniforms. Her black braids, pale face, and nearly expressionless demeanor make her a perfectly evil character - except she isn't evil. There is an underlying vulnerability and morality that is superbly conveyed by Jenna Ortega.
Enid is fair, blond, enthusiastic, and in all ways the opposite of Wednesday, but I suspect a deep friendship will develop between them.
Of course, what is the Addams family without Thing, played by Victor Dorobantu. Although Thing is only a right hand, he is one of the most interesting characters in the show.
Other members of Wednesday's family, Morticia, Gomez, Pugsly, and Lurch, are also in this episode. I don't think Gomez is well cast, but the rest are fine. The remaining members of the original Addams' household, Uncle Fester, Grandmama, and Cousin Itt, haven't yet made an appearance.
As a combination of humor, horror, and fantasy, the show works perfectly.
Reviewed by Romana Drew February 12, 2023.
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The Poe Cup
Rowen and Deputy Ritchie Santiago
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Woe is the Loneliest Number
Season 1, Episode 2
Originally released November 23, 2022
Written by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. Directed by Tim Burton.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, and Victor Dorobantu.
With: Joy Sunday as Bianca Barclay, Moosa Mostafa as Eugene Ottinger, Georgie Farmer as Ajax Petropolus, Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Luyanda, Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Ritchie Santiago, Calum Ross as Rowan Laslow, Johnna Dias-Watson as Divina, and Oliver Watson as Kent
In the last episode, Rowan tried to kill Wednesday, but a monster came by and ripped him to shreds. Wednesday reported the incident, and the sheriff sent dogs and officers to search but found nothing. Only Tyler believes her.
Then Rowan shows up at school alive and well. Wednesday wants to talk to him but can't because he has been expelled.
Pursuing the matter proves difficult because everyone at the school is focused on competing in the Poe Cup - a canoe race with no rules. Even Thing gets involved.
This episode gives more insight into Wednesday and the school, including a hidden library. Notice how Wednesday opens the door. If you didn't get it, try watching one of the original Addams Family shows.
This is a good episode. It has tension, humor, a shapeshifter, and even a mermaid. I wonder how the canoe managed to have just the right equipment to defeat the threats it faced.
And this ends in a bit of a cliffhanger.
Reviewed by Romana Drew February 15, 2023
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Enid and Wednesday
Chaos in the Town
Enid and Ajax
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Friend or Woe
Season 1. Episode 3.
Written by Kayla Alpert. Directed by Tim Burton.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, and Victor Dorobantu.
With: Georgie Farmer as Ajax Petropolus, Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Iman Marson as Lucas, Johnna Dias-Watson as Divina, Tommie Earl Jenkins as Mayor Noble Walker, William Houston as Joseph Crackstone, Daniel Himschoot as Hyde Monster, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Ritchie Santiago,
Wednesday is tied up in the secret library, the meeting room for the Nightshades, a secret organization that was disbanded years ago. After a bit of discussion, Wednesday walks out somewhat disinterested in the group.
The Nevermore students are assigned to work with the townspeople to help with the dedication of a statue of Jericho Crackstone, the town's founder. Of course, things don't go well for the students, the town, or the statue.
The monster attacks again. This time it's caught on camera. Wednesday learns that it's a human shaft-shifter.
She also meets Goody Addams again and learns that Jericho Crackstone, the man the town honors, was actually a cruel man intent on destroying the outcasts.
There are some great scenes in this episode. Thing with a can of gasoline, Ajax, and a mirror. Enid and Ajax have a couple of cute scenes in a really weird curio shop. Wednesday both supports and defends Eugene.
And, once everything goes wrong, Wednesday provides a cello soundtrack to go with all the chaos.
This is an interesting episode, setting up several story lines. It has tender moments, humor, and lots of scary excitement.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 1, 2023.
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The Dance
The End of the Dance
Eugene and Wednesday
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Woe What a Night
Season 1. Episode 4.
Originally aired November 23, 2022.
Written by Kayla Alpert. Directed by Tim Burton.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, and Victor Dorobantu.
With:, Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Iman Marson as Lucas, Nitin Ganatra as Dr. Anwar, Johnna Dias-Watson as Divina, Oliver Watson as Kent, Edward Kennedy as MC Blood Suckaz, Morgan Beale as Jonah, Islam Bouakkaz as Carter, and Daniel Himschoot as Hyde Monster.
Wednesday and Thing sneak into the coroner's office to examine one of the monster's victims. They learn the monster is keeping souvenirs - body parts.
Wednesday goes on a bit of a scavenger hunt for clues, which she takes to the sheriff. He is both impressed and dismissive at the same time. Something about the sheriff isn't quit right.
However, further investigation is sidetracked by the Rave N Dance. This is getting to be a routine plot contrivance. Wednesday starts out doing something, then must stop to attend a school function.
Another well-paced, exciting episode. Thing proves to be both devious and clever. Although how a disembodied hand pilfered a dress without anyone noticing remains a mystery.
Tyler and Xavier are both interested in Wednesday, although why remains enigmatic. She isn't all that approachable.
And Enid and Ajax finally get together.
The dance scene is amazing. Wednesday's version of dancing is both unique and fascinating. And she does the entire thing without ever changing her expression. In true Wednesday fashion, the dance ends in a mess.
Although Xavier is unlikely to be the monster, he definitely has a connection to the creature.
This episode doesn't end in a true cliffhanger, but Eugene should have waited for Wednesday.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 8, 2023.
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The Sheriff and Wednesday
Lurch
Garett Gates
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You Reap What You Woe
Season1. Episode 5.
Originally aired November 23, 2022.
Written by April Blair. Directed by Gandja Monteiro.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, and Victor Dorobantu.
With: Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia Addams, Luis Guzm‡n as Gomez Addams, Isaac Ordonez as Pugsley Addams, Lucius Hoyos as Young Gomez, Oliver Wickham as Young Larissa Weems, George Burcea as Lurch, Amanda Drew as Esther Sinclair, Ryan Ellsworth as Murray Sinclair, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Ritchie Santiago, Lewis Hayes as Garett Gates, Philip Rosch as Ansel Gates, and Tommie Earl Jenkins as Mayor Noble Walker.
It's parents' weekend at Nevermore. Bianca's parents pressure her to assist them with their rather unethical activities. While Enid's parents seem obsessed with her inability to wolf out. Wednesday's father is arrested for the murder of Garret Gates, which he committed many years ago.
Morticia and Gomez tell Wednesday what happened, but their stories aren't the same. Wednesday intends to find out what actually happened. Who was Garret Gates, and why did her father kill him if he killed him?
This episode shows a softer side of Wednesday, especially her relationship with her brother. It also shows her determination to find the truth, no matter who tries to stop her.
In the original TV series, Pugsley was older than Wednesday and, although brilliant, not all that nice. In the original cartoon series, he was even more devious. Here he is softer, younger, and more vulnerable. His character makes a good contrast to Wednesday's.
You Reap What You Woe is a bit of a mystery. It takes several tries and a vision to discover what happened to Garett Gates. The episode is well-crafted and well-paced throughout. It adds depth to Wednesday and her family and another layer of complexity to the community.
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 22, 2023.
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The Words on the Lawn
Summoning Goody
The Basement
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Quid Pro Woe
Season 1. Episode 6.
Written by April Blair. Directed by Gandja Monteiro.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, and Victor Dorobantu.
With: Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Iman Marson as Lucas, Johnna Dias-Watson as Divina, Oliver Watson as Kent, Tommie Earl Jenkins as Mayor Noble Walker, Karina Varadi as Young Wednesday, Lachele Carl as Agnes, and, Daniel Himschoot as Hyde Monster,
Wednesday tries summoning Goody but is interrupted by an invitation to meet someone at Crackstone's crypt. However, a surprise birthday party just isn't her style.
When she does meet Goody, the news isn't good. Time is running out. She has a vision of an old, somewhat creepy gate, the entrance to the Gate's family house.
Enid, Tyler, and Wednesday investigate the Gates house and discover a well-kept bedroom and a basement full of preserved body parts, the monster's trophies. Then the monster appears. Tyler is injured, and Xavier shows up.
This is another tight and tense episode that leaves the viewer with questions. How and why did Xavier get to the Gates' house. Who tried to kill the mayor? Who was living in the bedroom?
Who burned the words in the lawn in the previous episode? And who cleaned out the basement?
Tyler and Xavier obviously have some connection to each other and the monster. One of them must be the Hyde, but which?
The episode leaves a lot of questions unanswered. Including, why is a pair of ice skates hanging in the basement?
Reviewed by Romana Drew March 29, 2023
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Uncle Fester
Wednesday and Kinbott
What a Paint Job
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If You Don't Woe Me By Now
Season 1. Episode 7.
Written by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Matt Lambert. Directed by James Marshall.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, and Victor Dorobantu.
With: Georgie Farmer as Ajax Petropolus, Naomi J. Ogawa as Yoko Tanaka, Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill, Fred Armisen as Uncle Fester, Iman Marson as Lucas, Olimpia Malai as The Minister , Cezar Grumazescu as Coach Vlad, Cheherezade Valentine Okotaka Ebale as Lou-Anne Walker, Johnna Dias-Watson as Divina, Oliver Watson as Kent, Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo as Deputy Ritchie Santiago, Calum Ross as Rowan Laslow, and Daniel Himschoot as Hyde Monster.
Wednesday crashes the mayor's funeral but leaves to chase someone running away - Uncle Fester!
Turns out that the monster is called a Hyde. Someone named Faulkner cataloged the outcast community. His diary may give information about the Hyde. It is in the Nightshade's library.
Enid has had it with Wednesday and goes to live with Yoko.
Then Wednesday gets into an argument with Xavier. He has the hots for Wednesday, but she just doesn't buy it. After reading Faulkner's diary, she is convinced Xavier is the monster and Dr. Kinbott is the monster's master.
Could she be more wrong? Could things get worse? While Wednesday is on a date with Tyler, Thing is stabbed.
Uncle Fester is an interesting character. He has a habit of dropping in unexpectedly. And despite having a lot of information, he doesn't seem all that bright.
Uncle Fester's motorcycle comes and goes so fast that it is hard to get a good look at the writing on the vehicle. Although the paint job looks more like a spotted cow, it says:
Door to Door Dog Walking
PennyÕs Pooch Patrols, and
Voted Best in Boston!
The episode shows another side of Wednesday. Although she doesn't show it easily, she is happy when Enid returns. She is seriously upset when Thing is injured. And absolutely panicked when she discovers who the monster really is.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April, 5, 2023.
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Safe at Last
Just a Little Light Torture
Crackstone Zombie
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A Murder of Woes
Season 1. Episode 8.
Written by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Matt Lambert. Directed by James Marshall.
Starring: Jenna Ortega, Gwendoline Christie, Riki Lindhome, Jamie McShane, Hunter Doohan, Percy Hynes White, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Moosa Mostafa, Georgie Farmer, and Victor Dorobantu.
Secret identities are finally revealed, and mysteries solved. Dr. Kinbott is dead, and Marilyn isn't who she pretends to be. The Hyde is revealed. More than just answering questions and tying up loose ends, this, the last episode of the season, is an exciting, action-packed ride.
Before Wednesday can prove Tyler is the Hyde, she is arrested and expelled from Nevermore. But Tyler admits his guilt and threatens to kill her. Realizing Marilyn Thornhill is really Laurel Gates, the monster master, Wednesday confronts her. That gets her tied up and put into Crackstone's Crypt, stabbed, and left for dead.
Of course, she doesn't die - there is another season - but . . .
This episode has enough twists and turns to tangle up anyone's mind, but they all play out seamlessly. Wednesday tenaciously and stubbornly refuses to give up or be swayed from her goals. But she can't defeat Crackstone and save everyone on her own, even though she tries. Help comes in unexpected ways from Larissa, Bianca, Enid, and Eugene.
I feel sorry for the Sheriff, knowing what his wife was and what his son is. Perhaps he was hoping he could control Tyler, but that is unlikely. I wonder if some cure will be found for him next season.
For all of their ups and downs, Enid is terrified when she can't find Wednesday. Their extended hug amid the battle's aftermath shows how strong their friendship has become.
The very last scene is great. Wednesday now has a phone, and texts from a stalker, set up for season two? But Thing just can't keep his hand off the phone.
There have been other Addams family spinoffs. Even the first TV show was a spinoff from a cartoon. But this one is by far the best. It is well cast, written, directed, and filmed. The special effects are believable. Although there is a long story arc, each episode stands on its own. And even though the mood is generally dark, there is plenty of humor and excitement.
I can't wait until next season.
Reviewed by Romana Drew April 11, 2023
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