RIOTUS

“Here We Woe Again”

How did we get here? It’s Wednesday, not to be confused with the middle of the week, also known as hump day. Although Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) is definitely trying to get over the hump, as in an obstacle. She’s tied up in a serial killer’s basement, surrounded by a collection of dolls, not to be confused with a gathering of The Dolls. But does this killer have her or does she have him? If you’ve seen the teaser for the Netflix spinoff of the Addams Family, also known as Wednesday season two, you already know the answer. If you haven’t seen it, let the woe begin.

But before we get into the thick of things, let’s go back six weeks earlier: After spending the summer leveling up her psychic abilities, Wednesday is ready to nourish her latest obsession— cold cases of the multi-murderous kind. Specifically, an elusive serial killer called the Kansas City Scalper (Haley Joel Osment). Faster than the ink can dry on Wednesday’s black, psychic tears, a little extremity known as Thing (Victor Dorobantu) has the situation HANDled (and you thought I was above puns). Wednesday tries to pass off her black tears as absolutely nothing—just a glitch—while cautioning Thing to say nothing, but we know it means something because they’re in the opening titles. What a tangled web we whip when psychic tears begin to glitch.

Helmed by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar, with Tim Burton directing the first two episodes, the second season of Wednesday quickly wraps up a cold case, only to dive bomb into a mystery, one that starts with a murder of crows. Including one I’ll call Red Scar, because Scar is already taken. Oh, and it’s the first day of school. And Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) is starting at Nevermore Academy. Bianca (Joy Sunday) is there to greet us, but so is the all too bright and sunny new headmaster, Barry Dort (Steve Buscemi). He seems so normal that he even calls himself “the new principal” and offers stickers—how positively mundane…suposedly Joining him is the strange new music teacher, Isadora Capri, AKA Billie Piper, with curly red hair. Our little rainbow buttercup, Enid (Emma Myers), still has the personality of edible glitter—so that’s good. But then a booby trap is sprung, the danger begins, and the game is afoot.

“If you can’t kill them with kindness, try lethal injection.“

This season is a family affair, with both Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Pugsley on campus, which means Gomez (Luis Guzmán) and even Lurch (George Burcea) aren’t far behind. The biggest problem there is Pugsley is so baby, he’s going through the roughest time trying to make friends in a world where Wednesday is queen—the dark queen of stabbed hearts—but still queen. And since that’s not a question, you should know there’s a challenger to Wednesday’s throne, and by that I mean, a stalker is threatening to topple her. But if you want to be Wednesday’s villain, she’s going to be a bigger baddie. But after a school event goes terribly wrong, and Pugsley makes a dangerous, new “buddy,” episode one ends with nothing but portents of doom, doom, doom.

The surprise? Wednesday gained a fandom after coming through like a woe-begone hero last semester. Then again, Goth Girl Greatness is never unexpected, especially when that greatness saved the school and has so much inky-black drip. Of course, she hates it…until she doesn’t. Alongside all the new characters, like the introduction of Grandmamma/Mamma (Joanna Lumley), and character development for Thing and others, there are also nods to The Addams Family movies. No matter which version of Wednesday we’re watching, she always excels at camping. If you’re thinking of Addams Family Values (1993), you’re so ready for this.

“She’s even crueler in person.”

As we get into the second half of S2 – Part 1, the mysteries deepen. So do the deadly werewolf and mouse games, the dangers of Pugsley’s new buddy, and the lethal investigation. Bianca has her own secret agenda, and everyone seems to be digging up pasts best left buried. We meet another new character in Dr. Fairburn, played by our beloved Thandiwe Newton, that’s not a pun. She is beloved, but she was also Beloved (1998). That’s when we have a bit of fun in an homage to The Silence of the Lambs. Oh, and Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) is back for some covert ops! And as Bianca gets caught up in a scheme with Principal Barry Dort, you have to wonder why she’s the only person he allows to see his true self—at least so far.

Something to look out for: Tim Burton couldn’t resist adding a black-and-white stop motion animation that tells a creepy backstory in season 2.

The first four episodes continue to escalate before culminating in a mid-season closer that’s as unexpected as it is unhinged. No matter where you think it’s going, you’re not adding enough madness and mayhem to your predictions. The first half of season 2 remains highly memeable, but the pacing is sometimes more about set-up than momentum. What keeps you locked in are the jokes, the action sequences, and the relationships. Enid and Wednesday see their friendship change as it grows, and they mistakenly forget the first rule of besties: tell each other everything. Pugsley and Eugene (Moosa Mostafa) get caught up in a trauma bond—but let’s hope they’ll find friendship. Wednesday, Morticia, and Grandmamma are mired in a truly gnarly pair of mother x daughter battles (there are blades involved). And Bianca is mixed up in a trio of highly unusual situationships that’ll have you murmuring “no, girl, no.”

Wednesday Season 2 – Part 1 is daringly dark and pleasingly messy. And looks like it’s about to get better by getting so much worse.

Part 1 Premiere Date (episodes 201-204): August 6, 2025
Part 2 Premiere Date (episodes 205-208): September 3, 2025

——xxoo——

How Wednesday Season 1 Ended

After a semester of psychic visions, monster attacks, and enough murder to make Agatha Christie blush, Wednesday finally unmasked the real villain: her botany teacher, Marilyn Thornhill, who turned out to be the vengeful Laurel Gates. With a little necromancy (because why not?), Laurel resurrected Joseph Crackstone, a Puritan with a grudge and a fashion sense straight out of a colonial nightmare. She also manipulated Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), who turned out to be the Hyde, to carry out her vengeful plans against the outcasts of Nevermore. Wednesday, with her usual charm and a dash of violence, managed to defeat both Laurel and Crackstone, save Nevermore Academy, and even squeeze in a hug for Enid—her werewolf bestie. But just as she was about to escape Nevermore for a well-earned break, she received a threatening text from a mysterious stalker. Because, of course, Wednesday’s life wouldn’t be complete without a new nemesis lurking in the shadows 

Wednesday Season 2 – Part 1: Episodes, Writers, and Directors

1. “Here We Woe Again”
   • Written by: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar
   • Directed by: Tim Burton
2. “Enid We Trust”
   • Written by: Kayla Alpert
   • Directed by: Tim Burton
3. “Love Hurts”
   • Written by: April Blair
   • Directed by: Paco Cabezas
4. Murder Most Foul
   • Written by: Lauren Otero
   • Directed by: Tim Burton

New Characters and Expanded Roles

• Pugsley Addams (Isaac Ordonez): Now a student at Nevermore, Pugsley’s expanded role will explore his adjustment to the supernatural academy and his developing, sometimes awkward friendship with Eugene Ottinger (Moosa Mostafa), who is also getting more screen time this season.
• Eugene Ottinger (Moosa Mostafa): Eugene’s friendship with Pugsley is a new comedic highlight, and his role is more prominent as he teams up with the Addams siblings.
• Morticia Addams (Catherine Zeta-Jones), Gomez Addams (Luis Guzmán), and Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen): All return with more involvement in Nevermore’s affairs and Wednesday’s life.
• Joanna Lumley: Grandmamma Hester Frump is as formidable as she is fabulous
• Lady Gaga: “the mysterious and enigmatic Rosaline Rotwood, a legendary Nevermore teacher who crosses paths with Wednesday.” We don’t remember meeting her yet but we’re looking forward to it.
• Steve Buscemi: Cast as Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore Academy, bringing his signature eccentricity to the role.
• Billie Piper: Portrays Capri, a mysterious new teacher at Nevermore with mysterious motives.
• Thandiwe Newton: Joins as Dr. Fairburn, the chief psychiatrist at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility. The killer Hyde, Tyler Galpin is under her care. Though she’s a normie, Fairburn has a keen interest in the field of Outcast mental health.
• Heather Matarazzo: plays Judi, Dr. Fairburn’s overly chipper and sycophantic executive assistant at Willow Hill, who she develops an instant dislike for Wednesday.
• Christopher Lloyd: The former Uncle Fester is now Professor Orloff, a disembodied head in a jar and a senior teacher at Nevermore who still remembers where the bodies are buried.
• Noah B. Taylor: Bruno, a new member of the wolf pack and a heart flutterer with an eye on Enid.
• Christina Ricci: Marilyn Thornhill, the woman with reverse mommy issues who puts the delulu in delusional. 
• Hunter Doohan: Dr. Boyfriend and Mr. Hyde.
• Evie Templeton as Agnes Demille and Owen Painter as Slurp: Newbies shrouded in mystery, but they are big wrinkles in the unfolding drama.
• Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nayo: No longer left standing in the rain without an umbrella, Sheriff Ritchie Santiago is the newly appointed Jericho sheriff who replaces the disgraced Donovan Galpin.