It is not news to anyone that Netflix has been failing as a streaming service. From their discontinuation of “Julie and the Phantoms,” an extremely popular show that brought them very much needed revenue and viewership, to them having to raise their streaming prices and having ads for their lowest price plan. Netflix’s doom has been looming but with the release of “Wednesday” it looks like they are taking steps to the salvation of their streaming service.

Released Nov. 23 on Netflix, “Wednesday” is a coming-of-age series that follows the titular character, Wednesday Addams as she navigates her life at a new boarding school all while trying to solve a series of monster-related murders and master her newly found psychic abilities. Directed by Tim Burton, “Wednesday” is an eight-episode supernatural horror comedy that serves as a sequel to the 1991 movie, “The Addams Family.” Much like previous Addams Family works, “Wednesday” has received a lot of good reviews from critics and Netflix viewers.

A week after its debut, Netflix reported that the series broke the record for most viewed TV series with 341.23 million hours in a week, a record previously held by one of Netflix’s most popular series, “Stranger Things.” With this, “Wednesday” sits as Netflix’s most viewed TV series, a position that is totally deserved. I have had the pleasure of watching the show and it is a fantastic addition to Netflix’s series category. As stated earlier, it is a show that follows Wednesday Addams and the new adventure she embarks on. It begins with her moving to a Nevermore Academy at the request of her parents after her expulsion from her previous high school. Almost immediately after her admittance, she is pulled into a murder mystery while trying to master her new psychic abilities. The series is great for a number of reasons. It is a perfect sequel to the 1991 movie because it doesn’t just give an origin story to Wednesday but also Gomez and Morticia Addams. The series also explains the ancestry of the Addams family. The series also perfectly depicts the familial relationship between Wednesday and her parents. The series emphasizes the tense relationship she has with her mother, Morticia and the trust lacking relationship she shares with her father, Gomez, but despite all that, we also see how very protective she is of her parents and they of her. Finally, the series does a great job of illustrating the issues between different social groups and the definition of self-identity. 

Casting for the series began May 2021 and I would like to note that Netflix did an amazing job with the main, recurring and guest casts for the series. Jenna Ortega plays our protagonist, Wednesday Addams. Wednesday is a 16-year-old goth girl who is extremely anti-social and loves to cause mischief and mayhem normally to protect her family and friends. Ortega’s portrayal of the character is one to remember and, in my opinion, deserving of an Oscar. Ortega tells us in eight episodes just how smart, powerful and independent but nurturing and fun Wednesday Addams can be. Ortega also make history as she is the first Latina to portray the character. Hunter Doohan plays Tyler Galpin, a troubled but nice barista at a coffee shop. Doohan portrayed Tyler Galpin better than people give him credit for, and I can’t wait to see him in future projects. Luis Guzmán and Catherine Zeta-Jones portray Gomez and Morticia Addams, parents of Wednesday Addams. Guzmán’s and Zeta-Jones’ on-screen chemistry is one for the record books. They perfectly captured the intense but extremely romantic relationship between Gomez and Morticia. Every cast member gave their very best to the characters they portrayed, and their hard work showed.

From the mind of Tim Burton, “Wednesday” is a dark but comedic coming of age tale. It is a multi-layered series that hits on various key themes like societal differences, self-identity, familial relationships, parental expectations, independence and the importance of staying true to oneself. It is also a murder mystery that forces its audience to utilize their brainpower to solve the mystery alongside Wednesday. But most importantly, “Wednesday” is an eight episodic series about Wednesday Addams. 

I rate it a 4.5 out of 5