Wednesday Addams has always been a popular character, with many literary and cinematic works being attributed to the character and “The Addams Family.”
When talk of a new show based on the titular pop-culture character first surfaced, it was almost certainly assumed that the show would do extremely well, especially with a Netflix release. But the consequent fame that was to follow was undeniably surprising. Within a few weeks, Wednesday was the only thing anyone would talk about. The show achieved an impressive global viewership and managed to capture a large audience and an even larger fan following.
What specifically stood out as the most compelling element in the show was the clever use of idiosyncrasy, which was used to define the peculiar characters throughout. Each character had one defining element that became a dynamic expedition of their storyline. Navigating the intricacies of the Nevermore Academy’s headmistress and the entire arc of Wednesday’s best friend Enid being woven beautifully in sync with her contrasting personality to Wednesday was such an interesting rollercoaster ride.
Wednesday, obviously the most interesting one out of them all, was painted as a formidable, atypical, and macabre character. All of it is maintained through a series of outlandish yet endearing definatives. Throughout the show, the obsessive use of black clothing to define Wednesday’s spooky persona stood out as an element that hooked people into the weirdness of it all.
Jenna Ortega’s acting should be lauded for the sheer attention to detail she put into her character. I still remember discovering the TikTok video revealing that Wednesday doesn’t blink throughout the show and immediately wanting to watch the show and explore all those weird elements for myself. Wednesday’s unblinking personality, presented in such a unique way, with her character ACTUALLY not blinking at all throughout the show, was truly an impressive detail to identify.
The mysteriously enticing easter eggs hidden beautifully in plain sight sparked a netizen frenzy, with all of them being identified within the first week of the release. This media frenzy in itself was enough to draw attention and an audience to the show.
In fact, neither the plot nor the twists, nor even the horror, are the most interesting aspects of the show. It is purely based on creating that cultural focal point, which I as a viewer, absolutely enjoyed. The show was clearly idealised as something that would cause a ripple effect, especially on social media, and it has endeavoured to achieve just that.
Wednesday Addams and her eerie, solemn face are all anyone can seem to talk about. The air of mystery surrounding her, that endearing aura despite the absolute abundance of mundanity in her expressions, has indeed succeeded in making Wednesday a fan favourite in such a short time. The best part is that with such unconventional visuals, we’d expect the plot to be an even more engaging blend of twists and turns. However, even with the plot reversals, the storyline feels so borderline ordinary that it makes us wonder how it is that everyone is so engrossed in it.
Jump scares do interest the audience, and horror has forever been a favourite genre for all media enthusiasts. However, a divergence from the classic style of horror into this apparently strange but unexplored theme (coupled with the iconic Tim Burton cinematography) was surely refreshing to watch. While some might correctly critique the show as lacking in many components, it surely has proven to be the perfect fit for a growing audience that solely judges and consumes media based on ‘vibes.’ This fresh take on horror comedy through the show has certainly delivered perfect, immaculate vibes, if one were to put it in Instagram terminology.