Wednesday Season 2 Review – Stylish Aesthetics, Familiar Formula
Wednesday Season 2 returns to Netflix with gothic flair, stunning visuals, and Jenna Ortega’s signature deadpan charm—but leans heavily on familiar formulas. Read our spoiler-filled review.
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Netflix’s gothic sleuth Wednesday returns dripping in couture and cobwebs. Jenna Ortega is magnetic again as the deadpan Addams heroine, and on the surface Season 2 delivers exactly what fans expected: Tim Burton’s signature style is “all over this,” with moody sets and costumes that make Nevermore Academy look like a dark fairy tale. After its first season racked up “a billion hours” of viewing, the hype was real – and early scenes do not disappoint on atmosphere. Towering hallways, eerie willow trees, and Wednesday’s ladylike goth outfits (lace, velvet, and plenty of black) set a sumptuous tone. As one critic notes, there’s “something deeply satisfying in seeing [Burton’s] world of misfits and monsters built out across eight hours”. Spoiler: even the new characters (a wide-eyed trainee sidekick, a tragic academy alum, etc.) are designed to fit this quirky gothic vibe.
Visually, the season is a triumph. Tim Burton’s influence shows in every frame – creepers in the shadows, antique chandeliers dripping wax, and props that feel like they belong in a haunted dollhouse. One reviewer quips that the show “relies on style to get by”, and it’s hard to argue. Indeed, the special effects are lavish (witchy workshops, ghostly panoramas) and the costumes are more elaborate than ever. The palette is dominated by midnight blacks and deep purples, and every shot looks like a moody portrait. Even minor details (say, Wednesday’s bone-chained bracelet or a Victorian tea set) get screen time, reinforcing a high-fashion horror aesthetic. In short, the production design and cinematography remain standout: the season is as stylishly creepy as ever, and fans of Burton’s gothic art direction will be in their element.
Wednesday Season 2 Plot & Pacing – Mystery or More of the Same?
Season 2 opens by continuing the season‑1 tone: Wednesday’s psychic powers, once her superpower, are now glitchy and unreliable. The central mystery revolves around a foreboding vision Wednesday has of her best friend Enid Sinclair’s (Emma Myers) violent death. Terrified, Wednesday retreats from Enid and obsessively investigates new clues: strange happenings at the Nevermore campus and at Willow Hill psychiatric hospital. The writers literally ask the same question as before – “what if Nancy Drew was a goth?” – but now Wednesday’s powers are failing her. As the episodes unfold, clues come in typical puzzle-of-the-week fashion (zombie attacks, werewolf run-ins, etc.), leading up to the truth about Enid’s fate. Spoiler: the finale reveals that the new music teacher, Miss Capri (Billie Piper), has been orchestrating the events (using Aunt Ophelia’s fate as a bait) – tying together Willow Hill, a hidden lab, and Wednesday’s visions in a tidy (if unsurprising) way.
Structurally, the season is a slow burn. With eight episodes this time (split into two four-episode blocks), the show dawdles through its twists. The first few episodes are engaging as Wednesday puzzles out the mystery, but by mid-season it settles into a familiar groove. The pace can drag: one critic wryly notes that the only upside of the marathon runtime is seeing Burton’s world expanded, because otherwise it “yawns way past what’s necessary”. In other words, the story sometimes feels padded. Many of the big reveals play out exactly as you’d guess – even the writers seem to trust the audience’s expectations. As one review puts it bluntly, the plot moves “exactly where you think, when you think”. The various subplots (love interests, prom contests, pep rallies, secret meetings at the cemetery) are occasionally entertaining but rarely unpredictable. In this sense, Season 2 leans heavily into a formula: gothic teen soap opera with a murder mystery baked in.
Characters & Performances in Wednesday Season 2
Ortega’s Wednesday is as sulky and deadpan as ever, which is exactly the point. There’s almost nothing she can’t express with a single glare or sardonic eyebrow raise. As the Independent review quips, Ortega “does what she does best… not very much,” relying on stoicism. The character has barely aged from Season 1: she’s still an outsider with a sharp wit, and she often lets her eyes do the talking. Fans hoping for a big personality shift will be disappointed – Wednesday mainly stares, seethes, and delivers one-liners (many of which are indeed funny, though by Episode 4 even her Voltaire quotes start to feel familiar). That said, Ortega’s consistent stone-faced delivery remains oddly charming and anchors the series.
The supporting cast is where the season truly sparkles. Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Morticia is a scene-stealer: as a gothic queen reproving her daughter’s work ethic (“You’re a bit tardy, dear”), she’s both funny and fiendishly elegant. Fred Armisen returns as Uncle Fester in terrific form, chewing scenery as the Addamses’ immortal prankster, and Joanna Lumley’s guest turn as the elderly, foul-mouthed Hester Frump (Morticia’s cousin) is a delightful surprise. These family scenes often provide the heart (and the best laughs) of the new season. Among the new faces, young Evie Templeton plays Agnes – a wide‑eyed, eager beaver wannabe Wednesday – with exactly the right mix of adoration and spunk. Even Billie Piper’s Miss Capri is effective: at first she seems sweet, but her cryptic smile hints at a sinister agenda. (One quibble: Steve Buscemi’s role as Nevermore’s new headmaster is tantalizingly brief – as one review notes, it’s a pity his talent is “wasted” here.) Enid (Emma Myers) is still the emotional foil to Wednesday’s ice, and their friendship has some moving moments. Unfortunately, because Wednesday irrationally distances herself, Enid ends up sidelined in several episodes, which frustrated fans who shipped them.
Comparing to Season 1
To Season 1’s credit, that first run felt original – a fresh mix of teen detective and Addams-family horror. By contrast, Season 2 often feels like the writers are coasting on the same formula. Plot-wise, it’s asking the “Nancy Drew as a goth” question again – a clever hook, but now it’s rehashed. The tropes from last time are all back: high school cliques, cryptic school mascots, dark ancestors, spooky cellars… even a dance competition. One critic aptly describes Season 2 as Frankenstein’s monster of teen shows – “Emily in Paris meets X‑Men meets Veronica Mars meets Riverdale, all stitched up in style” – implying we’ve seen most of these parts in other series (including Season 1 itself). The novelty has worn off, so shocks are fewer. That said, if anything Season 2 ups the ante on lore: fans finally learn Aunt Ophelia’s fate and her connection to Wednesday’s powers, which adds depth. And the stakes do feel higher (kid’s lives are on the line), so there are tense moments. However, the second season does not boldly reinvent the wheel. It’s very much “more Wednesday,” not more like Wednesday. By Episode 8 most reveals land exactly where you expect.
Themes & Tone
The show maintains the same darkly comedic tone as before – part horror spoofs, part teen angst. It juggles creepy set-pieces (haunted hospitals, zombies, magic rituals) with deadpan one-liners. As the review points out, your enjoyment hinges on loving its “zingy one-liners and deadpan humour”. Luckily there are some great bits: for example, when a lovestruck Gomez mistakes a brain-hungry zombie’s attack for his wife’s flirtation (“Ooh, axe play…”), you can’t help but laugh. The writers still pepper dialogue with literary quotes and punny banter. However, they sometimes overdo it – after a couple of hours, even ornate Voltaire references can feel like padding.
A recurring theme is found family and identity. Wednesday’s connection to the Addams clan is stronger here – the show leans into found-family vibes by giving more screen time to Morticia, Gomez, Uncle Fester and even new Arrivals like Pugsley. This reinforces that no matter how weird the situation, the Addamses stick together. There are also hints of empowerment: Wednesday struggles to trust anyone (or herself) but ultimately has to rely on her own strengths. The tone still skews more whimsical than truly scary – it’s gothic whimsy more than horror. Even the scarier elements are balanced by teenage drama and humor. In essence, it plays like a spooky family sitcom with a detective edge.
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Conclusion
In the end, Wednesday Season 2 is an enjoyable return trip to Nevermore for fans, even if it doesn’t completely reinvent itself. The production design and costumes continue to dazzle, and the cast (led by Ortega, Zeta-Jones, Lumley and Armisen) are all game. If you loved Season 1’s creepy atmosphere and Ortega’s glowering charm, you’ll find a lot to like here. On the flip side, the story can feel a bit safe and predictable – it’s basically Episode 1 again, but with new monsters. As one review puts it, the show remains “frightfully formulaic”. The big mysteries wrap up exactly as you hope, so the payoff isn’t exactly shocking.
All told, I’d call Season 2 good but not great. It’s a fun, stylish ride with a few genuine scares and laughs, but it wears its inspirations on its sleeve. It’s very much more of the same — glamorous, witchy, and sometimes a little rote. My recommendation? If you enjoyed Season 1 for the visuals and banter, Season 2 will hit the spot – think of it as gilded comfort food. If you’re looking for something fresh or mind-blowing, you might come away wanting a bit more bite.
Key Takeaways:
- Visuals: Top-notch gothic style and production design (Burton’s signature flair) make the season a feast for the eyes.
- Story & Pacing: The mystery of Enid’s premonition starts strong but winds up predictable – many plot turns land exactly where you think. The 8-episode length sometimes drags in the middle (critics note the pacing “yawns” during filler scenes).
- Characters: Ortega anchors the show with her stoic performance. Standouts include Catherine Zeta-Jones’s Morticia, Joanna Lumley’s Hester, and Fred Armisen’s Fester. Newcomer Agnes (Evie Templeton) is a cute addition, though some hopeful pairings (like Wednesday/Enid romance) are delayed for next time.
- Overall: Still a stylish, spooky good time for fans. The wit and family dynamics shine, but plot-wise it’s safer and more familiar. A solid watch if you loved Season 1’s vibe, but it won’t surprise you with new tricks.
Verdict: If you were a fan of the first season’s dark humor and fashion-forward creepiness, then yes, Wednesday Season 2 is worth a watch – just don’t expect it to break the mold. It delivers on style and cast charm, but leans heavily on a familiar formula.
