‘Wednesday' season 2 review: Jenna Ortega returns to Netflix to lead a darker, more twisted chapter

Tom's Guide

7 days ago

'Wednesday' became an unexpected cultural phenomenon upon its Netflix debut in 2022. The series amassed over 252 million views, making it the most-watched English-language show on the platform at the time.
Now, three years later, 'Wednesday' season 2 has dropped its first four episodes on Netflix, meaning fans can jump back into the dark, quirky world of Nevermore Academy.
To refresh your memory, the season 1 finale revealed that Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan) was the Hyde terrorizing Nevermore Academy. In a dramatic confrontation, Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) exposed his true identity, leading to a battle against the resurrected Joseph Crackstone. With the help of her friends, Wednesday thwarted the threat, saving Nevermore.
Now, season 2 turns up the intensity. The creators have said, 'It's scary at moments,' and this time around, the show really leans into real stakes and fear, pushing the story deeper into horror territory. The lighter romance storylines from season 1 are gone, replaced by a darker focus on death and the dangerous unknowns closing in on Wednesday and her friends.
Those who loved the eerie mystery and dark humor of season 1 shouldn't be disappointed by what this new chapter has in store. So, here are my honest thoughts on 'Wednesday' season 2, without spoilers, of course.
Before you jump in, it's worth revisiting some things you need to remember before 'Wednesday' season 2.
I think we can all agree that three years is a long wait, leaving us to wonder just how quickly 'Wednesday' can drag us back to Nevermore. This was the only major concern I had while waiting for the next season, as I'm sure Wednesday Addams could have grown a whole forest of black roses during that time.
Fortunately, I'm here to say that season 2 was well worth the wait, and if you loved the mystery in season 1, you'll have an absolute field day with this one.
'Wednesday' season 2 kicks off with the titular teen spending her summer break tracking down serial killers in her spare time (perfectly on brand, of course). Dark humor returns in full force, as she's stopped at an airport scanner thanks to the ludicrous number of weapons on her body, while Thing sneaks in some sunscreen.
Wednesday has even become something of a celebrity icon to first-years at Nevermore, and she's hating every second of her newfound popularity. The dark, bleeding heart of the show is still very much intact.
Thankfully, though, season 2 doesn't waste time getting to the central mystery, which this time involves a swarm of ominous, murderous crows.
Wednesday, in all her morbid glory, is naturally drawn to death and soon finds herself tangled in another chilling mystery, one that ties directly into her haunting premonition about Enid's (Emma Myers) worrying fate.
'Wednesday' continues to deliver as a murder-mystery series, and it's great viewing, to say the least. Each episode sees Wednesday uncovering new clues and growing more determined to figure out the motive behind the killer crows and who might be controlling them.
It's a compelling reason to keep clicking 'next episode' just to get some answers, and it's why the first season worked so well.
While this central mystery takes the spotlight, there are several other storylines woven in this time around. Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez), now starting his first year at Nevermore, gets entangled with a spooky urban legend he accidentally brings to life.
Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Bianca (Joy Sunday) team up for a fundraising effort at the request of Nevermore's new principal, Barry Dort (Steve Buscemi). Meanwhile, Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital harbors chilling secrets of its own.
At first, these plot threads feel scattered, and I found myself wishing for more screen time at Nevermore. But the deeper you go into season 2, the more everything starts to converge and click into place. It's definitely worth sticking with.
A smaller storyline I'm less keen on is Enid's weird (and honestly kind of random) love triangle. It feels like it was thrown in just to fill the gap left by Wednesday's scrapped romance plot, and I would've much rather seen that screen time go toward developing the friendship between these two opposites.
But maybe that's still to come in the second half of season 2. After all, Wednesday is hell-bent on solving this mystery just so she can save Enid.
'Wednesday' season 2, more than anything, feels much darker. The gothic imagery is beautiful, the school set designs bring this world to life, and the show isn't afraid to lean into the gore a little more. Wednesday, of course, doesn't bat an eyelid at the mess, but she does when her psychic powers start acting up.
There's a lot more going on this season. New characters like music teacher Isadora Capri (Billie Piper) and Principal Dort slot into the cast naturally — they already feel like they've been part of this world for ages.
But with so many intersecting storylines and the Addams family taking center stage, most of the newcomers haven't had much room to fully develop just yet.
And while the first four episodes can feel a little overstuffed with storylines and ideas, it's clear they're laying the groundwork for part 2 (and maybe the third season that's already been confirmed). Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if some of these ideas are being saved for a potential spinoff.
Season 2 is not just about Wednesday solving mysteries or indulging in her usual macabre hobbies.
This time, we get some long-overdue Addams family drama, with Morticia, Gomez (Luis Guzmán), and Pugsley finally getting the screen time they deserve. Their absence was definitely felt in season 1, and they're basically essential to Wednesday's backstory and emotional core (whether she'd admit it or not).
Wednesday suffers from extra teen angst this season thanks to a clash with Morticia over Goody's Book of Shadows. If you don't remember, that's Codex Umbrarüm, a centuries‑old grimoire once wielded by Wednesday's ancestor, Goody Addams. It's the same spellbook used to trap the original murderer, Joseph Crackstone, with a blood‑lock curse.
Morticia's worry isn't just classic parental nagging, though, since Goody's spells are ruthless and lacking in moral boundaries. Wednesday, meanwhile, has way more attitude towards her family this season. It's part hormones, part her usual prickly charm … not exactly a calming combo.
Even though the show is mainly about Wednesday, I'm glad her family gets more of the spotlight this season, especially the strained mother-daughter dynamic. Pugsley's off causing trouble with the still-timid Eugene (Moosa Mostafa), and Gomez is back to being his usual goofy self.
We also get the introduction of Grandmama (Joanna Lumley), thanks to Principal Dort's determination to secure a generous donation for Nevermore. But there's tension: she and Morticia haven't gotten along for years. Still, she's more than happy to help Wednesday in her quest for the truth.
That said, Grandmama (like many of the new characters) doesn't get a ton of screen time in these first four episodes. But hopefully, these brief appearances are just setting the stage for what's to come.
Some viewers might not be thrilled about the extra screen time given to the Addams family, given the show is called 'Wednesday' and revolves around a deep-rooted mystery, but so far, the family drama has only served to deepen the titular character's development. And Ortega, as always, nails her deadpan delivery while adding layers of teenage conflict.
Her interactions with Thing and Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) are also a highlight, and you'll likely find yourself growing even more attached to the disembodied hand. Actor-magician Victor Dorobantu somehow manages to give it surprising amounts of emotion and personality.
'Wednesday' season 2 proves the series still has plenty of bite, leaning further into its supernatural world while tightening the emotional core around its characters, more notably, the Addams family.
The stakes feel higher, the horror elements are sharper and there's a clearer sense of identity this time around.
Visually, it's just as moody and striking as ever, with a gothic aesthetic that balances beauty and dread. The writing also feels more confident, unafraid to let Wednesday evolve while keeping her unmistakable edge intact.
There's definitely a strong sense that the show is building toward something bigger, and I'm excited to see what the other four episodes have in store when they drop on September 3.
Stream 'Wednesday' season 2 part 1 on Netflix now.
Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.