Returning with notorious cello solos, leftover questions unanswered, new members of the Nevermore staff and more of the Addams Family than before, Wednesday is back for yet another morbid Nancy Drew mystery. 

 

If there’s a safe thing to pull from the experience of season 2, it’s that this isn’t purely a Wednesday series any longer and allows the family to finally be together for an extended period of time. In just four episodes we’ve more than quadrupled the amount of time we had previously spent with Morticia, Gomez, Lurch, and Uncle Fester. It’s a happy (or in terms of the show “unfortunate”) balance that the first season lacked, instead divulging in romance for Wednesday. 

 

On that topic, I am happy to report that we’ve moved past that phase for Wednesday Addams. Now her concentration is wholeheartedly on both the case at hand and her family values. Tim Burton returns as director for several of the episodes, episode one and four in this first bundle and his flair apparently rubs off on episode two and three director Paco Cabezas. Tim Burton’s visionary work continues with the set design, costume design, atmosphere and character interactions… It's purely Burton with obvious inspirations from the original The Addams Family. 

 

Having watched directly through season one into the beginning of season 2, it’s aesthetically very pleasing that a majority of the leads have not changed in the jump in real time between seasons. Jenna Ortega retains her Wednesday image with ease and it’s almost like she can put on the character’s sour, emotionless face effortlessly - continuing her collaboration with Burton after last year’s sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Emma Myers’ Enid appears to be getting the shears, not as connected to the flow of the overall plot thus far and more so connected in her own subplots - but it’s clear that even the writers are aware this isn’t the same Enid we left season one with. Thing remains one of the series’ favorites and every brush with death he endures takes a beat away from my heart's natural rhythm. 

 

However narratively some of the characters have hit a growth spurt, most notably Pugsly and Eugene so the passage of time becomes pretty clear when they enter the frame. Steve Buscemi takes on the role of the new Nevermore Principal, Barry Dort and is immediately two faced - kind and overly generous in front of a crowd to cruel and mischievous behind closed doors. 

 

All the same there’s a sudden pleasant emotion that occurs when reentering the grounds of Nevermore once more after the “long summer” away. While it may not be the same jolt we once got returning to the likes of Hogwarts, the castle vibe of the school grounds has a Poe aesthetic full of deception and mystery. 

 

This first part tackles four of the eight episodes and it seemingly crams a lot into these first four - almost playing catchup for time lost. It’s all a bit much, but simultaneously it makes one eager for what’s to come in the second batch of episodes.

 

The second half of episodes starts shortly after the chaos of episode four and things pick up the next ace quickly as Wednesday strives to seize a haunting premonition claiming that someone is going to meet this fate by the end of the semester. Filled with mystery, Frankenstein elements, brain eating, a support group for body parts and another dance sequence that is meant to rival the craze the first one brought - the second part tries to amp up from where it left off but due to the pause between, hurts some of the momentum (an issue that won’t happen now that all episodes are available).   

 

Within the second batch of episodes is possibly one of the best episodes of the series and will more than likely be the most controversial. It’s bright, creative and while it has some consequential parts for the future of the season, it relies heavily on the performance of Ortega and Myers. As an added bonus this particular episode brings along a special surprise appearance. 

 

Gone is Wednesday’s spirit guide of Goody played by Ortega in dual roles and in the reincarnation of Principal Weems. This reintroduction of her character after such a disheartening fate last season is a fantastic choice by the creative team. The more time with Gwendoline Christie the better and her character continues to be built upon as the season buries the casket. 

 

A major fault this season suffers from is its divulgence to have a classic final battle in conclusion of the story that is overwhelmingly CGI. The Hyde has not progressed much in design from the initial season and watching it be the star of a showdown doesn’t have the grandest appeal. 

 

Even removing a few characters from season one, season two suffers from far too many connections to reintroduce and introduce all the same. The real star of the show this season is Thing, the disembodied hand and honorary Addams has possibly the best relationship and the best arc. 

 

There are many openings for what’s to come in season 3 (possibly too many) and leaving on such a cliffhanger makes us loyal Wednesday fans hope the wait this time around won’t be quite as long. Only time will tell how long this Summer vacation will actually last.