The second season of Wednesday maintains the same tone, humor, grotesqueness, and character portrayal as the first season. Viewers who enjoyed the first season will likely enjoy the second, while those who disliked the first will probably feel the same about the second. The series is considered ideal relaxed entertainment, fulfilling low expectations with humor and interesting scenes.
Second Season Plot and Structure #
- Return to Nevermore: Wednesday returns to Nevermore Academy with her family, increasing the focus on Adams family relationships.
- New and Returning Characters:
- The entire Adams family (brother, mother, father, grandmother) is present, with an increased focus on their dynamics.
- Tyler's storyline from the first season continues to be relevant.
- New significant characters for the history of Nevermore are introduced.
- Divided Release: The season was released in two parts:
- The first four episodes were more engaging, revealing plot intricacies gradually.
- The second four episodes felt more "clunky" in their storytelling.
Criticisms of the Second Season #
- Forced Emotionality and Relationships:
- While the series excels in grotesque humor and sharp wit, attempts to delve into character emotions and relationships (especially within the Adams family) feel artificial and poorly executed.
- The dynamic between Wednesday and her mother, and later her grandmother, comes across as theatrical and unbelievable.
- The "Explanatory Character":
- A new character, who serves as a "spiritual guide" to Wednesday in the latter half of the season, is heavily criticized for constantly explaining the plot, characters' feelings, and relationships.
- This character's function is deemed unnecessary and patronizing, given the series' simple narrative.
- Lack of Emotional Depth: The exaggerated, unrealistic nature of the characters, while part of the series' aesthetic, hinders the development of believable emotional depth and relationships.
Praises for the Second Season #
- The Zombie Character:
- A perfectly executed zombie character, found by Wednesday's brother, undergoes a unique literal and narrative transformation.
- This character visually regenerates throughout the episodes, changing appearance and abilities, and becomes crucial to Nevermore's history.
- This character's arc exemplifies good character development, providing comedic effect and plot significance.
- Tyler's Storyline: Despite initial skepticism, Tyler's returning storyline is well-handled and engaging.
- The Stalker Girl: A new character, a "stalker" who tries to emulate Wednesday and possesses invisibility powers, is well-received for her unique and well-developed persona.
- Wednesday Herself:
- Wednesday remains the series' strongest asset. Her character, portrayed identically to the first season, is central to the show's appeal.
- Her sharp wit, expressions, and every line are highlighted as perfect and the main reason for the reviewer's enjoyment. The character of Wednesday is seen as "make or break" for the series.
- Overall Aesthetics: The series' "kitsch" and "demonic garishness" (kiczowaty mrok) are praised for complementing the characters and overall tone.
Conclusion #
The second season of Wednesday provides enjoyable entertainment, especially for fans of the first season, despite some narrative and emotional weaknesses. The reviewer found the first four episodes stronger than the latter four but still enjoyed the overall experience as relaxing and amusing. It is recommended for those who appreciate the original's tone and character portrayal and don't expect deep plots or emotional realism.