'I was a huge of fan of Netflix's Wednesday. I have one major problem with Season 2.'

If you want to support independent women's media, become a Mamamia subscriber. Get an all-access pass to everything we make, including exclusive podcasts, articles, videos and our exercise app, MOVE.

Wednesday Addams is back, and honestly, we waited three years for this? 

Look, I was absolutely obsessed with season one of Wednesday. My mum and I demolished it in a single day, completely hooked on this ever-so nostalgic world. So believe me when I say I desperately wanted to love this season just as much. And in some ways, I do. But we need to have a little chat about what's working and what, well... isn't.

This season, Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) returns to Nevermore Academy after the summer break, only to discover she's facing her absolute worst nightmare: being popular. All because she had the audacity to save her school from the unhinged Ms. Thornhill (Christina Ricci) last season.

Season two follows the same school-girl-murder-mystery vibe, except this time, Wednesday's supernatural abilities are mysteriously not working. This connects to some family drama involving her Aunt Ophelia, and a series of gruesome deaths happening alongside Wednesday's vision of bestie Enid's (Emma Myers) violent death.

Dark stuff, but that's what we're here for, right?

Watch the trailer for Wednesday season two. Article continues after video.

Now, I have to say that they have once again nailed the aesthetic this season. Tim Burton continues to bring all the right vibes. Every single frame looks like it was dipped in gothic perfection — the costumes, the sets, that perfectly moody lighting that makes everything look like a spooky fever dream. It's nostalgic in all the right ways.

And thank GOD we finally get proper Addams Family content. Morticia, Gomez, Pugsley, Lurch. This is what I was screaming for during season one. Like, yes, the show is called Wednesday, but give us that delicious family dysfunction we all crave. These scenes are genuinely some of the season's highlights, reminding us why we fell in love with this beautifully bizarre family in the first place.

Catherine Zeta-Jones brings something completely different to Morticia, and I'm kind of living for it? She's way more sunshine-y and whimsical than the mysterious, very dark Morticias we've known before. It's jarring at first — like, where's my seductively unhinged goth queen? — but it actually creates a fascinating dynamic with this particular version of Wednesday. 

This season also leans harder into the horror elements, which should make everyone happy. It's darker, scarier and genuinely unsettling in places.

Image: Netflix

But here's where I need to be honest with you all: this season is playing things way too safe, and it's driving me slightly mad. 

The structure is almost identical to season one — there's a murder mystery (tick), Wednesday learns something about herself (tick), family drama ensues (tick) and supernatural nastiness emerges (double tick). It's like they took the season one playbook and just... did it again.

I get it. Season one was a massive hit, so why mess with the formula? But after three years of waiting, I expected something that felt fresh and surprising, not like a very expensive rerun. The pacing drags in places and I found my mind wandering during scenes that should have had me glued to the screen. It's not that anything is particularly bad — it's just that we've been here before, and the show hasn't found ways to make the journey feel new.

That three-year gap might have killed some of the momentum, too. Remember that electric feeling of discovering Wednesday for the first time? Yeah, that's mostly missing here. 

Image: Netflix

At least they've ditched that weird Xavier romance subplot that made absolutely zero sense. Thank you, writers, for recognising that Wednesday works best when she's not being softened by some random love interest. Let her stay sharp and dangerous — that's what we're here for.

The good news? This is only part one, and plenty of shows have used their back halves to completely turn things around. Maybe the writers are saving all their best surprises for later episodes. Maybe they're building toward something that will make all this familiar setup feel worth it. The talent is certainly there — Burton's vision is as distinctive as ever, the cast is amazing, and the world itself still holds a special place in my heart.

Wednesday Addams has never been one to do what people expect, so maybe her show will still manage to surprise us. For now, though, we're left with something that's competent and pretty but lacks the spark that made us fall in love in the first place. It's not bad television — it's just… not great.

But hey, I'm still watching. I'm not ready to give up on our favourite goth queen just yet.

You can stream Wednesday season two part one on Netflix now.

Feature Image: Netflix.