Wednesday Season 2 Review: Darker, Quirkier, But Softer?

Netflix’s most popular show ever returns, and Season 2 of Wednesday wastes no time in diving back into gothic mayhem. Jenna Ortega once again proves she was born for the role of Wednesday Addams, delivering her signature mix of cold stares, monotone humour, and razor-sharp one-liners. This time, she isn’t just a student at Nevermore Academy — she’s returning as an unlikely hero after saving the school. Heroism, however, doesn’t sit well with her, and she quickly finds herself tangled in darker mysteries: a doll-obsessed serial killer, glitching psychic powers, and ominous visions that hint at catastrophe.

The season expands the Addams Family storyline with Isaac Ordonez’s Pugsley joining Nevermore, giving him more space to shine and finally step out from his sister’s shadow. Catherine Zeta-Jones as Morticia is campy and elegant, while Luis Guzmán’s Gomez provides warmth and humour in equal measure. Joanna Lumley makes a scene-stealing appearance as Morticia’s frosty mother, Billie Piper intrigues as music head Isadora Capri, and Steve Buscemi impresses as Barry Dort, Nevermore’s new principal, who hides more menace than his kindly exterior suggests.

Tim Burton returns to direct key episodes, adding flourishes that remind us why the show feels so distinct. A Corpse Bride-style animated sequence about a clockwork heart is pure gothic whimsy, and killer crows swooping through campus create moments of eerie suspense. Despite smartphones and modern references, the world of Wednesday feels timeless, suspended between classic horror and teenage drama, with echoes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Hogwarts.

As always, Ortega’s dialogue makes her unforgettable. Lines like “I don’t evolve. I cocoon,” “The only side I’m on is my own,” and “I was born uncomfortable” are destined to flood social media feeds, proof that every scene can double as a meme. This is where the show thrives — delivering narrative intrigue while keeping its characters endlessly quotable.

Still, not everything lands perfectly. Some viewers feel the tone has softened, drifting more into “gothic comfort” than the biting edge that made Season 1 a phenomenon. The mystery surrounding Wednesday’s psychic powers and her stalker lacks the urgency of the Hyde storyline, leaving a few episodes slower than expected. Netflix’s choice to split the release into two halves also hurt momentum, with the viral buzz not reaching the fever pitch of the first season.

Even so, the cast keeps the show alive. Emma Myers returns as the ever-bubbly Enid, the perfect foil to Ortega’s gloom, while Percy Hynes White as Xavier adds quiet tension. The family expansion brings warmth, humour, and more of the classic Addams eccentricity fans craved. Combined with Burton’s gothic artistry, the result is a season that may not shock like its predecessor but still entertains with style.

Wednesday Season 2 is an enjoyable and layered comeback, witty, creepy, and full of heart. Ortega is magnetic as ever, the new cast additions add sparkle, and the gothic world of Nevermore remains irresistibly watchable. It may not capture the same cultural lightning strike of Season 1, but it still casts a spell that fans won’t want to miss.

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Every riddle, every crow, every stare… it’s all unfolding at Nevermore. Watch closely — Wednesday doesn’t miss a thing.