Tim Burton Developing ‘Addams Family’ Series, 'Wednesday' Starring Jenna Ortega

[Dr.]

I didn't think it was overbearing. I think it was downright awful because the only chemistry Ortega had was with Meyers. And I think Ortega probably agrees that going with a very conventional love interest for a character like Wednesday is a bad idea. They didn't even write it like Values, where the relationship was very Addams.

I quite enjoyed the series — even though I’m a tad too old for its target youth audience. And given that audience demographic, I wasn’t particularly surprised by the inclusion of a romance subplot. Kinda standard stuff. But (as mentioned) I was pleased that this trope was largely subverted. More often than not, Wednesday used and exploited her putative “love interests” as means to an end. (She even says as much.) Moreover, Tyler is revealed as the Big Bad; and the Xavier relationship (such as it is) is left as a question mark. So I guess I’m grading on a curve. Compared to the various romances featured in (say) Buffy, Sabrina, Smallville or any of the Arrowverse series, Wednesday S1 was fairly restrained and unsentimental. And if the trope is being abandoned in S2, even better.

 

[DarkKnight88]

I didn't think it was overbearing. I think it was downright awful because the only chemistry Ortega had was with Meyers. And I think Ortega probably agrees that going with a very conventional love interest for a character like Wednesday is a bad idea. They didn't even write it like Values, where the relationship was very Addams.

Which reminds me, they need to get some Krumholtz in Season 3.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

I quite enjoyed the series — even though I’m a tad too old for its target youth audience. And given that audience demographic, I wasn’t particularly surprised by the inclusion of a romance subplot. Kinda standard stuff. But (as mentioned) I was pleased that this trope was largely subverted. More often than not, Wednesday used and exploited her putative “love interests” as means to an end. (She even says as much.) Moreover, Tyler is revealed as the Big Bad; and the Xavier relationship (such as it is) is left as a question mark. So I guess I’m grading on a curve. Compared to the various romances featured in (say) Buffy, Sabrina, Smallville or any of the Arrowverse series, Wednesday S1 was fairly restrained and unsentimental. And if the trope is being abandoned in S2, even better.

You seem confused. I have no problem with them doing romance. I bask in that, including tropes. It's the execution and who they did it with. No trope was subverted. What are you arguing was subversive about the romance? You even brought up Buffy, where Angel was a big bad. In the same, unknowing manner. It happened on Chilling Adventures as well. Like three times. Smallville had similar romances as well. On all three, the slow burn romance was also a thing.

Their target audience isn't just teens, it's millennials as well. Just like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, because you know. Addams Family. They even had Ricci there.

Romance will work on this show when they do the obvious thing. Considering it's Ortega, I think we'll get there, even if Netflix is being *******s about it.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Which reminds me, they need to get some Krumholtz in Season 3.

This would be very welcomed. He's got great dad energy now. Though to be fair, he had that 30 years ago somehow.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

 

[Lily Adler]

Thank you Wednesday for making Bloody Mary popular again to inspire Gaga to do another Dark Pop era like The Fame Monster and Born This Way.

 

[Kane52630]

It's crazy to me as a Burton head that I still haven't seen the show yet.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It's crazy to me as a Burton head that I still haven't seen the show yet.

Would be curious to see your opinion. I think it's pretty bad outside of Ortega, Myers, Thing, and Uncle Fester. Who all feel like they're from a much better written show, that gets the "joke".

That said, I've watched it like 5 times. I like those aspects that much and I anticipate s2.

 

[Lily Adler]

Would be curious to see your opinion. I think it's pretty bad outside of Ortega, Myers, Thing, and Uncle Fester. Who all feel like they're from a much better written show, that gets the "joke".

That said, I've watched it like 5 times. I like those aspects that much and I anticipate s2.

Wednesday needs a BF who enjoys murder as foreplay.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Wednesday needs a BF who enjoys murder as foreplay.

She needs a girlfriend who she has chemistry with. And the show has already set that up.

 

[Lily Adler]

Wednesday needs a BF who enjoys murder as foreplay.

I'm sorry attempted murder.

 

[Dr.]

It’s pretty clear that Ortega was the MVP of Wednesday. Even critics who were only lukewarm about the series praised Ortega’s engaging, deadpan performance. Still, I think the season 1 arc had a solid (or at least serviceable) narrative for the genre and the intended youth audience: a bit of Buffy, some Veronica Mars and a dash of Scooby-Doo mystery in a Hogwarts-esque setting. Probably a good thing, though, that there were only 8 episodes (rather than padding it out to 10 or 12).

As for season 2, who knows? Often a show’s first season is stronger because it includes world-building, an “origin story” and character progression for the hero. But now that this has been established, will Ortega/Wednesday still be able to carry the series to the same satisfaction…?

 

[DarthSkywalker]

It’s pretty clear that Ortega was the MVP of Wednesday. Even critics who were only lukewarm about the series praised Ortega’s engaging, deadpan performance. Still, I think the season 1 arc had a solid (or at least serviceable) narrative for the genre and the intended youth audience: a bit of Buffy, some Veronica Mars and a dash of Scooby-Doo mystery in a Hogwarts-esque setting. Probably a good thing, though, that there were only 8 episodes (rather than padding it out to 10 or 12).

As for season 2, who knows? Often a show’s first season is stronger because it includes world-building, an “origin story” and character progression for the hero. But now that this has been established, will Ortega/Wednesday still be able to carry the series to the same satisfaction…?

Having aspects of other things, does not make a solid arc. It's how it comes together, through writing, directing, and editing. And the show is poorly plotted, to the point that it relies on giving Wed visions to try and keep the narrative moving. It all then comes down to a villain with no actual relevance to the story or plot presented on the show.

I think they realized this which is why they're changing the structure of the show.

What great shows best season are 1? I'm having a hard time remembering any.

 

[Sithborg]

Wednesday needs a BF who enjoys murder as foreplay.

This is how you get a Voltron situation.

 

[Dr.]

Having aspects of other things, does not make a solid arc. It's how it comes together, through writing, directing, and editing. And the show is poorly plotted, to the point that it relies on giving Wed visions to try and keep the narrative moving. It all then comes down to a villain with no actual relevance to the story or plot presented on the show.

I think they realized this which is why they're changing the structure of the show.

What great shows best season are 1? I'm having a hard time remembering any.

Certainly, I thought some episodes were better than others — especially with respect to advancing the main mystery-plot arc. But generally, I found all of them to be entertaining. We apparently agree that the series’ biggest strength is Ortega’s performance as the title character. And what that means, for me at least, is that it doesn’t much matter whether Wednesday is actively working on the central Monster Mystery (as perfunctory as that may be) or engaging in a “filler” or “standalone” storyline (e.g., the canoe race or clearing Gomez of a 30-year-old murder). It’s still Wednesday doing her thing — being self-assured, critiquing authority and the status quo, stoically delivering her sardonic one-liners, etc., etc. That’s why I give an overall to Wednesday.

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Certainly, I thought some episodes were better than others — especially with respect to advancing the main mystery-plot arc. But generally, I found all of them to be entertaining. We apparently agree that the series’ biggest strength is Ortega’s performance as the title character. And what that means, for me at least, is that it doesn’t much matter whether Wednesday is actively working on the central Monster Mystery (as perfunctory as that may be) or engaging in a “filler” or “standalone” storyline (e.g., the canoe race or clearing Gomez of a 30-year-old murder). It’s still Wednesday doing her thing — being self-assured, critiquing authority and the status quo, stoically delivering her sardonic one-liners, etc., etc. That’s why I give an overall to Wednesday.

You are mistaken to think my issue was that wasn't a 6 hour movie. If they wanted to make an 8 episode monster of the week show, I'd of been all for it. One of my favorite current shows is Strange New Worlds, which loves it's one offs.But they didn't do that. And the issues with the writing, of which there are plenty.

The best episode of the show is Fester's, because it spends more time focusing on Wed as a character. She's in her element with Fester (her equal), Thing (her partner), and Enid (her friend and opposite). Because it's when Wednesday gets to be Wednesday. Even when it comes to being challenged on how she treats others.

With the plot, like the romance subplots, she's pulled out of that. She becomes more of a generic teen protagonist, haunted by bad writing. I can see why Ortega took issue with some of the writing. It's because there's like two different characters and she's trying her darndest to fix that.

 

[J.Drangal]

It's crazy to me as a Burton head that I still haven't seen the show yet.

Honestly... the show didn't felt like Burton, so...

It's crazy because he seemed so suited to this license (Sonnenfeld definitely channelled him in his adaptation) and yet, his proposal appeard hyper watered down to me.
There were sure a few visual cues, but it was shy and, above all, superficial. While Burton has always made a point of presenting outsiders, and the Adams Family itself finds its salt in its offbeat nature, the series completely missed the mark, from the get go, by throwing Wednesday into some kind of "monster school"... yet still wanted to have her different... but not too different either, so that audiences could still find in her the classic teen series protagonist.
The whole thing appeared more like something decided by a committee looking at algorythms: a charismatic actress here, a bit of Harry Potter there, a cute guy, a bit of Burton for the name recognition, but not too much so that it's not too weird, aaaand... there, you have your Halloween series for 12-18 year-olds.

That being said...
I just went to see Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice (I know I'm late...) and I found in this film a youthful creativity, and even a punk energy, that really makes me think Burton may have found his mojo again. And so, I'm very curious to see this Burton take on the Adams Family...

 

[Dr.]

The best episode of the show is Fester's, because it spends more time focusing on Wed as a character. She's in her element with Fester (her equal), Thing (her partner), and Enid (her friend and opposite). Because it's when Wednesday gets to be Wednesday. Even when it comes to being challenged on how she treats others.

I enjoyed the Fester episode as well. Armisen was fun. And this chapter provided what I thought were two significant “character moments” for Wednesday: 1) for the first and only time, she expresses a genuinely sincere, toothy smile; 2) despite her vow to never again cry, she sheds tears at the prospect of losing Thing. (On paper, the idea of electro-shocking a disembodied hand back to life probably looked ridiculous. But the direction and Ortega’s performance really sold it. Moreover, Wednesday’s cold — and sometimes cruel — attitude towards Thing really needed, I think, a counterpoint. And this scene provided that. She actually has affection for the weird hand creature.) Additionally, and not incidentally, some important main-plot details came to light. There were, in fact, two villains to apprehend: the Hyde monster and its master.

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[Pennywise]

 

[blueharvest]

 

[DarthSkywalker]

Looks nothing like her.

 

[Spider-Fan83]

^ I think it's meant to be a presentation of the character in general...

not an accurate pictorial of the actress