Warning: This article includes MAJOR SPOILERS for Wednesday season 2 part 1!
AlthoughWednesdaytries to fix its Addams Family “problem” from season 1, the change completely backfires on them. Netflix’s Wednesday season 2 was, by far, themost anticipated show on Netflix this year. Audience members wanted to know where the story would go next for the iconic Wednesday Addams.
Now that it’s out, we know that Wednesday season 2 made many changes meant to improve the show. A prime example of this is the increased presence ofthe Addams family. Wednesday season 1 barely included the other characters from the franchise, opting to focus on the titular character instead.
Frankly, I don’t think this was a problem. The show is called Wednesday for a reason, not The Addams Family. However, Wednesday goes to great lengths to fix the Addams Family “problem” in season 2. Unfortunately, their efforts backfired in a big way.
Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 Gave Too Much Time To Puglsey Addams
The Addams Family’s characters all got more time in Wednesday season 2. Gomez’s new scenes were few and far between, making them not distracting. Morticia’s storyline is directly connected to Wednesday’s story. The only scenes that diverge from Wednesday’s focus are those that address her issues with her mother. That being said, it’s strongly implied thatMorticia’s conflict with her motherand her sister Ophelia will directly relate back to Wednesday’s lost psychic powers. As such, it didn’t feel like they were taking away from the titular main character by giving Morticia more. Even Uncle Fester’s time at the asylum directly connected to Wednesday’s mission.
Unfortunately,Pugsley’s story doesn’t include his sister, and it only tangentially relates to her plotline. Although he only got a few scenes in the first season, his storyline takes up approximately 15% of the first three episodes ofWednesdayseason 2 part 1.
While that might not seem like a lot, it is a huge chunk of time considering the number of subplots they were juggling this season. There were so many storylines going on at once that none of them got the time they fully deserved. Plus, Pugsley’s story is essentially a B-plot. It felt like they were simply filling in the gaps.
Wednesday Season 2’s Pugsley Is Nothing Like His Past Addams Family Versions
Pugsley Addams inWednesdayfeels almost nothing like Pugsley Addams inThe Addams Family. In most of his previous iterations, he seemed rebellious and risky, especially with his mad science experiments. Thanks to his inventive mind, he made all kinds of dangerous devices. He’s an oddball, and he never expresses a desire to change that for the approval of others.
However,Pugsley’s personality was so annoying in the Netflix show that I nearly skipped over his individual scenes. He’s not particularly rebellious or risky. He doesn’t do any wild science experiments, and reviving a zombie was a complete and total accident. He felt like he was trying way too hard to act cool and get praise.
It’s hard to reconcile these two different characterizations. They feel like two entirely different people, except for Pugsley eating bugs and fishing with a bomb. Pugsley’s at a school for outsiders. It would make more sense for him to lean into his peculiar proclivities instead of trying to change himself and trying way too hard to impress his roommate.
Pugsley’s Pet Zombie Storyline Feels Forced In Wednesday
While I enjoyed the increased horror in Wednesday season 2, Pugsley’s pet zombie didn’t really benefit the story in the first half, and it also didn’t make narrative sense. It feels awfully convenient that he just so happened to have his electric powers malfunction right under the Skull Tree where the body of the former student was buried.
The story development for Slurp and Pugsley felt pretty weak.I guess it’s cool that he was regrowing his brain and becoming more human. Still, I would much rather they had given more time and attention to the central mystery and Enid and Wednesday’s friendship.
On top of that, the decision for the police to put Slurp in the asylum, instead of simply killing him, felt like a plot device rather than a logical choice. The breakout scene at theend ofWednesdayseason 2 part 1needed the chaos of a zombie killing people to work. However, it would have made much more sense for them to kill Slurp since he technically already died.
Wednesday Season 2 Part 2 Could Still Save The Pugsley Addams Storyline
If they want to save the Pugsley storyline from being a complete flop,they need to make Pugsley’s pet zombie integral to the central mystery.The show has already hinted that there’s some kind of connection between Slurp and Augustus.
The trailer for Wednesday season 2 part 2 hints that the zombie will be more of a character, rather than just a brain-eating zombie, in the second half. If the zombie becomes necessary to the central mystery connected to the Avian and LOIS, then I’m more willing to forgive the amount of time they gave to Pugsley and Slurp.
Would it still be contrived that Pugsley just so happened to resurrect the right zombie necessary for the story and keep him alive? Absolutely! However, it would at least make them more essential parts ofWednesdayseason 2.
