In late 2022, Netflix released a reboot starring the trendy Addams Family daughter, Wednesday Addams. The rendition titled ‘Wednesday’ was directed by Tim Burton and provided a twist on the memorably morbid family, featuring drama, romance, and betrayal. While it was stylistically different from previous editions, the show gathered over 1 billion views in its first three weeks after release, becoming the 3rd most-watched series on Netflix.

While the storyline of ‘Wednesday’ is wildly unrealistic, the series seems to be most popular among teenage Dubs, who fawn over Jenna Ortega’s portrayal of the title character. Ortega is a 20-year-old actress who began her acting career on Disney Channel’s ‘Stuck in the Middle.’ Before her thriller role, Ortega starred in more mature roles in ‘The Fallout’ and ‘X.’ Her gentle yet assertive demeanor makes her a strong role model for girls just a few years younger than her. “Jenna Ortega has quickly become one of my favorite actresses, especially after watching ‘Wednesday,'” said junior Mary Martin. “I don’t think anyone else could have played the part so well.”

With Ortega taking the lead, Burton was able to construct a brilliant plot based on Wednesday Addams’ life. Even though Addams is a supporting character in previous versions, Netflix took this opportunity to expand on the 16-year-old’s life as she’s shipped away to Nevermore Academy for all outcasts. As she navigates her new life, she has to deal with the consequences of her actions and relationships with others, including a few love interests. “I loved the new plot that Tim Burton created,” said junior Luke McCullough. “I’ve always been a fan of the Addams family, and this reboot is a whole new world for the franchise.”

Even though ‘Wednesday’ received mountains of support from viewers, others are less pleased with Burton’s production. Viewers expected the reboot to contain different elements from the original version but thought Burton’s originality and creativity still needed to be featured. As someone known for his gothic fantasy films such as ‘Corpse Bride,’ ‘Beetlejuice,’ and The ‘Nightmare Before Christmas,’ ‘Wednesday lacks comparison. “I think ‘Wednesday’ should’ve taken a scarier route,” said sophomore Gabe Hull. “It felt too much like a comedy and lost its charm.”

Now, ‘Wednesday’ has been renewed for a “woeful” season 2. Dubs are looking forward to another season of Wednesday and re-obsessing over her twisted story.