‘Wednesday’: Early reviews unanimously praise Jenna Ortega, but differ on quality of series

The On September 23, ‘Wednesday’ arrives on Netflix, the new series centered on the iconic daughter of Gomez and Morticia Addams Created by Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, directed by Tim Burton, James Marshall (‘Smallville’) and Gandja Monteiro. The first opinions of the critics are already available and they have one thing very clear: although they don’t agree on the quality of the series, they do agree that Jenna Ortega is the best in the series.

Arezou Amin writes for Collider that “Wednesday” is “a darker than usual version that never loses sight of heart, humor and dread”. However, Daniel Feinberg of The Hollywood Reporter points this out “the series could benefit from being more episodic”especially highlighting the moments when Wednesday has to deal with more everyday events, such as the school dance. “And it could benefit from just being more fun”, he suggests, contrary to what his partner at Collider thinks. Caroline Framke of Variety criticizes that the magic of the plot is lost in predictability and believes that, “despite Ortega’s fantastic performance and Burton’s active participation, “Wednesday” as a whole never quite captures what made “The Addams Family” so viscerally weird. (and it’s not even half as visually stunning)”.

As for the level of “Wednesday”, there are discrepancies: for Ed Power of the Daily Telegraph “Focused teens will enjoy an addictive rococo game that plays out like a cross between “Euphoria” and “Hotel Transylvania””. However, others criticize that the series is so committed to a young adult audience. Bloody Disgusting’s Meagan Navarro, as one might suspect from his name, clearly is “‘Wednesday’ never gets mysterious or creepy enough to reinvigorate the young adult formula”. The Variety reporter agrees: “The more I watched ‘Wednesday,’ the more I realized that its fidelity lies less in translating the nuances of The Addams Family than in re-imagining The Addams Family for a young and/or nostalgic Netflix audience”. The journalist of The Hollywood Reporter writes that, although the series does not reach the level of its protagonist, “There are enough promising elements that I hope ‘Wednesday’ has the opportunity to make a second season with some changes“.

Collider editor highlights a perfect castingwhere is it “The entire family takes these beloved characters and truly makes them their own, keeping the aspects that have made Kooky Addams so recognizable for decades, while infusing them with an energy that breathes new life into the role.”. Of all the characters, there’s no doubt that the protagonist played by Jenna Ortega takes the cake.

“Jenna Ortega was born to be Wednesday”

The barely twenty-year-old actress had communicated her desire to do so at the time “do justice” to the iconic Addams daughter. For critics there is no doubt that it was more than successful. Bill Goodykoontz of the Arizona Republic points this out “nothing works without Ortega’s interpretation, which is macabrely delicious”.

Journalist Jesse Hassenger of The Wrap and Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting reveal the keys to this very positive reception, due to Ortega’s ability to give an extra dimension to the character. “Ortega has successfully reinterpreted Miércoles in a way that mixes the expressionless face of Ricci (who appears here in a supporting role) with a simmering adolescent hostility, as well as a few touches of long-term vulnerability”write the first. “All of his alienating qualities would make other characters unforgivable”write the second. “However, Ortega injects a complex intensity beneath the stoicism and dryness of the lines. Miércoles may be serious and direct, but his eyes convey his emotional truth. And the truth is, as weird or abrasive or wacky as she is, she’s just a normal, run-of-the-mill teenager.”concludes Navarro. Pop Culture Planet’s Kristen Maldonado wraps it up strongly “Jenna Ortega was born to play Wednesday Addams”.

* The complete season of “Wednesday” has eight episodes that will be available on Netflix from November 23rd.