TV Series Review: Wednesday (2022, Netflix) *No Spoilers*

It's kind of refreshing to see a show with Tim Burton's name on it that, while it is everything you'd expect Tim would be into, it feels like he paired it back just enough that it doesn't scream Tim Burton at you (if that makes any sense whatsoever).

Wednesday somehow manages to be a fine blend of the source material and Tim Burton's signature style. To the point where Wednesday feels more like a next chapter in the story rather than a whole new thing. It almost feels like a continuation of The Adams Family movies that Christina Ricci (who co-stars in Wednesday) played a younger version of Wednesday in.

It's easy to imagine that it could be, given the rest of the Adams family doesn't play a very prominent role in the series overall. So you're not bumping into the new cast too much at all, and Wednesday Adams (Jenna Ortega) is older here - and it's not unusual to see a child actor recast older in sequels.

The basic premise is Wednesday is sent to her mother's old school for outcast children after being kicked out of her previous school. While there she becomes entangled in a multiple murder mystery of prophetic proportions that puts the entire school in danger.

Jenna Ortega basically redefines the character for emo gothic teens everywhere. It would be easy to criticize that Wednesday is something of a Mary Sue type character, good at everything, smarter than everyone, but somehow it's completely within the realms of a character that has mostly been defined as a preteen (but a seriously smart preteen) until now. She's basically Sherlock Holmes level smart.

While Jenna is completely intriguing as Wednesday, with all her quirks, and is very watchable, the rest of the cast are equally up to the task of not being overshadowed. Particularly Emma Myers as Enid Sinclair who kind of plays the comedic role to Jenna's straight man/person/woman? Basically an all new 'Odd Couple' type friendship.

Gwendoline Christie as Principal Larissa Weems was also a standout with her imposing size in contrast to Jenna (and pretty much everyone really). This is probably the closest thing to a 'normal' (for want of a better word) character I've seen her play where she just is able to act.

I did enjoy that Christina Ricci as Marilyn Thornhill was right in the thick of the story and wasn't just in the series for a brief cameo Easter Egg type appearance.

Overall Wednesday is an enjoyable series that does manage to keep you guessing despite the mystery not being anything you may not have seen before (just with a few less monsters). In fact the show does play a bit like a Sherlock Holmes mystery. The real fun is watching Jenna play Wednesday and how she interacts with a whole range of characters, none of whom are particularly normal people either.

Great to see something from Tim Burton that isn't completely the full Burton turned up to eleven but is still very much within his wheelhouse. It still has his stamp on it but I really appreciate that it doesn't stray too far into his visionary sensibilities.