A look at the town folk, their relation to the Nevermore institution, Elite secret societies, a Pilgrim-themed theme park and a history-revealing episode provide another incredibly well-rounded view at our setting for this show.
"It's amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad rep". I love the fact that Wednesday is above everyone else when it comes to morbidness and cynicism. Like sure, this is a school of outcasts and freaks, and yet she is still above them in a non-condescending way. She is quick on her feet and smarter in the things she is good at and interested in: solving mysteries, "killing", scheming, and such. She doesn't take crap from anyone and is incredibly smart. However, like Sherlock Holmes, her brilliant and analytical mind outweighs her capacity to emote or engage socially with others. Not that she doesn't have feelings or that she is trying to avoid them, but more like she doesn't feel comfortable embracing them.
In spite of her stoic, hard exterior I especially like the vulnerability certain aspects of her age gives to her: she writes novels and dreams about being a novelist, so she has ambitions of her own; she's a lonely creature yet when she sees a struggling fellow student she doesn't ignore but help them; she doesn't think twice about righting a wrong when she sees it; she had suffered bullying when she was younger and even though she outgrew the memories, they still define who she is reflecting that desire to be respected in petty revenge plots that, while never fatal, are morbid in their own way and she enjoys quite much. Her sadistic side is never too much for the show, just balanced enough to not make it an over-the-top goof. Her writing is excellent and despite how some in the school have abilities and powers, they still fear her or react shocked when she outwits them (always with a quippy remark).
Love the fact that the school is an elitist institution famously known for their weird kids, yet the town depends on its donations to stay afloat. These conditions make possible this otherwise unnatural coexistence as any normal town would have called the authorities about the monsters that live in the school. So, in a way, we are seeing the status quo being altered for the first time now with the arrival of Wednesday. Which I believe makes the show a bit "contrived" in that aspect alone. We are still to see where the mysteries lead to but, come on, all this starts to happen when Wednesday arrives? I know, the show uses a lot of familiar tropes, like "the chosen one" narrative and the "having visions of the future" who happen to be connected to the history of the town. But I really don't mind them as long as they are well-woven into the show and remain interesting until the end. But that's about the only small issue I see the show having, nothing to diminish its rating.
However, I must say the backstory to the town have a close resemblance to that of Paranorman. I couldn't help but feel I have seen it before and in spite of how I enjoy it personally, seeing it be retreaded didn't feel as refreshing. Nevertheless, the plot thickens as we start to piece more of the mystery that surrounds the town and the school where the Addams went. I think it is brilliant to make a show that finally begins to dig deep into their story as it provides context to many of their quirks and personalities. It's not easy to make sequels but an essential aspect to them is that they must not only provide a new and different story from the original, yet maintaining the same beats that made it unique; but also they have the core functionality of expanding their world. In Shrek 2, we got to see more of the world where Fiona came from, this gave us an insightful view of where we stand history-wise in the world. With the other Addams media, we always had a bit of an anthological narrative where each time it was "rebooted" our window to the world remained the same if not superficially addressed (again, I haven't watched ALL of The Addams Family, but I mean the ones I have seen, and again this is my opinion, I'm no expert). This time around we count with a backdrop that is not only relevant to the Addams family but also to the story that is unfolding. I don't want to spoil too much, so I'll leave it at that. This world is realized and grounded in a way that would provide a lot of rope to this show in the years to come. And I for one cannot wait for it to unravel before my eyes.
And that shot of Wednesday playing the cello while the world is on fire... This show is gold. I don't know how it works so well but its enigmatic sense of romantic dramatization that manages to work so well elevates the show to a point of traversing the thin line between reality and fiction. Its over-the-top attributes are grounded in a supernatural plausibility within the realm of shows like Twin Peaks. With references to Agatha Christie, the mystery builds and spreads like wildfire, starting so many plotpoints and providing so much progression in a single episode it is amazing how much we have learned of the world, characters and history in simply 3 episodes. I couldn't have asked for a better blend of Stranger Things meets Harry Potter and Tim Burton.
"It's amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad rep". I love the fact that Wednesday is above everyone else when it comes to morbidness and cynicism. Like sure, this is a school of outcasts and freaks, and yet she is still above them in a non-condescending way. She is quick on her feet and smarter in the things she is good at and interested in: solving mysteries, "killing", scheming, and such. She doesn't take crap from anyone and is incredibly smart. However, like Sherlock Holmes, her brilliant and analytical mind outweighs her capacity to emote or engage socially with others. Not that she doesn't have feelings or that she is trying to avoid them, but more like she doesn't feel comfortable embracing them.
In spite of her stoic, hard exterior I especially like the vulnerability certain aspects of her age gives to her: she writes novels and dreams about being a novelist, so she has ambitions of her own; she's a lonely creature yet when she sees a struggling fellow student she doesn't ignore but help them; she doesn't think twice about righting a wrong when she sees it; she had suffered bullying when she was younger and even though she outgrew the memories, they still define who she is reflecting that desire to be respected in petty revenge plots that, while never fatal, are morbid in their own way and she enjoys quite much. Her sadistic side is never too much for the show, just balanced enough to not make it an over-the-top goof. Her writing is excellent and despite how some in the school have abilities and powers, they still fear her or react shocked when she outwits them (always with a quippy remark).
Love the fact that the school is an elitist institution famously known for their weird kids, yet the town depends on its donations to stay afloat. These conditions make possible this otherwise unnatural coexistence as any normal town would have called the authorities about the monsters that live in the school. So, in a way, we are seeing the status quo being altered for the first time now with the arrival of Wednesday. Which I believe makes the show a bit "contrived" in that aspect alone. We are still to see where the mysteries lead to but, come on, all this starts to happen when Wednesday arrives? I know, the show uses a lot of familiar tropes, like "the chosen one" narrative and the "having visions of the future" who happen to be connected to the history of the town. But I really don't mind them as long as they are well-woven into the show and remain interesting until the end. But that's about the only small issue I see the show having, nothing to diminish its rating.
However, I must say the backstory to the town have a close resemblance to that of Paranorman. I couldn't help but feel I have seen it before and in spite of how I enjoy it personally, seeing it be retreaded didn't feel as refreshing. Nevertheless, the plot thickens as we start to piece more of the mystery that surrounds the town and the school where the Addams went. I think it is brilliant to make a show that finally begins to dig deep into their story as it provides context to many of their quirks and personalities. It's not easy to make sequels but an essential aspect to them is that they must not only provide a new and different story from the original, yet maintaining the same beats that made it unique; but also they have the core functionality of expanding their world. In Shrek 2, we got to see more of the world where Fiona came from, this gave us an insightful view of where we stand history-wise in the world. With the other Addams media, we always had a bit of an anthological narrative where each time it was "rebooted" our window to the world remained the same if not superficially addressed (again, I haven't watched ALL of The Addams Family, but I mean the ones I have seen, and again this is my opinion, I'm no expert). This time around we count with a backdrop that is not only relevant to the Addams family but also to the story that is unfolding. I don't want to spoil too much, so I'll leave it at that. This world is realized and grounded in a way that would provide a lot of rope to this show in the years to come. And I for one cannot wait for it to unravel before my eyes.
And that shot of Wednesday playing the cello while the world is on fire... This show is gold. I don't know how it works so well but its enigmatic sense of romantic dramatization that manages to work so well elevates the show to a point of traversing the thin line between reality and fiction. Its over-the-top attributes are grounded in a supernatural plausibility within the realm of shows like Twin Peaks. With references to Agatha Christie, the mystery builds and spreads like wildfire, starting so many plotpoints and providing so much progression in a single episode it is amazing how much we have learned of the world, characters and history in simply 3 episodes. I couldn't have asked for a better blend of Stranger Things meets Harry Potter and Tim Burton.