The Season Finale of 'Wednesday' is a Brilliant Mess

wednesday jenna ortega as wednesday addams in episode 108 of wednesday cr courtesy of netflix © 2022
The Season Finale of 'Wednesday' is BrilliantNetflix

I think it’s safe to say Netflix's Wednesday is a smash hit. Since its premiere on November 23, The Addams family spinoff, which stars Jenna Ortega, has grown a massive fan base. How massive? Well, according to Deadline, the series is the streamer's third-most popular show, right after Stranger Things and Monster: The Jeffery Dahmer Story.

Honesty, I’m not surprised. Wednesday, to put it simply, is very, very good. The series pulls you in with lovable characters, a viral dance routine, and mind-blowing plot twists that will make you question if Wednesday has ever heard the phrase, “keep your friends close and your enemies closer.” Speaking of: did you catch the finale? The episode, which is now streaming, was full of shocking revelations and heartbreak. After watching the chaos unfold, here are my takeaways.

Wednesday Is a Little Too Impulsive!

Wednesday’s ambition is fun to watch, but I do wish she would think her plans through. By the time we reach the final episode, she’s accused not one, but two, people of being The Hyde—a viscous, wide-eyed monster who is responsible for a string of murders. First, she thought it was her therapist, Valerie Kimbott, who is murdered after Wednesday confronts her. Then she accuses her classmate, Xavier Thorpe. He's wrongfully arrested for the crime.

After kissing Tyler, the local sheriff’s son, Wednesday has a vision and discovers that he was The Hyde all along. I won’t fault her for taking so long to figure it out (after all, Xavier and Valerie were suspicious), but I do hope she learns that you need evidence before making accusations! Nevertheless, when she does catch on to Tyler’s scheme, she kidnaps him with the help of her classmates. Their plan is to get him to confess, but when Wednesday’s tactics turn violent, Principal Weems swoops in to save him. Wednesday is expelled from Nevermore Academy before she can prove Tyler is guilty.

Not to be an armchair expert, but maybe next time she should bring the villain to the authorities instead of going Tony Soprano on their ass.

Marilyn Thornhil Is a Superb Liar

Among Wednesday's many overlapping plots, the story of Marilyn Thornhill was my favorite one. The unassuming “normie” teacher (played by Christina Ricci, the original Wednesday Addams) turned out to be a vengeful enemy. Earlier in the season, Wednesday learns that her father, Gomez—a former Nevermore student—was accused of killing Garret Gates, a local teen who hates the academy and its students.

He is later absolved of the crime, but during the reinvestigation, Wednesday learns that the entire Gates family was impacted by Garrett's death. Both of his parents passed away from grief, and his sister, Laurel, was presumed dead as well. At one point though, Wednesday's ancestor, Goody, leads her to the abandoned Gates residence—where Wednesday discovers Laurel is actually alive. And, of course, collecting body parts from The Hyde’s victims.

It’s later revealed that Marilyn is actually Laurel in disguise, and she’s been working with The Hyde (Tyler) to destroy Nevermore once and for all.

Principal Weems Didn’t Deserve To Go Out Like That

After Wednesday discovers Marilyn is actually Laurel, she comes up with a plan. (Finally!) Wednesday contacts Principal Weems, who is a shapeshifter, and asks her to disguise herself as Tyler (the Hyde). Together they confront Marilyn, who admits to her scheme and tells “Tyler” to kill Wednesday. “Tyler” then transforms back into Principal Weems. But her heroism is cut short when Marilyn douses her in nightshade. The liquid poison kills Weems instantly... and knocks out Wednesday.

They Could Have Left Joseph Crackstone in The Drafts

OK, this is where Wednesday lost me in the finale. After Marilyn leaves Principal Weems and Wednesday, we learn the full extent of her plans. As it turns out, her beef with the “outcasts”—AKA Nevermore students—spans back further than her brother's death. Centuries earlier, Goody Addams (Wednesday's ancestor) killed a colonist named Joseph Crackstone and “stole” his land to build the Nevermore Academy.

To finally get revenge, Marilyn tries to bring Crackstone back to life by breaking a curse that Goody Addams enacted. Which, of course, required body parts for a reincarnation spell, a blood moon, and Wednesday Addams. This all leads to a final showdown at the Nevermore Academy, where Wednesday nearly dies for the third time. Thankfully, her classmate (and frenemy) Bianca stabs Crackstone in the shoulder so Wednesday can deliver the final blow.

As for Marilyn, she's knocked out during the battle and her fate is left a mystery. Personally, I could’ve done without the Crackstone plot. Marilyn's secret identity and the Hyde murders were enough surprises for me.

Is Wednesday Our Next Pretty Little Liar?

After Crackstone is defeated, Wednesday and her classmates go home for a break. Before getting in her car, Xavier gives Wednesday her first cell phone so they can keep in contact. On her way home, Wednesday receives a text from an unknown number. The message includes no words—it’s just a string of emojis that implies she has a stalker. To make matters worse, the last text Wednesday receives is a GIF of herself with a knife in her head. Quite the ending, indeed!

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