As a die-hard fan of all things macabre and eccentric, I simply cannot contain my enthusiasm when it comes to the enigmatic figure that is Wednesday Addams! Having grown up with Christina Ricci’s sarcastic and brooding portrayal in the ’90s films, I was captivated by her unique blend of darkness and wit.
In a sea of traditional families portrayed on television and in movies, none stands out quite like the eccentric and unconventional Addams Family. They express love in unusual ways, preferring to pluck rose petals instead of keeping them intact, and they never seem to fit into the norms of society. Despite their peculiarities, the Addams family is deeply loving. Gomez and Morticia’s affection for each other is evident, earning them the title of “relationship goals” in the eyes of many viewers. Their home is a welcoming place, hosting an array of characters such as Uncle Fester and Cousin Itt. Over time, it is the family’s only daughter, Wednesday, who has captured the hearts of audiences. She even stars in her own Netflix series, titled “Wednesday“.
While Pugsley and Gomez are lively counterparts, Wednesday, similar to Morticia, has historically been more reserved. Notably, among all family members, she has undergone the greatest transformation throughout the years. This significant change might be attributed to a broader cultural shift in portraying women, specifically young women, in literature and media. Wednesday stands out as one of few characters that vividly expresses the struggle for self-expression against family and societal norms. Initially, she didn’t exhibit this trait; instead, her evolution into such an intriguing character is a fascinating aspect of popular culture.
1940-1977: Wednesday and the Beginning of the Addams Invasion
Although the first Addams Family single-panel cartoon appeared in The New Yorker in 1938, Wednesday was first created in June 1940. Creator Charles Addams got the idea of a little girl skipping rope all by herself beneath a streetlamp. However, Wednesday didn’t make her official debut in The New Yorker until 1944. Since the comics were in black and white, readers assumed she was dressed in black and white, but color illustrations reveal that her iconic tunic was occasionally envisioned to be teal blue. Due to the one-panel nature of the first comics, Wednesday doesn’t say much, but her character comes through. Here, Wednesday is a good-natured girl who is just as morbid as the rest of her family and enjoys building torture devices as a DIY activity with her father and brother, having apparent poison wars with Pugsley, and, of course, cutting the heads off her dolls with a small guillotine. The strips are just as funny now as they were when they were printed. Like her family members, during this era, Wednesday was nameless. However, that would change when the Addams clan was set to hit the small screen. As Morticia states in the first episode of Wednesday, Wednesday’s name came from a nursery rhyme line, “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”.
The original Addams Family first aired on ABC on September 18, 1964. In this initial portrayal, Wednesday was only six years old and significantly sweeter than her later versions. Unlike their magazine counterparts during that time, the Addams family characters were not published in The New Yorker due to an editorial decision. However, syndication kept their presence alive among audiences. Later on, in 1972, they made a guest appearance on The New Scooby-Doo Movies in an episode titled “Wednesday is Missing”. Their own animated series followed suit in 1973, with Jodie Foster providing the voice for Pugsley. Unfortunately, their popularity waned by 1977 with the release of the poorly received television movie entitled Halloween with the New Addams Family.
1991-2001: The Addams Revival and the Rise of Wednesday
1991 marked a significant resurgence of the Addams Family’s fame with the release of the live-action film titled “The Addams Family“. Christina Ricci portrayed Wednesday Addams, a character who was sarcastic, brooding, and eerily psychopathic. One of the most iconic scenes from the movie features Wednesday electrocuting Pugsley with a wicked grin on her face. The film’s success led to numerous video games, the highest-selling pinball machine ever produced, and an animated series. In the 1992-1993 animated adaptation, Wednesday’s character was softened compared to her cinematic counterpart but retained her ghostly charm. She wore a blue dress that might be a nod to her original version. Additionally, in this series, Wednesday and Pugsley attended public school, suggesting they had a better understanding of mainstream culture than their parents did.
Despite calling for more, viewers were treated to a sequel film titled “The Addams Family Values“, which hit screens in 1993. In this installment, Wednesday faces challenges with her new baby brother Pubert, who she attempts to eliminate multiple times before both she and Pugsley are dispatched to a summer camp for normies. One of the most iconic scenes from the movie features Wednesday being compelled to play Pocahontas in a Thanksgiving play. Initially sticking to the script, she eventually expresses her distaste for the historically inaccurate production and sets the stage alight. Wednesday also experiences her first kiss with bespectacled Joel, one of her initial normie love interests, a trend that would recur throughout the franchise. During this period, there was also a direct-to-video release titled “The Addams Family Reunion“, a new television series, and a video game starring Uncle Fester. Unfortunately, these spin-offs failed to generate much excitement, causing the popularity of the Addamses to fade once more.
2007 – Present: Wednesday as More Than an Addams
Back in 2007, I found myself captivated by the transformation of the Addams family into a musical theater production. At that time, our beloved Wednesday was portrayed as an 18-year-old character. In this musical adaptation, she finds herself smitten by a typical boy named Lucas, and for the first time, love leaves her questioning her identity as an Addams. She even dared to wear a yellow dress at a family dinner between ours and theirs, where she announced her intention to marry Lucas. Although the musical didn’t receive rave reviews, it did manage to rekindle interest in our eccentric family. It also introduced the concept that Wednesday was not just an Addams, but someone with her own unique individuality. In this version, she even swapped her braids for a bob hairstyle. Interestingly, Wednesday’s rebellious streak was also showcased in the first Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer animated adaptation. In that film, Wednesday formed friendships with typical girls and started experimenting with colors, which was quite unusual for an Addams.
Unlike her musically inclined counterpart, this Wednesday exhibits less concern for fashion than she does in defying Morticia’s preconceived notions about her. The upcoming film, “The Addams Family 2,” delves into the question of Wednesday’s lineage, but as Morticia affirms, whether it’s biological or not, Wednesday is an Addams. The live-action “Wednesday” series delves deeper into their complex relationship, marked by Wednesday’s distrust and Morticia’s unwavering affection. This version of Wednesday is a solitary teenager who detests bullies and possesses psychic abilities. Jenna Ortega brings her character to life with an intense performance that complements her vibrant werewolf roommate turned ally, Enid.
It’s clear that Wednesday, known for her pop culture icon status, has made a significant impact. The spin-off series featuring Wednesday on Netflix has been remarkably successful, with its second season setting a financial record as the largest production ever filmed in Ireland. With fans eagerly anticipating Ortega’s return for season two, they have a variety of past Wednesday interpretations to explore. From the charming Wednesday of the 1960s to Ortega’s more straightforward portrayal, Wednesday consistently embodies herself in a unique and authentic way.
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2024-08-12 03:06