Wednesday’ Season 2 Part 1Ending Explained

Ten years ago, before Stranger Things reshaped what audiences expect from a streaming series, the idea of a show disappearing for three years and waltzing back in like nothing happened would’ve been laughable. But times have changed, and Wednesday the eerie, stylish mystery centered on the deadpan darling of the Addams family makes its return right in stride with this new reality.

The good news? The first four episodes of Season 2 rise to the challenge. No, it doesn’t hit the heights of Stranger Things but thanks to Tim Burton stepping back in to direct two episodes, the vibe remains consistently compelling. Once again, Jenna Ortega proves to be the dark heart of the series. Her portrayal of Wednesday is razor-sharp all withering glances, killer timing, and those deliciously dry one-liners that somehow feel both iconic and freshly funny.

One of the smartest moves this season involves something Ortega herself pointed out ages ago: that the love triangle from Season 1 felt, frankly, out of place. That awkward romantic subplot has been dropped and conveniently so, considering Percy Hynes White (Xavier Thorpe) exited the show following serious allegations. Hunter Doohan is back as Tyler Galpin, now exposed as the monstrous Hyde, but romance is firmly off the table.

In fact, romantic entanglements are noticeably absent from this batch of episodes unless, of course, you’re rooting for Wednesday and her werewolf roomie, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers). Enid has her own complicated love triangle, but the show smartly avoids high school drama clichés and instead embraces a more ensemble-driven approach, diving into darker, bolder storytelling all while keeping that signature macabre wink. Sure, there are still moments of camp (like a capture-the-flag game at a bizarre camping retreat with normie rivals), but the tone feels more mature and less YA than the first season.

There’s also more screen time for side characters like siren Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday), who flexes her psychic powers in ways that deepen her role beyond the typical “mean girl” mold. And yes, there’s significantly more gore this time around. If you’re squeamish or eating something with a soft, squishy texture you might want to hit pause. Let’s just say eyes are removed, brains are eaten, and skulls become serving bowls. Consider yourself warned.

What’s refreshing is how easily the show lets you settle back in, even if you barely remember the details of Season 1. We reconnect with Wednesday over summer break as she hunts a serial killer for fun, naturally while sharpening her psychic skills. A chilling vision of Enid’s death adds a ticking clock to the mystery as the school year kicks off.

Back at Nevermore Academy, Wednesday finds it harder than ever to fly under the radar, now something of a legend after saving the school. But a sinister new stalker (cue the Pretty Little Liars vibes) is watching her every move and there’s a more disturbing mystery unfolding involving crows and eyeballs that are being plucked out with disturbing frequency.

This season also brings the Addams family closer to the main storyline. Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) joins Nevermore and experiments with lightning powers, eventually helping unleash a new monster in a playful subplot with Eugene (Moosa Mostafa, also returning). Morticia, now adjusting to life as an empty nester, is recruited by Nevermore’s new principal played by none other than Steve Buscemi to head the school’s annual gala, with on-campus housing as a bonus.

Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzmán (as Morticia and Gomez) are more involved this time around, which adds depth and flavor to the show’s emotional core. Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) also returns, leading a bizarre psychiatric hospital heist that feels like it’s teasing a potential spinoff. Honestly, the more screen time the family gets, the better their twisted domestic rituals and weird culinary choices (bugs and cacti, anyone?) are endlessly entertaining.

There are fresh faces in the mix, too. Billie Piper joins as Nevermore’s new, often-singing music teacher, while Thandiwe Newton guest stars as a psychiatrist at Willow Hill, where Tyler is being held. Neither role screams for attention, but both actresses bring gravitas and it’s genuinely exciting to see them pop up. Plus, Lady Gaga is slated to appear in Part 2, which drops September 3.

By the end of Episode 4, the plotline around the missing eyeballs delivers a major twist. It’s not totally clear where the back half of the season will go, especially given how quickly the story escalates. But if these first episodes are any indication, Wednesday has finally found its rhythm. It’s less interested in being boxed into traditional teen TV tropes, and more focused on being its own gloriously weird thing helped along by stellar performances, creepily gorgeous production design, and that ever-present dose of dark humor.

Wednesday Season 2, Part 1 is now streaming on Netflix and it’s worth sinking your teeth into.