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By 5D writer & book obsessive, Laurie S. Bachmann
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This is an opinion nobody asked for, but I shall give it anyway.
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This week I binged Wednesday because as a Millenial that’s what we do now. Netflix’s new series focuses on the eldest child of the macabre Addams family, as they navigate the minefield that is teenhood and High School.
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As an awkward individual, who tends to shy away quietly from any level of forced social interactions with other humans, I found Wednesday as a character spoke to my very soul. Her style, her hobbies and her need for enforced social distancing meant I was in love by episode 1.
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Episode 1 opens with Wednesday in an ordinary school, her dark clothing contrasts strongly with the peppy colours, the banners proclaiming school spirit and her fellow schoolmates laughing and socialising. Wednesday finds Pugsley in a locker, seemingly the victim of bullying, her completely rational response is to then locate said bullies – the swim team. During practice, she unleashes schools of piranha into the pool and literal carnage ensues. The school felt this response was a little uncalled for and so she is expelled. Her only option is to enrol in Morticias Alma Marta, Nevermore Academy, where being an outsider is the norm. You would think Wednesday would fit right in, you would be wrong. Painted as an outcast amongst outcasts and maintaining that Addams family trend of individuality amongst the masses – even a stange mass.
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The series spans over 8 episodes focusing on the emergence of monsters bumping off characters in every episode and culminating in the discovery of curses, magic and cults. It’s a menagerie of the “other” from medusa like creatures to werewolves, Nevermore plays host to a whole bunch of strange and marvellous individuals.
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There has been a number of takes and comparisons since the series aired. Many compare it to the previous incarnations from the ’60s, ’90s, 00’s and now the 2022 version. I grew up with Angelica Houston as my Morticia, and to be honest, Catherine Zeta-Jones just didn’t do it for me. I found Angelica to be more sensual in her portrayal, embracing the darker aspects of the Addams’s nature, with more of a tame Sado-masochistic note to her performance. Catherine Zeta-Jones seemed to adopt a more maternal stand-offish approach to her eldest child – Something previous iterations had never done, yearning for closeness, yet never attempting to adapt to “speak Wednesdays language” I find the conflict between mother and daughter trope to be overdone, and just cringe now. Angelica Houston embraced Wednesday’s need to be who she was and relished her explorations of her character – making her, in my opinion, the better Morticia.
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Each iteration, however, seems a clear reflection of what society needs the Addams family to be for that time. In the 60s it was a family who was odd, yes. They defied the social aesthetic and rebelled against the picture-perfect portrayal of others that were dominant in shows like Bewitched (no shade to bewitched – loved this show for different reasons). Addams’s family has always worked to “break the mould” but always portrays a family that are devoted to each other.
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The 90’s version sought to break down the commercialist values of this era, there was a distinct repetition in media of family breakdowns, the rise of co-parenting, and step-families and media sought to reflect the family dynamics of the modern age. Addams’s family served to remind us that not all families embrace this, that it was ok to be different, to embrace the darker aspects of both aesthetics and desires and go against the established grain. They were an interconnected dynamic, which was healthy and supportive of the decisions made by the other family members. There was heavy importance placed on the need for tradition, maintaining traditions and not rebelling against them. I loved it.
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The Addams family of 2022 is set to focus on one character, in particular, one that has always been used as a prop or comedy tool in previous iterations. Wednesday has been hailed by many, but the criticism has been heavy too. This is for multiple reasons, but mainly for the apparent neurodivergent coding that wasn’t truly present in her other iterations.
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What is neurodivergent coding, I hear you ask? Well, it is the establishment of a character with certain traits that are indicative of neurodivergency. Some can be harmful stereotyping, like the volatile outbursts the media show of ADHD, some can be subliminal ways media use to tell us this person is neurodivergent without the specific labelling.
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Wednesday showcases several of these coded traits. Most obviously is her speech patterns, or the bluntness that often comes across as “rude” in her dialogues. Wednesday doesn’t engage in the usual back and forths, instead, she opts for a more direct approach, the best example of this is in Episode 3, Friends and Woes. Its outreach day, Wednesday is working at the amusement park and rather bluntly informs a group of german speaking tourists about the historical inaccuracies of the fudge being sold, and the heinous acts of settlers against the indigenous propulations. Wednesday is unable to recognise certain emotional cues from the tourists and continues on oblivious to their disinterest and, in some cases, disgust of her monologue.
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Another Code often used to denote Neurodivergeancy a strong sense of justice or moral justice. I tend to be guilty of this one, I find myself outraged by certain things which are a blatant injustice to me, and then I am further annoyed by peoples perceived apathy to this Civilisation ending event. Wednesday becomes hyperfixated – I’ll get into this one shortly, on the need for justice for the bodies being found littered about town. Nobody will currently believe that there are indeed multiple bodies. She seems obsessed with seeking the approval of the sherrif – who holds the power for serving this justic that Wednesday seek. This code is the driving force for the series, and is made integral to the story – usually in other media it is used to build the sense of othering that neurodivrgency on any screen seem to portray. It is usually used to build a compulsive and deranged personality. Here, it used to highlight Wednesday difference to those around her – but in a way that is a positive reflection of her character and integrity. When she is not believed, those non believers are seen in the negative light.
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Hyperfixation, or the compulsive focus on any given thing. It is deemed the “superpower” of neurodivergency; it is not. Hyperfixation is all consuming, all else pales in importance and it often to the detriment of the individual, who will forget such simple things as to eat, drink, visit a bathroom etc. Hyperfixation can get a serious amount of stuff done – this is true, but often at the cost of absolutely everything else around them. Wednesday becomes hyperfixated on the growing mystery of the monsters and the murders, often seen working through the night to solve the latest clue, unable to “shut off” for things like sleep, or meals. She also engages in things like the Cello, playing in a way so focused all other things disappear.
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Other codes that have been highlighted are Hypersensitivity – most dominanlty an aversion to smells and colour. Wednesday highlights that she has an exceptional sense of smell, and is unable to tolerate her roommates pallet choices stating colour brings her out in a physical rash. The final code is Wednesdays lack or minimal use of facial expressions and blinking, and being unable to register these cues in others.
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Were they successful in this coding? Yes to me, but others have seen the lack of confirmation regarding Wednesdays neurodivergency as a means to “cash in” on the quirks of the community. I enjoyed Wednesday, and seeing someone with the things that have often made me “odd” within society felt refreshing.
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The series overall was fun, Jenna Ortega did a wonderful job and has created many a TikTok dance trend as users attempt to highlight and showcase the things that unify them in their oddness. The twists, by episode 4 were apparent though, and I found myself a little annoyed at how my new Idol Wednesday was oblivious to the blatantly obvious reveal.
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If you would like to donate & support the 5D Pop Culture website & keep informed of more features like this as well as some additional treats for supporters only – go here: https://ko-fi.com/5dpopculturewebsite
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