Wednesday, the hit television series based on the iconic 1964 Addams Family sitcom, made its global debut on November 23, 2022. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Jenna Ortega, Wednesday immediately became a global sensation with its intriguing storyline and gothic visuals. Within just the first 91 days of its release, Wednesday Season 1 accumulated over 252 million views, taking the entertainment industry by storm. It stands as the most viewed English Netflix series and topped charts in 90 countries. So why is it that a show with this level of success experienced a staggering 42% viewership decrease with the release of its second season?
Just months before the launch of Wednesday Season 2, excitement buzzed in the community as big names, like Lady Gaga, were announced to make appearances. When part one was released, the season amassed 50 million views in its first 5 days. In stark contrast, the release of part two only gained 28.2 million views within the same timeframe. Multiple factors contributed to this decline, including the split season release, seasonal timing, and narrative itself.
Firstly, unlike the binge friendly Season 1, Season 2 was released in two parts, each consisting of four 50 minute episodes spaced a month apart. In that time period, early viewers began to move on to different shows while others decided to skip watching Wednesday entirely, until the airing of its second part. On top of that, fans found the cliffhangers in Season 2 less captivating.
Secondly, the show’s dark, gothic, Halloween-adjacent tone did not align with its seasonal release. Fans believe the show would have been more compelling if it was released in October, where its spooky atmosphere would match the show’s haunting qualities.
Third, the second season was released almost three years after the first. In the story’s timeline, only one summer had passed. This caused the hiatus to be extremely evident, specifically in Pugsley, as actor Isaac Ordonez’s growth made the character appear to have had an unusual growth spurt. Since Wednesday’s demographic leans towards the youth, this gap was significant. A viewer on Reddit commented, “After the first episode of the new season I noped out. Decided I was too old for it. Love Addams family, even went as Morticia for halloween when I was a kid, but this show feels…too juvenile.” Old fans had grown up while the show failed to mature along with them. Furthermore, the time gap made it difficult for fans to remember the plot from the previous season, with many claiming they had to rewatch the entirety of Season 1.
Lastly, the storyline in the second season was less intriguing overall. It felt overly reused banking off similar family mysteries and villain arcs. Certain subplots ended too abruptly after being dragged on and numerous filler episodes and unresolved plot holes made the season less enjoyable. A fan on Reddit critiqued, “Visually it’s great, but the pacing just drags and it doesn’t have that spark that makes you want to hit ‘next episode’ right away.” Ultimately, the season’s poor timing and uneven narrative contributed to its drop in viewership.
Nonetheless, Wednesday still holds the #1 spot on streaming charts. Despite these criticisms, the season’s addition of new characters, complex storyline, and increased horror elements deserve to be praised. With Season 3 on the horizon, anticipation once again begins to build. Can Wednesday recapture the magic of its debut?
