Wednesday is one of the most fun shows I've seen in a while

Submitted by hufflesnuff t3_z5e3lr in television

Jenna Ortega carries the show by far. She plays the role perfectly. I also like Gwendoline Christy who has that air of something off about her. Same thing with the therapist and Ricci's character, like they are all hiding something. The plot does rely on love triangles a bit much and there are a few characters that seem a bit bland like Gomez. But since Ortega's scene stealing portrayal of a stone faced character that seems to have a million thoughts going on behind those dead eyes is in almost every scene I can't stop watching.

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Western_Camp7920 t1_ixvk46r wrote

That Dance scene... Heard Ortega did the choreography herself.
Yes I agree, very fun and binge worthy show. It also was a surprise somehow, I know it is Tim Burton but i didn't have a lot of hope.
Ortega and Thing were the best part imo.

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Salarian_American t1_ixw3076 wrote

I just watched an interview where she listed Bob Fosse, "videos of 80s goth clubs," and Siouxsie Sioux as the main inspirations for her dance.

Also, she had Covid on the day they shot it and she felt like she'd been hit by a truck.

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fjvgamer t1_ixw8ewg wrote

Tim Burton really toned down his style for this. I would not have guessed he directed it.

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixvkbhx wrote

Yea Burton has been off the last 10 years but this is great

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Matches_Malone83 t1_ixw4nu2 wrote

There was nothing in this that pointed in the direction that it was done by Tim Burton, which is when he's at his best IMO. Sometimes he gets held back by his own tropes and becomes a parody of himself.

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bengringo2 t1_ixwsoj6 wrote

I think he falls into the same trap Spielberg falls into on occasion where he receives so much praise he gets lost up his own asshole thinking every thought he has is gold. He practically launched into a tirade at a passing joke from Kevin Smith that was in no way possibly offensive.

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ILoveRegenHealth t1_ixxqsnk wrote

>I think he falls into the same trap Spielberg falls into on occasion where he receives so much praise he gets lost up his own asshole thinking every thought he has is gold.

Where has Spielberg done that?

Also, bitch, you watch Walking Dead. That show is ass now and you're talking quality? You like seeing people walk in circles around a forest every week?

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bengringo2 t1_ixxy3kl wrote

I take it you haven’t seen Indy 4?

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ILoveRegenHealth t1_ixxz155 wrote

I take it you didn't see the documentary on it where Spielberg said he didn't want to do it (he said Last Crusade was the final one and he intentionally had them ride off into a literal sunset). In the doc, he said Lucas and Harrison Ford kept badgering and calling him to do it. Spielberg finally relented. Can't go hard on a director when he wasn't feeling the script (blame Lucas for approving that script) but felt an obligation to two old friends and colleagues to go in one more time.

Also, Spielberg in the last 10 years has had Munich, War Horse, Lincoln, Bridge of Spies, The Post (two excellent movies nobody saw), and West Side Story all get nominated for Best Picture. 6 movies in 10 years - Tim Burton doesn't even have one BP nominated film. They are not the same.

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Deserterdragon t1_ixz0tvf wrote

Spielberg didn't write Indy 4 and it's issues largely come down to writing, it's still a pretty good,fun movie with a lot of exciting and memorable setpieces. Spielberg doesn't exclusively make great movies but he's not a guy who's anywhere near as indulgent as Tim Burton, or a guy who thinks every thought he has is gold.

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Velghast t1_ixzgvpj wrote

He seems to do allot better when hes not trying to actively kill his wife in the script or getting her to bone Johnny Depp

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r1ngr t1_ixvq8y7 wrote

Jenna is fantastic giving the character such a rich persona. I’m most surprised at how well the roommate character, Enid (Emma Myers), stays equal with Wednesday during scenes. I thought Enid would be an annoying side character but the two actresses meld well together with a little yin & yang.

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LuNiK7505 t1_ixydd62 wrote

Eni and Thing friendship is just prefect

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[deleted] t1_ixwgo5r wrote

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breadseizer t1_ixxxvwu wrote

people keep saying Mary Sue, but the Addams' have always been weirdly great at everything they do

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DogToesSmellofFritos t1_ixz7aod wrote

She’s also far from perfect. She isn’t the best fencer, her novels were dismissed by editors, and she can’t figure out the mystery until it’s basically shoved in her face (she accuses the wrong people multiple times). She doesn’t know how to relate to people.

I don’t get how people can call her a Mary Sue. She is talented but is far from perfect or the best at everything she tries. Honestly a really well rounded protagonist, all things considered. It is an Addams Family project after all.

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[deleted] t1_ixya1ff wrote

[deleted]

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DogToesSmellofFritos t1_iy4hjtj wrote

She’s a deeply flawed and frequently unsuccessful character, I think Mary Sue might not mean what you think it means.

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Gigachops t1_ixz42or wrote

As another self-confident man who enjoys watching a woman kick ass, that whole movement is baffling.

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MercilessShadow t1_ixyrmnz wrote

You call it love triangle but Wednesday was mostly disinterested in both of the boys until the last couple episodes.

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EiichiroTarantino t1_ixynehk wrote

And it really doesn't help when both love interests are not that interesting as characters and in general boring af

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixwgxpv wrote

I agree, they could have done that differently.

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FlaveC t1_ixwgbs1 wrote

> there are a few characters that seem a bit bland like Gomez

While casting Jenna Ortega as Wednesday was a stroke of genius, the parents were horribly miscast. Luis Guzman is simply awful as Gomez and loses all of the color and charm of John Astin's Gomez, while Zeta-Jones looks like she showed up just to collect her paycheck and is but a pale shadow of Carolyn Jones' Morticia. What were they thinking?

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Try_Another_Please t1_ixwlca9 wrote

It is worth noting that no one was trying to make Astin gomez anyway. He plays source material gomez well.

They were thinking the 50s show isnt the only version

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YellowPeyo t1_ixxd8yc wrote

It would have been ok if Luis & Catherine had an once of chemistry but she looked like she hated being near him. Their acting was flat. Gomez's lines in the pilot were sometimes cringy. Bad casting choice.

The first 3 episodes were very Harry Potter x Sabrina. I didn't mind it but it was a bit lazy.

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pvypvMoonFlyer t1_ixy4k0x wrote

Actually Gomez from Guzman is exactly like in the original comic, so I would disagree on him being off and the same applies to morticia.

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SpongeBobCUMMypants t1_iy09yow wrote

I really didn't like his casting. He needed to be attractive but in a weird way. All charm like Raul Julia.

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GarlVinland4Astrea t1_ixvidoq wrote

It's a perfectly executed young adult style show and the lead and supporting cast do between exceptionally well to very well. The biggest week points are Gomez and Morticia who just do not have the charisma. This is especially evident when we get some flashbacks with different actors when they were younger and they are far closer to what I expect from them.

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixvjclb wrote

Yea if this were a remake of the Addams Family show I don't think it would work. I don't know if they were trying to keep them more subdued since it's Wednesdays show, but if they gave them the charisma of the movie gomez and Morticia, they are in the show so little I don't think it would take anything away.

All the references to the movies and show are great too. They got me with that psychic kid.

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GarlVinland4Astrea t1_ixvkwgb wrote

Agreed. Complaining about Gomez ultimately becomes a nitpick because he's not in the show enough to be distracting or have to carry everything. Whenever they are on screen it's from Wednesday's perspective and she doesn't have the most flattering impression of them

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Salarian_American t1_ixvzabi wrote

That's a good point. I thought the casting of both Morticia and Gomez were inspired choices, but was surprised at how low-key they both played everything.

I've seen enough of Catherine Zeta-Jones and Luis Guzman to know that they could, as a pair, give previous owners of the role a run for their money.

But the idea that we're viewing them through Wednesday's eyes, where they only exist on a scale from embarrassing to nauseating makes it make sense.

I daresay there's also an element of wanting to avoid attempting a carbon copy of either Carolyn Jones/John Astin or Anjelica Huston/Raul Julia.

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pvypvMoonFlyer t1_ixy4u4p wrote

To boot they are close to their comic book counterparts (which is the main source material) and most people fail to see that.

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YellowPeyo t1_ixxbq6k wrote

Jenna's casting was spot on. Maybe it's just me, but there were times where her facial expressions , mainly her gaze, reminded me a lot of Helena Bonham Carter's. I've had that impression several times during the season.

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shadowdra126 t1_ixwbk8i wrote

I’ll take the opposite view

I thought it was awful and very CWesque. The moment the group of teens howled unironically was when I knew the show was not for me.

Wednesday having a bad relationship with her mother also sat horribly with me. That’s just not part of her character.

It’s a pass and I do not expect it to get renewed based on Netflix’s track record

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixwe4t4 wrote

It made sense to me. She's younger in the old show. Now that she's a teenager who wants to live her own life her mom who is so family centric contrasts with her hopes to be an author. How can she devote all her time to her own interests if expected to follow in the footsteps of the rest of the Addams family? Sounds like a good concept to me. Plus even when she was younger in the show she was the rebel

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rcanhestro t1_ixwkxe7 wrote

yup, i saw her relationship with Morticia as the typical "teenager girl rebelling" against her parents, but in an "Addams" way.

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90dfbaby t1_ixxabv4 wrote

100% agree, it’s basically a CW show. The dialogue felt kinda forced at times and cringe. I think it’s mostly a show for kids/teens

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pvypvMoonFlyer t1_ixy50u6 wrote

“That’s just not part of her character”, you fail to account for the face that Wednesday is 16 now, her having a bad relationship with her mother is on brand with being a teenager.

Why have unrealistic expectations?

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deathmouse t1_ixvmnsm wrote

Literally the only thing I didn't like was Morticia. She sounded bored, and lifeless (which I guess is appropriate for the character now that I think about it).

Loved it. I see a lot of comparisons to CW shows and to Sabrina in particular, but I didn't get that vibe. This show does a lot to upend most of the common tropes in CW shows, and aside from some dodgy CGI, the cinematography and effects were top-notch.

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bengringo2 t1_ixwtn2q wrote

I was gunna say Morticia is portrayed exactly as the character is meant to be. Seems soulless and sketchy as hell because she’s bored and you’re not exactly sure what twisted thing she’s going to do to entertain herself.

She’s supposed to be where Wednesday gets her dark sense of humor and deadpan personality from.

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trojan25nz t1_ixyd19g wrote

I liked Morticias distance

She was like a painting, her face lit up like those old timey photos while everything else is normal. Or maybe that was make up or tune up or something

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Goose-Suit t1_ixvyxsy wrote

Yeah I put it on just to kill the rest of the evening before bed and I’m really liking the show. Jenna Ortega delivers her lines with the perfect amount of snark.

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixvn59c wrote

I guess but Carolyn Jones may have been aloof but she would dance and show passion for her plants kids and Gomez. I give her a pass cause... Reasons...

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practicalm t1_ixwg86z wrote

I really like the writing. The dialog is just fun. I also like that the therapist is Riki from Garfunkel and Oates. She’s Garfunkel.

Only on the 3rd episode. Didn’t really care for the canoe racing though

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DiogenesLied t1_ixxsmku wrote

That seemed like a callback to the original comic strips

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ddohert8 t1_ixvk3rk wrote

I didn't think it was perfect. At the start something just felt off, it seemed like it was trying to do to many things and not landing all of them. But as the season went on I think it found its voice more and stuck the landing.

I also agree that Jena absolutely killed it as Wednesday.

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trojan25nz t1_ixycvau wrote

With the beginning, the black aesthetic clashed badly with the colourful surroundings of normal life, but when they got to the town that was darker, or more washed out, the black theme fit while still being somewhat out of place

Wednesday was def the strong point of the show. She was quick and cutting

The werewolf chick grew on me

Tyler was sorta good I think

The others were meh

Don’t like what they did with the siren antagonist. Loved the start but Her middle and end writing could’ve been better. The drawing love interest was a little flat and cliche I think

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EsquilaxM t1_ixvu5kf wrote

Agreed. Jenna Ortega killed the role. Making the dance herself?? So much respect for the work out in. Insists on doing her stunts, too.

The series overall is just ok, but her performance elevates the whole thing because she's just a delight to watch.

I read/watched a couple.interviews, turns out they filmed out of order. And so she went back and forth between directors, because Burton only directed the first four. So sometimes the other directors would tell her to portray herself differently and she had to figure out how to insist to them to keep things consistent.

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jimmy6677 t1_ixwosc6 wrote

Wednesday and Uncle Fester steal this show. The scene in the motorcycle and side car was fantastic.

I really hope they keep it family friendly and don’t make it too riverdale/cw teen drama. It’s already riding that line a bit with the love triangles.

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grunkage t1_ixxf0ck wrote

Thing too. I was concerned they would just lose that aspect of the original characters, but they've done a real good job preserving it. Armisen as Fester is awesome.

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Nunos100 t1_ixwqjr3 wrote

I was fully inside a Wes Anderson movie for that motorcycle ride 😂

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SoulCruizer t1_ixx84zt wrote

Can someone tell me if this is similar to Sabrina? Cause I ending up really disliking that. Turned out very CW and I just assumed this was in the same tone as that show so not sure if I should bother.

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sukicat t1_ixxbhze wrote

I liked how Sabrina started but not so much the direction it took so I bailed on the 2nd season. This definitely has a similar vibe. It's fun. It's more of a detective story with an Addams family twist. Like if monk/psych was a teenage goth girl. Keep your expectations level. Overall, I enjoyed it. If they do a second season I just hope they don't run it into the ground.

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Orphanhorns t1_ixx9g06 wrote

Very similar. It’s just a more goth version of Sabrina, didn’t feel like Addams Family at all just another generic CW style show.

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cryptic-fox t1_ixyfcwl wrote

I really enjoyed Wednesday. I didn’t like Sabrina and stopped after season 1.

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sliph0588 t1_ixzru00 wrote

Feel like Wednesday is darker while still being light hearted and seems to have better writing, acting, and directing than Sabrina.

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theSodMonster t1_ixvyfnr wrote

I have to say I don't much care for her portayal of Wednesday. I loved Christina Ritchies deadpan droll character i the 90s movies but Jenna's seems a little... angry.

Having said that I really like the show and Jenna's character is good, I would just prefer the show as it's own thing without the Addams Family brand.

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ReservoirDog316 t1_ixy0lsc wrote

It’s just a likable show. She gives a very strong performance so even a bad scene has her giving it her all.

It clicked for me by the last few minutes of the first episode and by the third episode, I was just enjoying it.

Very watchable show.

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Cockapoo17 t1_ixvn324 wrote

I haven’t watched the show yet but it is on my watchlist.

I’m surprised Tim Burton is disliked on here as I have seen a lot of negative comments about his work. His version of Batman was by far my favourite and I genuinely find those movies tedious to watch. Also really enjoyed Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, and Corpse Bride.

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EsquilaxM t1_ixvuot4 wrote

I think the general perception of tim Burton is he did a lot of great great things in the 20th century. Not much in the last decade or so.

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blargerer t1_ixwa9ef wrote

As another comment said, I think most people would agree that most of his work through 2009 was good to great, maybe with a movie here or there being excluded (His Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is dogshit imo). But then he's just had basically all misses from 2010 forward. And not like, near misses, they are basically all awful. The only exception in that time period is the frankenweenie remake/extension.

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Thefrugaldougal t1_ixx3ru6 wrote

From what I understand from Netflix's The Movies That Made Us, Tim Burton didn't really have much to do with nightmare before Christmas but got a lot of the credit. I think he just has a unique drawing style and people like his characterization as a somewhat twisted individual. But I bet he just slaps his name on things nowadays.

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grunkage t1_ixxeqpm wrote

Just binged the whole thing last night. It was great - has a bit of a Sabrina/Riverdale feel, but writing and directing feel better

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Kero_Cola t1_ixxy72o wrote

i just started it. half of wednesday's lines made me laugh and half of them were rough. i want to like it but i kind of wish not every line had to be a zinger spoken as if she was 35. looking forward to more however. im a big fan of the franchise overall and the premise seems cool.

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BaldingMonk t1_ixww6r9 wrote

Watched the first couple episodes and it’s ok. But what is with all the really noticeable digital smoothing on a lot of the actors? Acne?

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixwxa8l wrote

I didn't notice that. I finally got my old 55 inch plasma set up again and what I did notice is the layers of makeup

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rcanhestro t1_ixwkook wrote

my only "issue" with the issue is the lack of the Addams family, it would had been fun to see the interact with each other more.

Also, although i don't dislike Nevermore, it would had been pretty cool to see Wednesday and Pugsley in a "normie" high school for longer.

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pvypvMoonFlyer t1_ixy55fw wrote

Well, how is it an issue since it was never meant to be an adams family show? Why fault a show for not being what it never claimed to be?

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rcanhestro t1_ixybcqf wrote

i expected to be a Wednesday show overall, but expected to see the family in more than 2 episodes.

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Mattyzooks t1_ixxplcy wrote

Weird. 5 Wednsday posts in the front page of this subreddit but no one accusing any of these posters as being shills.
For the record, I'm all for people posting about shows they are positive about. It just seems like certain shows have a crowd of people are ready to pounce on and attack people for enjoying things.
And for the record: Jenna Ortega is quickly becoming a generational horror actor. She's on a roll.

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixxsbjq wrote

Just the show is trash cause I called it fun lol. My brain is tired after 2020 and I just want to escape. Used to listen to a lot of news and and such. Now I just want to check out

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bcisabeast t1_ixx8hdt wrote

Tim Burton did a pretty good job setting the tone, but he seems to be getting all the credit for this show. Credit should also go to the guys that showran,they were also behind Smallville.

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KlulessAl t1_ixywcc0 wrote

There are SIX fucking posts for this show on the front page of r/television. Is this going to be the new Andor where we see new articles morning, noon, and night for a month?

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exaslave t1_iy1lxnh wrote

Nah this is netflix... already had it's week to week post!

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wwhmochi t1_iy17zkh wrote

I enjoy it for it is- an easy and fun watch. I found it entertaining and a nice break from the gritty Emmy-baiting shows.

Jenna is clearly talented and has a bright acting future. I loved watching her.

My main gripes are with the rest of the cast, or at least most of them. I hated the acting of the other students. It was so forced and amateur. I get that they're going for a little camp, but you can do camp with good acting.

Bianca (Joy Sunday) was the worst actor among the cast. Maybe her lines were just too bad for her to work with? Idk, but her delivery was awful.

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ursiwitch t1_ixxke6f wrote

“The subterfuge was impressive.”

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sicariusv t1_ixxkm6y wrote

Is it watchable if I've never consumed any Addams Family show or film in any way, shape or form before in my life?

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ewolf93 t1_ixye030 wrote

It's a neat show. It feels like April Ludgate's origin story

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skzpinker t1_ixynidh wrote

I love seeing Jenna get so much praise! she's been one of my favourite actresses for ages and i genuinely believe that she has THE talent to be one of the top most actors of her generation if things go well

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brennop t1_ixzih4i wrote

Don’t want to be an asshole but besides Wednesday I disliked most off the teenage actors performance, she really carried the show for me. Wanted to know what you guys think

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixzklvg wrote

Same here until the last episode. That police office scene...

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mikepictor t1_iy05b1r wrote

Is it?

No fault to the star herself, she's great, but it's like the directors/writers have no idea why the Addams are fun to watch. I gave up after 2 episodes.

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kobbled t1_iy1jtl1 wrote

my only complaint is that this show is SO LOUD

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unitwithasoul t1_iy2vx10 wrote

Only three episodes in but I agree. Having fun with it and Jenna Ortega is perfect in this role.

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dustbunnydreams t1_iy33z87 wrote

I binged it. Over all it was very good. I wasn't expecting I would like it any, happy to be wrong.

​

And yes the girl who played Wednesday was the star. She made it good. Also "thing".

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mikeweasy t1_iy6inqt wrote

I am in love with Jenna as Wednesday!!

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TwoCats_OneMan t1_ixx3h6x wrote

100% when a non-critic classifies something as "fun" that means its terrible.

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tekthebeast t1_ixw8f2h wrote

but is it as good as one of the best shows of the year Andor????

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hufflesnuff OP t1_ixw8syz wrote

I'll have to try watching Andor again. I must have been really tired cause I fell asleep during the first episode

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DredZedPrime t1_ixxrhb2 wrote

The first few are quite slowly paced, but build a whole lot of necessary character and background that leads to very important stuff later on.

I'd definitely reccomend trying again, as a whole it really is one of the best shows in a long while.

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big65 t1_ixxbfer wrote

I like it, it's a bit rough but it's definitely good, now I wonder how long it's going to take the internet's pedophiles to sexualize the actress and hentai artists to turn her into the next fad.

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ghulzen t1_ixxuyhj wrote

Um you realize she's 20?

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big65 t1_ixxvlgr wrote

Nope, I had no idea as I have never seen her before.

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otherisp t1_ixxp2gj wrote

Kind of weird that’s the first place your mind takes you

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big65 t1_ixxpz4n wrote

Not really when you consider that's what they did with Milly B during her first season of stranger things and with the Olsen twins when they hit preteen age. I've had to deal with this as a father both online and off with creeps eyeing my daughter. Trust me it's really bad and the internet's made it entirely east and incredibly difficult to stop.

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