Common Sense Media Review
By Joyce Slaton
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dead bodies, spooky imagery in darkly comic drama.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 11+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wednesday
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 96 parent reviews
Parents say the show has garnered mixed reviews regarding its suitability for children, with many pointing out that while it features strong themes of independence and friendship, the level of violence and gore significantly increases in the second season, making it more appropriate for older teens. Several parents recommend watching it first before letting younger children view it, highlighting concerns over graphic content and the potential for nightmares in more sensitive kids.
- varied age recommendations
- strong female character
- graphic violence concerns
- dark themes present
- watch with caution
- humor blended in
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
Based on 385 kid reviews
Kids say the show is a mix of humor and darker themes, featuring strong characters and creepy visuals, but it raises concerns over its suitability for younger viewers due to graphic violence and intense themes. While many appreciate the engaging storyline and character development, parents are advised to consider individual maturity levels before letting their children watch it, as some found it scary or inappropriate for kids under 12.
- humor and dark themes
- strong characters
- graphic violence
- parental guidance needed
- individual maturity matters
- engaging storyline
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
This time, WEDNESDAY (Jenna Ortega) has really done it. Expelled from her latest school, she's being sent to Nevermore, the "school for outcasts" where her parents, Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez Addams (Luis Guzman), met and where Wednesday's downbeat approach to life might finally be appreciated. Alas, there's been a spate of murders in Jericho, the small town near Nevermore, and it falls to our heroine to solve the mystery under the watchful eye of her new principal, Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie).
Is It Any Good?
Beautiful to look at and perfectly cast, this promising dark series breathes new life into a classic character. Ortega is absolutely, positively the ideal Wednesday and a worthy successor to Christina Ricci, who memorably inhabited the character in two popular 1990s movies (and here shows up as Wednesday's dorm house mother, who may have hidden depths). Ortega's darkly ironic humor and barely concealed emotional pain add depth to her portrayal, and it's clear that her relationship with mom Morticia is a relatably complex one, with the two sparring and supporting each other by turns.
The boarding school setting may make some viewers miss the whole family's antics, as they've always been a loving and supportive unit despite their dark and spooky ways. But teens and tweens will enjoy the school-set murder mystery, with its Harry Potter/Buffy the Vampire Slayer vibe, as it deals with a family secret that stretches back to Morticia and Gomez's time at the school and a mysterious Big Bad that (naturally) Wednesday alone can dispatch.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how the supernatural has traditionally been portrayed on television and in movies. Think about how supernatural powers figure in some of the things you've watched. Are the people with powers depicted as heroic? Monstrous? Why does it vary, and what does this say about what the supernatural represents to us?
Why is it important that Wednesday is young? How would this story change if she were an older character? What's interesting or special about youth, and why is it so often the center of drama? What types of stories make sense for young characters and not older ones?
Families can also talk about the series of comics on which Wednesday is based. Why would this series transform the light comedy of the cartoons into dark drama?
Have you seen other versions of Wednesday or the Addams Family? If so, which is your favorite, and why?
TV Details
- Premiere date : November 23, 2022
- Cast : Jenna Ortega , Luis Guzman , Catherine Zeta-Jones , Christina Ricci
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Ghosts , Magic , Monsters , Vampires ) , Friendship , School ( High School )
- TV rating :
- Awards : Common Sense Selection , Kids' Choice Award
- Last updated : December 11, 2025
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