A champion of the weird and the whacky, it was only a matter of time before Tim Burton
tackled "The Addams Family" franchise. Non-conforming women such as Lydia and
Sally are just some of Burton's most iconic characters and modernizing
Wednesday Addams was a no-brainer. Netflix's "Wednesday" is a fresh spin on the character,
honoring her Latina roots and making her even more of an outsider than before. This was an
element that the new Wednesday herself, Jenna Ortega, was hoping to elevate.
Ortega stated in a Netflix featurette,
"It was really important to me that I did something different,
even though she's been done so flawlessly in the past. She's a bit more socially
awkward. There's a confidence there but it's more concealed."
There is no question that Christina Ricci's portrayal in the '90s is beyond reproach,
but Ortega's instinct about the character did not end up being a gamble. Critics immediately began
to praise Ortega's distinctive direction with the iconic character. The Wall Street Journal wrote,
"Ms. Ortega is a charismatic performer playing a character who is decidedly anti-charisma,
so that's an accomplishment; she has a face that triumphs over deadpan."
It's no surprise that Ortega is receiving a bundle of praise for starring as one of TV's
most iconic goth icons. Ortega lent her talents to the horror thrillers "Scream" and "X" earlier this
year but it's clear that "Wednesday" is wholly hers. After the series premiered on Netflix,
fans couldn't get enough of the young actor's take on the iconic "Addams Family" character.
us Kristen Bell's pithy titular detective while the characters of "Riverdale" would
be nowhere without Jughead Jones leading the investigative charge. Jenna Ortega's Wednesday
Addams is the next to pick up the mantle in this gothic high school series, with
many praising the show's mystery. Fans on Twitter have exploded with praise for the Netflix series.
One user wrote,
"[T]his show was so iconic! Jenna Ortega is easily one of the best actors of our generation.
And I loved that it was a murder mystery! it was like 'Addams Family' meets 'Sherlock,’"
This was just the first of many instances where Ortega received continuous praise on social media.
An enthusiastic viewer tweeted, "[T]he 1st episode of #WednesdayNetflix
was freakin' amazing! It's absolutely ridiculous how amazing Jenna Ortega
[is] as #Wednesday. The score, the writing, the visuals, the acting, everything is on point!"
Though the series came together as a whole,
there has been one continuous thread throughout the fans' love of the series.
One fan in particular said,
"Finished #WednesdayNetflix and I'm left with the biggest smile on my face. Jenna
Ortega ate that up, leaving no crumbs. What a ridiculously talented woman."
Across the board, fans could not get over her command of the character. Several
Twitter users echoed similar sentiments about the comedy coming across in spades.
Jenna Ortega has had considerable experience in television for some time,
but the actor has truly come into her own in the past couple of years. Thanks to her
recent leading and supporting horror roles, the "Wednesday" actor has become a true icon for
the genre. Those who have completed the series think the star truly shines as the goth hero.
A Reddit user commented while discussing the series on the Television subreddit,
"Jenna is awesome and I'm loving her,
she's the best part of the show and in every scene she's great."
Another user suggested that Ortega's success as Wednesday is due to her ability to embody the
character fans know and love, while also updating it for modern audiences, truly making it her own.
Some were more critical of the Netflix series,
though even they couldn't deny Ortega's acting chops.
A Redditor wrote,
"Jenna Ortega is the only saving grace and carries the entire show on her back. It's
palpable how inexperienced her co-stars are compared to her."
While some Tim Burton fans couldn't get into the show,
others couldn't help but feel joy seeing Ortega tap into Wednesday's Latina roots.
One Twitter user called out and praised Ortega for representing the Latin community, saying,
"Jenna Ortega as Wednesday Addams is everything Latina empowerment."
Overall, it looks like "Wednesday" is another winner for Burton, Netflix,
and Ortega, whose career is just starting to rise.