Wednesday was more than just a hit show when it was released on Netflix in 2022, the show shattered records and became the most watched English language show on Netflix of all time. The series stars Jenna Ortega, who had appeared prominently in other shows before, but Wednesday was a big step up in her career. In addition, Tim Burton helmed the project, directing multiple episodes and lending his unique style to the reimagined Addams Family series.

However, these were just a part of what made the show enticing for people to click on and watch the series. The series itself won audiences over and created an engaging and exciting visual journey with an outstanding story that made it a viral sensation. Much of this came from specific scenes and moments that helped to solidify Ortega’s role as Wednesday Addams, and the series as a brilliant new entry in a beloved franchise that combined to create the most successful show on Netflix in just a single season.

The Rave’N Dance

Episode 4

For many, their first interaction with Wednesday was not actually watching the series on Netflix, but seeing the viral dance trend online inspired by Ortega’s performance in Wednesday“Woe What a Night.” Despite the lead characters’ sullen and reclusive nature, she is not afraid to let down her hair and bust a move. This is shown in an absolutely captivating scene during the Nevermore Academy Rave’N dance, when the students all gather together to have a celebration, and Wednesday dominates the dance floor.

The scene features choreography from Ortega herself, and incorporates movements which are a tribute to earlier representations of the character (via Dexerto). The dance is so unusual and unique with bizarre movements and several different sequences, but each element comes together to create something truly spectacular. With such a unique dance, and the viral dance culture which exists on social media platforms like TikTok, it was almost guaranteed that Wednesday’s dance scene would be iconic.

Piranhas In The Swimming Pool

Episode 5

However, for those whose first interaction with the show came from watching the series on Netflix, there was an equally stunning moment in the very first episode. In “Wednesday’s Child is Full of Woe,” Wednesday is first seen attending a mainstream school where she clearly stands out. Wednesday is perceived as being very odd by the other students, and they attempt to bully her. But Wednesday is not the type of person to simply hide away and recoil from the bullies.

Many of the people who tried to make fun of Wednesday were sporty, jock types from the swim team, and while they were all attending a training session in the school pool, Wednesday took her revenge. In a scene that absolutely establishes how she approaches problems, and the lengths she is comfortable going to. Wednesday releases two large bags full of flesh-eating piranhas into the pool, mauling and mutilating the students who tried to alienate her. This scene establishes that Wednesday was going to be more dark and twisted than other versions that came before.

Saving Thing’s Life

Episode 7

Several episodes later, Wednesday has already proven that she does not show emotions easily, and it takes a great deal to shake her from her calm, cool approach to everything and anything. But in an incredibly emotional scene during “If You Don’t Woe Me by Now” all of her walls come crashing down when her dear friend, Thing, is mortally wounded. Thing is a sentient hand who has a close bond with Wednesday and often does what they can to protect and guide her, but Thing gets caught in the crossfire with someone who wanted to hurt Wednesday.

Prior to this moment, Wednesday typically remained emotionless, and distant from whatever events unfolded around her, but Thing’s injuries had Wednesday breaking down in floods of tears. The emotion and love she had for her friend was on clear display, and helped to solidify her character as someone who did have deep and meaningful emotions just beneath the reserved surface level. It also benefitted as a scene because this only came in the penultimate episode, which meant it was a natural progression, rather than creating an inconsistent and confusing character.

The Addams Family Snap

Episode 2

While these scenes helped to establish Wednesday as a show in its own right, the series is also an extension of The Addams Family franchise of shows and movies. In order to make sure this show still connected and paid tribute to the original stories, there was one vital scene that came early in season 1, episode 2 “Woe Is the Loneliest Number.” While Wednesday investigates hidden parts of Nevermore Academy, she finds a statue of Edgar Allan Poe with a clue about how to access a hidden space on it.

As it turns out, the solution is to snap twice, in a rhythmic fashion which is a clear homage to the 1964 Addams Family TV show, and its subsequent iterations. This link immediately made the series a clear part of the wider universe of stories, and helped fans of the original show and films to connect with the contemporary series. While the show needed to establish a distinct presence, it was also important for it to connect to the source material, and that is exactly what this scene does, increasing the popularity of the series overall.

Wednesday At Pilgrim World

Episode 3

Another scene which helps to connect the series back to earlier versions comes when Wednesday is required to participate in Pilgrim World in the town of Jericho. Wednesday dresses in full pilgrim garb, and with incredible fluency, she guides tourists and guests with impeccable German. However, the message she is sharing is not one of happiness, unity, and fun that is expected from a festival, but the dark and grisly reality of pilgrims taking over the land and inaccuracies in the history lessons being delivered.

This shows a complete disregard for expected social norms and upholding truth above fluffy pleasant stories, but also allows Wednesday to shine as someone who revels in these darker tales. The scene effectively ties the series with older entries in the franchise, and continues to build Wednesday as a fascinating, complex character. The scene also works to establish Ortega’s multi-talented performance, as she delivers an excellent performance in multiple languages, and proves just how intelligent, witty and twisted Wednesday Addams is.

Wednesday Fighting In The Cafe

Episode 3

Earlier in the series, when Wednesday is first confronted by some of the boys from Jericho who work at Pilgrim World, she is at risk of being bullied once again. However, Wednesday never takes things lying down, and when the boys attempt to swing at her and fight, she manages to fight them off with incredible ease. Despite her much smaller frame and stature, she takes down three large boys without ever letting them land a single blow.

This helps to show that Wednesday is not simply a weak young lady, or someone who is unable to defend herself, but she is a force to be reckoned with. The character does not rely on others to come to her rescue. On the contrary, she is far better equipped to dismantle her own threats than having someone else step in and waste time. Wednesday’s independence, her strength as a character and an individual, and her overall prowess at fighting all help to make her an incredible protagonist for the series to be built around.

The Cello Solo

Episode 1

Further establishing the many talents of the young Addams girl, Wednesday has a spectacular scene in which Wednesday is performing a rendition of The Rolling Stones’ Paint It Black from the balcony at Nevermore. This scene features no dialogue, but it helps to build the creative and genius character out with another side that engages in the arts. Wednesday is a brilliant young women, who possesses many skills and attributes, and this scene does a great job at conveying just a small part of what she is capable of beyond revenge, and fighting bullies.

The performance is also something that Ortega trained for ahead of the series, getting to a high level of proficiency to the point that she was able to perform and accurately mime in the scenes where this was required. According to Classic FM, the scene where Ortega performs Paint It Black does have some minor inconsistencies with the soundtrack, but for the most part, her performance was done to a high standard.

Wednesday Hugging Enid

Episode 8

However, one of the best scenes of Wednesday season 1 comes in the final episode, “A Murder of Woes”, when Wednesday finally shows her friend Enid affection in the form of a hug. Wednesday is averse to physical contact, and largely chooses to be isolated. However, when she arrives at Nevermore, she is placed in a room with the remarkable, bubbly, and colorful Enid, who serves as a complete opposite to Wednesday’s grayscale life. Enid tries many times to befriend and open up with Wednesday, but she is frequently rebuffed for her efforts.

This all changes in the final episode, however, when Enid steps up to save Wednesday, in spite of her coldness and distance. Enid finally transforms into a werewolf after years of struggling to find her howl, and is able to fight off the Hyde to protect Wednesday. In a beautiful and emotional moment, Wednesday finds Enid after the battle, and the pair engage in a prolonged embrace, solidifying their friendship, and showing Enid just how much love and respect Wednesday really has for her. All of these scenes combined to make one of the best new shows on Netflix, Wednesday.