Wednesday
Wednesday is a dark comedy supernatural mystery series centered on Wednesday Addams during her time as a student at Nevermore Academy. As Wednesday attempts to master her emerging psychic abilities, she endeavors to thwart a monstrous killing spree terrorizing the local town and solve the supernatural mystery that entangled her parents 25 years ago. The show blends gothic aesthetics with teen drama and detective work, exploring themes of identity, friendship, and what it means to be an outcast. Overall, the series is rated TV-14 due to its elements of violence, fear, and language, making it generally suitable for teenagers and older, but potentially too intense for younger audiences.
Concerns
Violence
HighThe series contains a high level of fantasy violence, including graphic monster attacks, murder, and gore. Scenes depict blood, severed body parts, and explicit injuries. Wednesday herself engages in violent acts and becomes a target of violence, with Season 2 anticipated to intensify these horror elements.
In the first episode, Wednesday unleashes piranhas into a swimming pool, resulting in a boy screaming in pain and the water turning red from blood, with a character reportedly losing a testicle. The plot centers on a 'terrifying monster that savagely kills people in the woods,' featuring graphic scenes of 'blood-soaked sequences and severed body parts,' including the gored body of a hiker.
Witchcraft & Occult
HighWitchcraft, psychic abilities, and occult themes are foundational to the series. Nevermore Academy is a school for students with various supernatural powers, and Wednesday herself is a psychic. The plot heavily involves magic rituals, curses, and numerous supernatural creatures and monsters. These elements are presented as natural aspects of the characters' world and abilities.
Nevermore Academy serves as a boarding school for a diverse range of supernatural 'outcasts,' including psychics (like Wednesday with her visions), vampires, werewolves, and sirens. Wednesday's blood is used in a specific ritual to open a crypt, an integral part of solving the central mystery.
Scary & Intense Content
HighThe series is a supernatural teen murder mystery with significant horror elements, including jump scares and disturbing imagery. The central plot involves a terrifying monster responsible for gruesome murders, with graphic depictions of torn body parts. Season 2 is expected to intensify these horror aspects, and parental feedback confirms it can be frightening for younger viewers.
The show incorporates 'plenty of jumps and scares' and revolves around a 'terrifying monster' that commits gruesome murders, showcasing 'torn body parts scattered throughout the woods'. In Season 2, Wednesday is slated to become the target of her 'favorite childhood serial killer,' escalating the intensity and frightening content.
LGBTQ & Gender Identity
MediumWhile no explicit LGBTQ+ romantic relationships involving main characters were present in Season 1, the series includes a minor same-sex couple (Eugene's mothers) and has been noted for its 'queer coding' of Wednesday's character, particularly in her relationship with Enid Sinclair. Actors in the series, including Hunter Doohan (Tyler Galpin) and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Sheriff Santiago), have openly discussed the show's resonance with queer audiences and how themes of being an 'outcast' can be interpreted as an allegory for LGBTQ+ experiences. Creators have also indicated an openness to exploring character development, though they've primarily defined Wednesday and Enid's relationship as a 'sisterhood.'
Eugene's mothers are depicted as a same-sex couple who visit him in the hospital. Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo, who plays Sheriff Ritchie Santiago, identifies as non-binary and stated that the 'Outcast' theme of the show functions as a 'facsimile for queer, trans, black, so many marginalized identities'. Hunter Doohan, the actor for Tyler Galpin, is openly gay and has highlighted how the show's themes of feeling like an 'outsider' resonate strongly with queer audiences.
Romance and Sexual Content
MediumThe series features typical teenage romance, including crushes and kissing scenes. Wednesday experiences her first kiss and is involved in a love triangle. While some commentaries vaguely mention implied sexual references, there is no explicit sex or nudity. Creators have indicated a shift away from romantic subplots for Wednesday in future seasons.
Wednesday Addams is caught in a love triangle between Tyler Galpin and Xavier Thorpe, which includes her first kiss with Tyler. The show focuses on 'standard teenage romance, including crushes and kissing scenes,' without depicting explicit sex or nudity.
Profanity
MediumThe show includes mild to moderate profanity. Common curse words are used occasionally, and rude gestures are depicted. The frequency is not constant, but notable enough to be a concern for some parents.
Characters use words such as 's---,' 'bitch,' 'hell,' and 'd---'. Enid Sinclair uses phrases like 'this place is creepy af' and 'weird as shit' in Season 1, also saying 'karma’s gonna be a bitch!'. The character Thing, a disembodied hand, is shown giving the middle finger.
Disrespect & Rebellion
MediumWednesday Addams consistently displays a rebellious and disrespectful attitude towards authority figures and societal norms. Her character is defined by her defiance, often expressed through sarcastic remarks and direct actions against those she perceives as deserving of her scorn or as unjust. Her relationship with her parents also reflects a degree of rebellion.
Wednesday demonstrates significant defiance by releasing piranhas into a swimming pool to attack boys who bullied her brother, an act of intentional rule-breaking and retribution. She frequently exhibits a sarcastic and deadpan demeanor towards teachers, the principal, and her own parents, often questioning or outright rejecting their expectations and authority.
Anti-Christian Themes
MediumWhile the series does not explicitly mock Christian symbols or practices, it normalizes and celebrates supernatural abilities and occult practices within the Nevermore Academy setting. This is a concern for some Christian parents who view such themes as contrary to biblical teachings. Wednesday Addams herself explicitly expresses an 'unbelief in God and the afterlife,' which could be seen as an anti-religious stance.
Wednesday Addams explicitly states her 'unbelief in God and the afterlife'. The series presents a world where psychic powers, werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural abilities are normal and celebrated among students at Nevermore Academy, which some Christian analyses interpret as a 'sophisticated introduction to witchcraft and occult practices' that contradict Christian beliefs.
Substance Use
LowThe series does not prominently feature or glorify substance use. No specific instances of alcohol, drug, or tobacco use by the main characters or as significant plot points were found in content reviews.
No explicit or implied scenes of drug consumption, excessive alcohol use, or smoking by main characters or as central plot elements are depicted in the series.
Other Notes
Target Demographic
The series is rated TV-14 by Netflix, indicating it's suitable for viewers aged 14 and older. This recommendation is due to mature themes including strong fantasy violence, disturbing imagery, some profanity, and occult elements. Younger viewers, especially those sensitive to horror or dark themes, may find the content frightening or inappropriate. Some international ratings also place it at 16+.
Additional Notes
The content intensity is expected to increase in Season 2, particularly concerning horror elements, as indicated by cast and crew statements. Parents should consider their child's individual maturity and sensitivity to dark and supernatural themes.
Related Reviews
Is Wednesday right for your family?
These concerns are a starting point — what many Christian parents care about. Want to screen for other themes? Define your own concerns.
Screen any book, movie, or show — even titles no one else has reviewed.
“StoryScanner gives us clarity and confidence. It's become our go-to for checking books at the library and movies on family night.”
— Cristi & Brian, Dallas TX
“StoryScanner has been such a BLESSING for researching books for our children. You can set filters for your concerns, enter a book title, and it lets you know what's present.”
— Christian Book Reviews for Families (Facebook)
No credit card required