Wednesday,the newAddams Familyspinoff series helmed by Tim Burton, gives viewers a closer look at the macabre and mysterious life of the eldest Addams child. Wednesday Addams is joined by an extensive cast of new characters, as well as a handful of returning familiar faces and names from the iconic spooky franchise.
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The new Netflix series follows Wednesday as she attends a school for Outcasts called Nevermore Academy. When she begins to uncover a deadly mystery surrounding the school and its neighboring town, she must work alongside her new peers to unravel it. With its large cast of quirky characters, its dark and sardonic take on the modern age, and its contribution toThe Addams Familycanon,Wednesdayis full of morbidly hilarious and strangely heartwarming quotes.
This article contains spoilers for Season 1 of Wednesday.
10Mystery Inc. Mention
“Listen Velma, why don’t you and the rest of the Scooby Gang stick to your homework and leave the rest of the investigating to the professionals.”
Sheriff Galpin has a difficult time keeping Wednesday out of his investigation of the monster terrorizing the town, and this quote from the fourth episode of the series sums up his feelings well. This dismissal of Wednesday’s interference is not only the perfect sarcastic shutdown though, but also a reference to abygone piece ofAddams Familyhistory.
In September 1972, the iconicScooby-Dooseries aired a crossover episode withThe Addams Family, in which Wednesday goes missing and the Scooby Gang must rescue her. Though the Hanna-Barbera version of Wednesday is almost unrecognizable with her pink dress and cheerful demeanor, the episode was popular enough to spawn anAddams Familyanimated series a year later.
9Nightshade Capture
“It’s amateurs like you who give kidnapping a bad name.”
In the third episode of the series, Wednesday iskidnapped by a secret societywithin Nevermore called the Nightshades. Though they have her tied up and held captive in their underground library, it’s clear from the interaction that Wednesday is in complete control.
She uses her wit as her main weapon to hit back at them and makes countless cracks at the Nightshades’ expense. The scene is topped off by this quote after Wednesday frees herself with ease, proving to the audience that Wednesday is more than capable of handling things by herself.
8Disrespecting Drip Coffee
“But drip is for people who hate themselves and know their lives have no real purpose or meaning.”
Wednesday Addams is the queen of sardonic insults, and this one from the very first episode is the epitome of this trait. When she enters the local café only to find the espresso machine is broken, cafe worker Tyler Galpin suggests that Wednesday has drip coffee instead of her requested quad over ice. Wednesday wastes no time in telling him what she really thinks about that suggestion.
Aside from being hilariously accurate from the perspective of espresso-drinking viewers, this quote serves to outlinekey parts of Wednesday’s personality. She believes herself to be an exception to every rule and a dark outsider who might just be better than everyone else.
7Thornhill’s Astute Observation
“The most interesting plants grow in the shade.”
Though this quote from Marilyn Thornhill in the show’s second episode isn’t the most groundbreaking moment inWednesday, it is one that highlights one of the key themes that make thisAddams Familyspinoff so full of heart. At the beginning of the series, Wednesday is isolated and views herself as fundamentally very different from everyone around her. However, she ultimately comes to see the value of her peers.
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Nevermore Academy is full of students who grew in the shade, as each has their own unique set of challenges and trauma to overcome. From Bianca Barclay’s struggle to disentangle herself from her mother’s cult to Xavier Thorpe’s dangerous and tortured artistry, nearly every supporting character in the show has their own struggles. Like Thornhill says though, the shade that they grow in makes them all the more interesting and, by the end of the series, Wednesday appreciates her classmates for who they really are.
6Wednesday Has A Heart
“Thing, if you can hear me … if you die, I will kill you.”
Throughout the series, audiences see Wednesday’s journey from a cold, angry teen who doesn’t let anyone close, to a more well-rounded and loyal friend. Though many of her relationships go through vast changes as Wednesday grows, it is her relationship with Thing that highlights her growth the most.
When Thing first arrives, Wednesday treats him harshly and uses him as a tool to investigate. As the series progresses, however, viewers see her learn to treat him with appreciation and even love. So, when Thing is gravely injured in the sixth episode of the series, Wednesday is distraught and cries for the first time since she was six years old. Though it is still technically a threat, this quote shows just how much love Wednesday has for Thing.
5Enid’s Bold Declaration
“If I’m meant to wolf out, then I’m going to do it on my own timeline and not yours.”
Though Enid Sinclair has many iconic quotes in the series, it is this quote from when she takes a stand against her judgmental mother that is the most prominent. Many fans have highlighted Enid’s implicit queerness, so much so that some have accused the creators of queerbaiting. Whether intended or not, Enid’s character and her relationship with her family is a clear allegory for LGBTQIA+ experiences.
Audiences are shown that Enid is the black sheep of her family and is often singled out by her mother as a disappointment. When Enid’s mother suggests sending her to werewolf conversion therapy, Enid opposes the idea and refuses to go. When Enid stands up to her mother she adds that she hopes one day they can accept her for who she is.
4Monster Crush
“Of course, the first boy I kiss would turn out to be a psychotic, serial-killing monster. I guess I have a type.”
There’s no doubt that Wednesday is the queen of morbid sarcasm, and this quote from the end of the seventh episode in the series is the epitome of that trait. Throughout the series, Wednesday slowly learns to trust those around her, and a cautious romance springs up between her and Tyler Galpin. However, when Wednesday finally chooses to let Tyler in, she discovers that he is the monster that has been terrorizing the town all along.
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Though Wednesday is visibly shaken by this realization, she wastes no time in using dark humor to maintain her composure. This quote, delivered by narration as the audience watches Wednesday run from Tyler, contains all the hallmarks of Wednesday Addams’ hilarity: bitter sarcasm, deadpan delivery, and an oddzest for the darker things in life.
3Morticia’s Me Too Moment
“Men like you have no idea what it feels like not to be believed.”
InWednesday,Morticia is presented as a more complex character than just thesymbol of feminine passionshe appears as in other versions ofTheAddams Familyhistory. As Wednesday explores Nevermore’s history, she also discovers more about the past of her mother and father, including their involvement in the death of Garrett Gates. When Morticia and Wednesday uncover the truth, they meet with Mayor Walker to clear the family name.
In their discussion with the mayor though, Morticia holds Mayor Walker accountable. Before Garrett’s death, Morticia had reported his harassment of her to Walker as he was then the Sheriff, but the authorities at the time did nothing. Through this powerful quote, Morticia speaks for victims of harassment and articulates just how ignorant of that pain men in power often are.
2Love And Loyalty
“For someone who claims to have no friends you certainly go out of your way to protect them.”
Principal Weems is another of the more complex characters shown inWednesday.Audiences may find it hard to truly figure out whose side she is on. Ultimately, Weems proves to be fiercely loyal toNevermore and its studentsand goes out of her way to protect them. This quote from Weems in the eighth episode of the series highlights that loyalty as something Wednesday and Weems both share.
Though Wednesday likes to portray herself as a lone wolf, by the end of the season audiences see her grow to appreciate and rely on her newfound friends. When she is sprung for kidnapping Tyler, Wednesday denies the involvement of anyone who helped her and makes sure she is the only one to take the blame.
1Hummers’ Final Stand
“Yeah, that’s what you get for messing with Nevermore. Bitch.”
Eugene Ottinger isone of the most underrated charactersin the series, who also has some of the best quotes in the show. Eugene is a loyal friend to Wednesday and helps to bring out a much softer side to the traditionally cold and detached character. Though he spends much of the series being discounted or forgotten by those around him, in the eighth episode Eugene comes through for Wednesday when she needs it most.
In her standoff with Ms. Thornhill aka Laurel Gates, who turns out to be the person behind the killings, Wednesday is weaponless and staring down the barrel of a gun. With a loud buzzing, Eugene and his bees swoop in to save the day. Proving that Hummers really do stick together, this quote from Eugene highlights that Outcasts are stronger when they’re united against their foes.
