Chapter 4: Woe What A Night – As the fourth episode of Wednesday begins, Thing (Victor Dorobantu) helps Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) sneak into the Jericho coroner’s office. She takes care of the autopsy while Thing tries to find the files of the monster’s other victims so he can make copies. As she checks Fabian’s body, she records her observations. She finds signs of a frenzied attack and that the man has been disemboweled. Wednesday is surprised when she notices that the suspect’s left foot has been chewed off at the ankle. They have to flee when Dr. Anwar (Nitin Ganatra) brings Sheriff Galpin (Jamie McShane) in. The doctor admits he has never seen injuries like this before. Anwar takes him to the foot and explains that the killer cut off two toes.
They likely used a surgical saw. The Sheriff wants his report as soon as it is ready. Anwar reveals that he is leaving soon and will be surprising Mrs. Anwar with a four-week cruise. Once the Sheriff leaves, Anwar finds Wednesday hiding on one of the slabs, but believes she is dead so he leaves her there. Back at the dorm, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) learns about Wednesday’s recent trip to the morgue. Wednesday admits she has made a big discovery since all of the victims have had body parts surgically removed. While Enid passes out after looking at the pictures, Wednesday suggests he is collecting trophies like a seasoned serial killer. During Marilyn Thornhill’s class, Wednesday notices that Xavier Thorpe (Percy Hynes White) has fresh scratches on his neck. Thornhill (Christina Ricci) knows they’re all excited about the upcoming Rave’N party.
She asks people to volunteer for the decorating committee. Xavier is surprised Wednesday isn’t going to volunteer. He tells her about the DJ named MC Blood Suckaz. Later, Wednesday and Thing watch Xavier come out of the building outside. She says they need to do this because Xavier didn’t get those scratches from fencing. They go inside and look at his paintings which portray the monster. Wednesday admits that he just became a lot more interesting. She runs into him outside before Xavier calls the building his private art studio. After catching her in a lie, Wednesday sees an opportunity and asks Xavier to go with her to the dance. Enid is excited when she learns that Wednesday is going to the dance. She takes Wednesday to Hawte Kewture to help her pick out a dress. Wednesday sends her in alone because she has other things to deal with. She wants to see Sheriff Galpin but stops when she spots a black dress inside Uriah’s Heap.
Dr. Valerie Kinbott (Riki Lindhome) comes out of the store and talks to her about the dress among other things. Then, Wednesday shows the Sheriff one of Xavier’s sketches of the monster. She wants to work together on the case. Sheriff Galpin tells her to bring him so solid evidence and they’ll talk. Lucas (Iman Marson) goes to the café to talk to Enid who already knows all about him. He learns that Wednesday is her roommate. Lucas says he has a friend who works at Hawte Kewture and heard she was looking for a date to the Rave’N. He suggests they can help each other out. When Tyler (Hunter Doohan) runs into Wednesday, he listens to her complain about his father. He gets upset when she tells him that she is going to the dance with Xavier. She doesn’t understand why so Tyler explains she is giving off mixed signals. He questions if he is a pawn in a game she is playing before Wednesday says she is dealing with a lot right now.
Tyler asks her to call if he ever moves up her to-do list. Since Enid won’t let her keep the pictures in the door, Wednesday puts the evidence photos in Eugene’s building. Eugene (Moosa Mostafa) has heard rumors about the monster since Mr. Fitts banned him from bug-hunting until further notice. He wants her to give Enid a gift for him because he knows she is still looking for a date. Wednesday insists people like him and her do not need these inane rites of passage to validate who they are. She tells him about her date with Xavier and how she has ulterior motives. Eugene knows where the circle is so he takes her to the cave nearby. They go inside and suspect it could be the monster’s lair since it is filled with bones and skulls. They notice restraints on the wall before Wednesday finds what she believes is the concrete proof the Sheriff wanted.
She returns to Xavier’s studio to see if she can find something to match the monster’s DNA. Once she gets what she needs, Xavier enters and catches her. She quickly changes the subject by asking how he knows what the monster looks like. Xavier denies being the monster and admits it has been haunting his dreams for weeks. He can’t block it out so he paints it instead. When he was painting one of them, the claws come out of the canvas and scratched him. Wednesday confronts with the picture of the monster’s lair. Xavier realizes this is the only reason she asked him to the dance. He questions whether she cares about anything or anyone at all before telling her to get out. Wednesday takes the claw and Xavier’s blood sample to the Sheriff. She will only explain everything to him after he runs the tests. When Wednesday goes back to the school, she tells Eugene that they should stake out the cave and identify the monster since they don’t have dates to the dance.
Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday) approaches Xavier to tell him they’re both free now. Thing types a note and leaves it for Tyler. Marilyn and Principal Weems (Gwendoline Christie) welcome the students to the Rave’N. Marilyn talks to her about the excitement of the dance, but Weems remembers disappointment because the boy she asked turned her down for another girl. She specifies that the girl was Morticia Frump. When someone knocks on the door, Wednesday believes it could be Eugene, but it turns out to be Tyler. He says he got her invitation which he suspects she had Thing drop in the tip jar. Wednesday gets mad at Thing for writing him a genuine, sweet invite. Then, she learns that Thing stole the black dress for her. Wednesday joins Tyler who tells her that she looks beautiful. Eugene arrives and learns what is going on so he says he’ll check out the woods himself.
She tells him it is too dangerous and they’ll go together tomorrow night, but he decides to go alone anyway. Lucas talks to Enid about the Yeti status. She explains that the theme is climate crisis meets extinction event. Ajax (Georgie Farmer) learns about her going with Lucas a short time later. Bianca tries to get Xavier to stop sulking over Wednesday who enters with Tyler. When Wednesday goes for drinks, she talks to Enid about their dates. Enid says it is a win-win because she is trying to make Ajax jealous and Lucas is trying to make his ex jealous. Then, Xavier can’t believe she brought Tyler. He tells her that she doesn’t know what he did to him. Wednesday asks him to enlighten her. Lucas gets a text from his friends saying they’re ready to give the freaks a surprise. Enid asks him about hockey and that surprises him. They quickly find out that they have a lot in common.
Eugene waits at the cave and sees nothing of interest. Wednesday tells Tyler that she knows how he and his friends assaulted Xavier and destroyed his mural on Outreach Day. Tyler confesses to being involved and admits that Xavier could’ve made things much worse for him. He is still trying to figure out why he did it. Tyler got sent away to a boot camp and found out that was not the version of himself he wanted to be. Wednesday admits she wasn’t going to judge him over a lousy prank because she would’ve taken it further. Once he says he knows about the piranhas, Wednesday says she’d do it again. Tyler knew there was a reason he liked her. While Tyler and Wednesday dance, Lucas’s friends drive a truck towards Nevermore Academy. Lucas goes outside to meet with his friends. Xavier asks Bianca to take off her amulet and make him forget about her.
She can’t believe he’d ask that before reminding him that they broke up because he thought she was manipulating him with her siren song. Lucas tells his friends that he isn’t sure this is a good idea since he doesn’t want his dad to get any blowback. They tell him that it was his idea and they’re doing it to get revenge for them destroying Crackstone’s fountain. They hope he hasn’t gone soft like Tyler. They decide to go through with it anyway. Eugene watches as a possible suspect arrives at the cave. They shine their flashlight in his eyes and blow up the entrance to the cave before fleeing. Wednesday sits down with Bianca who reveals she had a tiff with Xavier because of her. Bianca tells her she doesn’t know what it is like never knowing peoples’ true feelings. She admits her amulet isn’t foolproof. Xavier broke up with her because he couldn’t fully trust her and she could never trust his feelings either.
Bianca thinks she is lucky because she doesn’t care what people think of her, but Wednesday wishes she cared a little more. Eugene runs away and hides behind a tree. The students share one last dance. Lucas’s friends pull the fire alarm causing a red substance to drop down from the sprinkler system. Although the others begin freaking out, Wednesday is just upset that they didn’t use real pigs’ blood. She has a vision of Eugene being attacked in the woods. She runs out to help. Tyler bumps into Xavier after texting his dad who is on his way. Enid goes outside and learns that Lucas was involved. She is upset because she thought he was different and thought he liked it. His friends begin taunting her until Ajax comes out and makes them leave. Enid tells him that she wanted to go with him and not Lucas so Ajax tells her that he accidentally looked in the mirror and didn’t blow her off.
They end up kissing. Wednesday tries to catch up with Eugene who is busy running from the monster. He trips, falls to the ground, and loses his glasses. Then, he yells for Wednesday. Once he grabs his glasses and puts them on, the monster runs over and attacks. Wednesday and Marilyn find him before Marilyn asks if he is alive.
Wednesday Review
The fourth episode of Wednesday paid tribute to Stephen King’s Carrie in a mostly effective way. At this point, if viewers have enjoyed what Wednesday has offered, they’re likely going to enjoy most episodes since the show is consistent. Still, many viewers are not going to be thrilled with Netflix’s take on the iconic character.
The camera work is excellent without being too artsy or over the top. Wednesday is actually one of the sleekest looking Netflix shows in recent months because every episode has looked great. Many of the characters are likable so it is easy to cheer for most of them. Unfortunately, it feels like Wednesday has never been able to distinguish itself or elevate itself to greatness.
For everything Wednesday does well, it does just as many things ineffectively with one of the biggest issues being the lack of humor. The one-liners are quirky, but the delivery just doesn’t work and they don’t hit the target more often than not. Thing has been the exception in this area although this episode didn’t let the character shine. There are some good character relationships here, but Wednesday’s love triangles should end before they become tiresome.
It could also be argued that Wednesday is a couple of episodes too long since things are being repeated and the episodes have a lot of filler content. We’re four episodes in and there have already been two community events. It really just doesn’t do enough to set itself apart from other Netflix shows, but this may not be a problem for casual viewers who haven’t seen all of this before.
There is still time for Wednesday to shift routes and end with an unforgettable finale, but the possibility is low if the first four episodes are a good indicator. The episode scores a 6 out of 10. Recaps of Wednesday are available on Reel Mockery here. Have you found our recaps and reviews helpful? Consider supporting Reel Mockery so we can continue our work. Find out how to do so here.
