August 7, 2025 – The wait is finally over, outcasts. Wednesday Addams, television’s most delightfully morbid heroine, has officially returned to Netflix. As of August 6, 2025, at 3:00 AM ET / 12:00 AM PT, the first four episodes of Wednesday Season 2 Part 1 began streaming, plunging fans back into the gothic halls of Nevermore Academy for a new chapter of “delightfully dark and kooky mayhem” (Netflix Tudum).
- Jenna Ortega reprises her iconic, deadpan role as Wednesday Addams, instantly reclaiming her throne as Netflix’s reigning queen of the macabre.
- Christina Ricci makes a shocking, albeit brief, return as the imprisoned Laurel Gates, meeting a grim fate at the hands of Tyler in Episode 4.
- Steve Buscemi joins the cast as Principal Barry Dort, Nevermore’s loud, flamboyant, and suspiciously enthusiastic new headmaster.
- Lady Gaga makes a highly anticipated guest appearance as Rosaline Rotwood, a “legendary Nevermore teacher,” though her scenes are part of Part 2, arriving September 3.
Season 2: Deeper Darkness, Bigger Family Woes
Creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar promised a “darker and more complex” journey this season, and Part 1 delivers. The central horror for Wednesday? Her family invading her school sanctuary. Pugsley (Isaac Ordonez) joins Nevermore as a first-year, struggling with his electrokinetic powers and desperate to fit in – becoming, as Tim Burton notes, “an outcast among outcasts.” Morticia (Catherine Zeta-Jones) and Gomez (Luis Guzmán) also have extended, cringe-inducing (for Wednesday) roles on campus, leading to literal clashes, including a mother-daughter fencing duel.
- Grandmama Hester Frump (Joanna Lumley) debuts as Morticia’s formidable mother, one of the few people who earns a rare smile from Wednesday.
- Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) remains Wednesday’s quirky confidante, even getting embroiled in the new mystery centered around Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital.
- Emma Myers’ Enid Sinclair grapples with her new werewolf status and social standing, while her relationship with gorgon Ajax (Georgie Farmer) faces challenges from charismatic new werewolf Bruno (Noah B. Taylor)
- The season kicks off with Wednesday capturing serial killer The Kansas City Scalper (Haley Joel Osment), setting the tone before a new stalker emerges, leaving cryptic threats.
Critical Reception & Record-Breaking Buzz
Early reviews suggest the prolonged wait was worth it. Part 1 currently holds an 82% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, outperforming Season 1’s 73% [citation:Livemint]. Critics praise Jenna Ortega’s commanding performance (“charisma could power a thousand hearses”) and the season’s skittish, joke-dense energy, though some note the expanded cast can feel overcrowded.
The pre-launch campaign was monstrously successful, generating a record 3 billion owned social impressions for Netflix and 236 million trailer impressions. The Season 1 phenomenon (over 350 million views, Netflix’s most popular English-language series ever) saw renewed interest, with Season 1 re-entering the Global Top 10 at #6 just before the Season 2 premiere.
What’s Next? Part 2 & Beyond
- Part 2 (Episodes 5-8) premieres on Netflix on September 3, 2025.
- It promises the arrival of Lady Gaga’s Rosaline Rotwood and likely resolves the cliffhanger ending of Part 1, which saw a bloodied Wednesday after a confrontation with the escaped Tyler/Hyde.
- Lady Gaga will also release a new song, “Dead Dance,” specifically for the show, coinciding with her appearance.
- Fans can immerse themselves further with the ongoing “Doom Tour” cast appearances and Netflix partnerships (like Cheetos’ “Thing-ertips”) embracing the outcast spirit.
You can watch Wednesday Season 2 exclusively on Netflix. Here’s the direct link:
Wednesday Season 2 on Netflix
Key Details:
- Part 1 (Episodes 1–4) is streaming now as of August 6, 2025..
- Part 2 (Episodes 5–8) releases on September 3, 2025.
- All episodes are available in multiple languages (English, Spanish, French, German) with Dolby Vision/Atmos support.