Friend or Woe

The midweek minx, continues her jinks, takes her leave from the secret assembly, as its time to get dressed, become Pilgrim World's guest, and pretend that she's kind, keen and friendly; in the Meeting House room, she discovers a tome, but the pages are white as plain snow, and a picture reveals, alike image appeals, takes her to a house from long ago; another vision unlocks, 1625 shocks, where an ancestor reveals foul play, waking up in the rain, there's that monster again, just an ordinary Jericho day.

Any show that plays a song from Beach House in the background is always going to be a winner with me!

...are all over this. While people are criticizing this show as Tim Burton not working to potential, Burton's not the only one with input into this series.

The slow tease of Wednesday's story is reminiscent of another Gough/Millar-created show: "Smallville" in which they spent years with this nod nod, wink wink look at the coming of age of Superman.

And for those who don't like Luis Guzman as Gomez (not seen here), there can be only one John Astin. Even Raul Julia in the 90s films was a poor substitute. Let's not be too harsh.

While we've only ever known Wednesday as a child until now and this is terra nova, it seems as if they're trying to create a backstory for Gomez and Morticia as well.

This is so politically motivated that the 'slumber-free' cheer and the rest wonder at the vilification.

Even so, this is remarkable well done. I am confident that the cast was really well led by the writers and direction. There is enough 'on the page' that the editing can step along briskly. Even the doofus boys are well written. The first episode drags a bit but this features the set-up. Ep.2 shows us Wednesdays character. Ep.3, this one, goes overboard on the two-dimentional mean kids but no hero fares well unless the villains are serious.

I liked best the dialog 'asides' which are numerous and quick enough to keep the viewer interested and chuckling.

Three episodes in, and my teenage daughter and I are both officially hooked... though for entirely different reasons. She's here for the mystery and supernatural teen drama; I'm here for the withering one-liners and a cast that knows exactly how to lean into Burton's macabre playground.

Jenna Ortega remains flawless as Wednesday, somehow making insults feel like poetry. Emma Myers as Enid keeps chipping away at Wednesday's icy exterior with relentless rainbow energy, creating one of the show's best odd-couple dynamics. Gwendoline Christie continues to command the screen as Principal Weems, while Hunter Doohan's Tyler gets a bit more room to breathe in the plot.

Ep 3 balances the creepy investigation with school rivalry shenanigans, including a wonderfully over-the-top competition sequence that's pure Burton: eccentric, stylish, and slightly ridiculous in the best way. My daughter's thrilled at the twists; I'm just impressed the show keeps finding fresh ways for Wednesday to insult people without repeating herself.

Still a perfect mix of weird, witty, and watchable - another 8/10 from our two-generation viewing squad.

I love Buscemi in almost everything he is in but somehow he is he goofy enough or sinister enough. The show grinds to a halt when ever he is on camera. He needed to be more Jim Carey or Patrick harris. Other wise the episode work well.

The camp of course is a call back to Addam' Family Values

This just a throw away episode.