Wednesday Season 2 spent so much time building up Ophelia Frump, Morticia’s missing sister, that many were surprised she wasn’t outright introduced by the finale. Thankfully, Green was the first new cast member announced for Season 3, and she couldn’t be more perfect for the role. In fact, Green’s Ophelia is exactly what Wednesday needs.
Wednesday Season 2’s Best Decision Was Expanding the Addams Family
Viewership for Wednesday Season 2 dipped sharply compared to Season 1, but the sophomore season received slightly better scores from critics. In particular, many were impressed by the way Season 2 explored more of the Addams family. The show not only fleshed out Wednesday’s parents, brother, and even Thing, but also introduced her grandmother, Hester Frump.
With Season 1 firmly establishing its titular character and what makes her tick, Season 2 dove deeper into her familial relationships. Her contentious dynamic with Morticia was especially exciting to explore, and adding Hester to the mix only made it more fascinating. Most notable of all, this dynamic was haunted by Ophelia, who went missing 20 years before the current events.
With Wednesday’s relationships with her mother and grandmother so central to Season 2, Season 3 is set to add another layer of complexity with Ophelia. It’s a smart move, given how positive viewers have been about the show’s increased focus on family. Living up to the hype will be quite the task, but Eva Green has already proven herself as a Gothic icon of the screen.
Eva Green Is a Perfect Fit for the World of Wednesday
As a frequent collaborator with Tim Burton and veteran of multiple Gothic fantasy titles, Eva Green should have little trouble fitting into the darkly fantastical world of Wednesday. She previously appeared in Burton’s Dark Shadows, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and Dumbo.
Even outside of these collaborations, Green has played several witchy characters, including Serafina Pekkala in The Golden Compass and Morgan Pendragon in Camelot. But Green’s best-known Gothic role is probably Vanessa Ives from Penny Dreadful, and thischaracter shares some key similarities with Wednesday‘s Ophelia Frump.
Not only do both women have supernatural abilities that they have trouble controlling, causing them to spend time in mental institutions, but they also have complicated relationships with their families, particularly when it comes to their female relatives. Vanessa and her mother, Claire, had a good relationship most of the time.
However, Claire’s affair with Sir Malcolm Murray slowly soured Vanessa’s friendship with his daughter, Mina, who was like a sister to her. Additionally, Vanessa’s connection to the devil ultimately led to her mother’s death. Ophelia’s issues with Hester and Morticia are different but no less complex, given that Hester locked her away and she’s calling for her niece’s death.
Wednesday Season 3 is already changing the show’s formula in a big way, taking the pigtailed protagonist away from Nevermore Academy as she searches for her best friend, Enid Sinclair. Even with many fan-favorite characters returning, Season 3 will need to lean into its other strengths.
This is especially true considering the extended Addams family. With the mystery of Ophelia already set up, Eva Green will make an excellent addition to the series.