The Addams’ family movies might be one of the first live-action adaptations I was aware of, and although I haven’t revisited these stories in a while, the idea of a TV-Show centered on Wednesday Addams was intriguing. Alfred Gough & Miles Millar as the creators, with Tim Burton setting the tone as one of the directors, and Jenna Ortega as the titular character? Yeah, I’m listening. The teaser then the trailer were great so all that was left to do was to see what Ortega and her castmate were going to deliver.

Premise: Follows Wednesday Addams’ years as a student, when she attempts to master her emerging psychic ability, and thwart and solve the mystery that embroiled her parents.

Review: The dry, deadpan delivery and witty dialogue alone are worth your time. The score is pretty good and does a great job of setting up the atmosphere or conveying the characters’ mood. The quality of the production is up there as well from costume and set designs to VFX.

The story itself is good, and entertaining throughout, even if I did have an inkling of who the ultimate baddy was but there were surprises. I thought I’d miss the family as a whole but they have enough of a presence in the show not to be missed. It’s Wednesday’s show and she holds it down perfectly. In the whole of the Addams family, Thing might have been the only one that has always eluded me but here I understand Thing – who was brilliantly used.

The way the Addams family was tweaked and their world expanded in this story is also genius, it makes them meld into a more spooky supernatural world that suits them. Wednesday’s relationships with her family and the other students of the Nevermore school are great, but Wednesday dealing with boys is even better. They took the sharp inquisitive mind of Wednesday and really gave her something to do other than cutting people down.

The show has a Tim Burton feel to it but just enough to please his fans and not too much for others. The most Tim Burton-y thing about the show is the design of the main monster. It also looks like an obvious Halloween show but there are enough comments about history and an overhaul fall theme, with brilliant use of color to make dropping this show before Thanksgiving just as good.

Jenna Ortega is amazing in the role, really great, and she has stellar writing to chew on. Her non-verbal communication skills are one of the keys that make this character work for her. So much is said with a glance, a glare, or the twitch of an eyebrow. Her comedy timing is *chef’s kiss* and she gives the right emotions to the character. The cast as a whole is good but she definitely stands out.

I want a season two.