In 2022, Netflix welcomed ‘Wednesday‘ to its platform, adding it to the triumvirate of powerful shows, including ‘Stranger Things’ and ‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’, that collectively amassed more than a billion hours of viewership within their first 28 days.
The Netflix-original series, a spin-off from the classic Addams Family, offered viewers a new perspective into the Addams family with Tim Burton, a maestro of the gothic genre, directing half of the episodes and serving as an executive producer.
Jenna Ortega: The Latin Connection
Jenna Ortega took on the mantle of Wednesday, the eldest of the Addams children, injecting Latino blood into the iconic family, owing to her character’s paternal lineage tied to Gomez Addams. The portrayal of Wednesday as Latina is a testament to the diversity and representation that modern retellings can bring to classic characters.
Following a successful inaugural season, ‘Wednesday’s creators intend to explore the Latina lineage of the lead character in upcoming episodes. With a renewal in January, it’s hoped that the second season, barring disruption due to the ongoing strike, will grace screens in 2024.
Unearthing Latina Roots: An Interview with the Co-creators
In a recent IndieWire interview, Miles Millar and Al Gough, co-creators of ‘Wednesday’, elucidated their vision to delve into Jenna Ortega’s character’s Latin roots.
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They highlighted the uniqueness of having a Latina character in a prominent role and their aspiration to depict authentic Latin cultural influences on Wednesday’s upbringing. The creators intend to showcase aspects like the music Wednesday might have listened to or the traditions her father might have introduced to her.
“We aim to capture moments that truly reflect a child growing up in New Jersey with a Latino parent. How would that influence her teenage life? We are certainly looking for more ways to explore that this season.”
Representation: A Double-edged Sword
While ‘Wednesday’ was a hit in Netflix’s original catalogue, it faced some criticism over representation, especially given that the two key black characters—who were contemporaries of Wednesday—were portrayed as bullies.
As the series prepares to dive deeper into Wednesday’s Latino heritage, it remains to be seen how the exploration of her cultural origins will be received and interpreted, a task contingent on the resolution of the ongoing Hollywood writers’ strike.
