There is a good show here, one that probably takes itself a bit too seriously. I don't remember the original movies or the cartoon trying to flesh out the goofy Addams Family world with so much world lore and characters' backstory. The more serious tone and its infrequent goofiness are not entirely unappealing. But to me, it does not feel like an Addams Family show. It feels more like Tim Burton's take on Lemony Snicket's A series of Unfortunate Events with a hint of Netflix's Sabrina. That's a compliment, as strange as that sounds. I liked it more than I thought I would. Is this particular story something I believe would occur in the Addams Family world? Sure. After all, it is a strange, supernatural world centered around a weird family. As for the characters, Gomez, Morticia, and Pugsley sadly do not behave like their comic/movie counterparts. Their personalities have been trimmed and updated for "modern sensibilities." It's not great, but it doesn't hurt the show much. Thankfully, Wednesday, the titular character, is very likable. Also, the music in the show is okay. Nothing spectacular. I wish they had used the iconic Addams Family theme song more generously. The show's opening barely hints at it.

Netflix's Wednesday can be a fun show when its writers allow it to be. To clarify: the Addams Family franchise is satire. Getting preachy with satirical works is detrimental to the 'satire' part of the works. Netflix writers have a bad habit of writing insufferably preachy dialogue. So naturally, there are a lot of cringe-worthy moments in the show. Fortunately, Tim Burton does a fantastic job directing the first four episodes. Coincidentally, those four episodes have the least amount of cringe. The other four are entertaining, but you can tell the difference between the first four and the latter four's pacing and direction. Season 1's finale is weak but not entirely irredeemable despite its cliffhanger ending. I hope Tim Burton can direct more eps in season 2, possibly the entirety of season 2. That would certainly give him more control over the show.