3.5/5
Stranger Thing
8 Episodes. Starring: Jenna Ortega, Emma Myers, Joy Sunday, Georgie Farmer, Isaac Ordonez, Evie Templeton, Billie Piper, Steve Buscemi, Victor Dorobantu, Luis Guzmán & Catherine Zeta Jones. Created By: Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. On: Netflix.
There's something about 'Wednesday' that just clicks. Da, da, da, da, ba-dum-tss! As this supernatural, murder mystery comedy has Halloween coming early, the Netflix show is one of the streaming service's most popular...ever. Taking centre stage alongside the South Korean phenomenon 'Squid Game' and the paranormal power of 'Stranger Things', coming this fall, at this year's first, comic-con like, 'TUDUM' showcase. In Netflix's big-three, the aforementioned others have just, or are about to see their final, swan song seasons. Yet, 'Wednesday' is still going strong like hump day in the middle of the week. The second season, split into a streaming service signature and traditional two separate-parts, was teased at 'Tudum' with the sixth sense of its first six minutes and a monster musical performance from second series addition, Lady Gaga, following in the footsteps of her movies with Bradley Cooper and a hungover Joker. Yet, the real born star is Jenna Ortega, staying in straight face character the whole time, as the 'Scream' franchise face has become even more iconic than her meme and TikTok ready dance in season one.
Frown all you like, but Jenna Ortega has made 'Wednesday' and the titular character, Wednesday Addams, her own. Woe is her. So much so, even the great Christina Ricci had to show up and pay her respects. And she's not the only old friend that Easter Egg shows up to add value to these, mostly, Tim Burton directed episodes, but we simply won't spoil the broth. This may be Wednesday's show, but the whole family created by Charles Addams is home, even if we want to be left with more lurching than if we actually sat down to eat with this family dynamic. Doing brilliant 'Ballerina' owner Anjelica Huston and the late, great Raul Julia proud, modern day legend Catherine Zeta Jones and the great Luis Guzmán honour Morticia and Gomez with kisses up the arm. And the stripey Isaac Ordonez finally gets his moment to eat as Pugsley. But that Thing you do, Victor Dorobantu is nothing short of iconic. Clicking like the scampering of a new N I.D. Reminding me of when I pitched to an ex, who had a little Ortega in her look, that if she put her hair in pigtails for a Shibuya Halloween, I'd wear an all black bodysuit, covering everything except my right hand. Wait...is that why she left?
Moving on, there's a 'Wicked' dorm-room dynamic with Jenna and a scene-stealing Emma Myers, who will leave you howling, especially when things get freakier than a Friday reunion between Lindsay Lohan and Jamie Lee Curtis. Even if Evie Templeton, showing up out of the blue more than Moaning Myrtle, is slime green with show stopping envy. Joy Sunday is also exactly her first name on 'Wednesday' with her siren song. Georgie Farmer may turn you to stone too (don't tell him his mum was my biggest childhood fear) in a cast of classmates, we need to be careful of taking roll for, to avoid spoilers. The same goes for some of the guest stars...although most have been woken up on the undead social media. 'Doctor Who's' Billie Piper is here. As is the great Steve Buscemi saying, "how do you do, fellow kids" as the new principal after the incredible presence of Gwendoline Christie. But it's when creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar keep it in the family that things get real interesting. Fond, Fred Armisen is an amazing Fester. And the legendary Joanna Lumley who is absolutely fabulous. As for Gaga, before you're tapping on the screen like Jeff Goldblum in 'Jurassic Park' she shows up for a spell. And we'd love to see more, like the charm of a third season. Then, the dead will really dance. Woe! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Further Filming: 'The Addams Family (1991)', 'Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children', 'Wicked'.
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