WARNING! This article contains SPOILERS for Wednesday season 1!Morticia Addams plays a pleasantly important role in Nevermore’s murder mystery, but one big character death sets up an even more significant return for the Addams matriarch in Wednesday season 2. Wednesday season 1 establishes a complex dynamic between Morticia and her daughter; Wednesday begins the show resenting her mother’s legacy at Nevermore Academy, but the two ultimately become closer as Morticia helps Wednesday understand her psychic powers. Morticia also played a key role in Wednesday season 1’s 1990 murder mystery, as she accidentally stabbed Garrett Gates while he was dying from nightshade poisoning. While Morticia and Gomez were cleared of any charges, it seems their influence at Nevermore is far from over.
Since Wednesday already resisted embracing the school where Morticia was once the queen bee, Wednesday season 2 could make the mother-daughter rivalry worse. Following Principal Larissa Weems’ death, Nevermore Academy needs a new leader, and who better to take over as principal than Nevermore’s former student Morticia Frump. The Addams family was integral to forming Nevermore, with teenage Morticia having made it her own palace, so she would likely jump at the chance to run the school where Wednesday is now a student. Morticia was also the former roommate of Larissa Weems, so if she took over as principal in season 2 of Tim Burton’s Wednesday, she would prioritize honoring the legacy of Nevermore Academy’s murdered teacher.
Why Nevermore Academy Needs To Stay Open In Wednesday Season 2
Principal Larissa Weems’ death, Tyler’s Hyde monster murders, and the school’s destruction by the resurrected Joseph Crackstone led Nevermore Academy to be closed early for the semester. Wednesday Addams remarks that she’s unsure how long the “forced break” will be, but it seems Nevermore is planning to reopen when the next semester begins. However, considering so many sinister plans were in the works under the school’s roof, it’s possible that the staff and benefactors of Nevermore would elect for it to stay closed. Christina Ricci’s Miss Thornhill, A.K.A. Laurel Gates, is seemingly dead, but there are still normies who seek to continue Joseph Crackstone’s plan to eradicate outcasts.
While Laurel Gates’ murders would suggest that Nevermore Academy should be shut down in order to avoid a mass attack on the outcasts, doing so would be counterproductive. The outcasts need to stick together now more than ever in order to rebuild their school, form closer bonds, and master their gifts in a world where they’re otherwise ostracized. Wednesday’s outcasts need a school where they feel “normal,” which is far more beneficial than having the teens fend for themselves across the country. Jericho also depends on Nevermore Academy for its survival, so closing the school during Wednesday season 2 would cause problems for the outcasts and normies alike.
Why Morticia Becoming Nevermore’s Principal Makes Sense
Considering Catherine Zeta-Jones made a memorable performance as Morticia in Tim Burton’s Addams Family show, her role warrants a bigger return for Wednesday season 2. Morticia is a Nevermore Academy alumni with a legacy that looms large over Wednesday season 1, so the school board would likely enjoy having her guide the new generation of outcasts. Morticia Addams was also racked with guilt over Garrett Gates’ death, which she felt responsible for as a Nevermore student. As such, returning to teach at Nevermore and re-establish a friendly relationship with Jericho’s normies would help atone for her role in Garrett’s demise 30 years ago.
More importantly, Morticia Addams becoming Nevermore Academy’s principal in Wednesday season 2 would allow her to interact with the title character far more. Wednesday and Morticia’s complicated relationship is one of the most interesting dynamics of Wednesday season 1, with their problems inevitably being exacerbated if Morticia has a daily presence at the school. Increasing Morticia and teenage Wednesday Addams’ interactions would make sense for Wednesday season 2’s story, but it’s unlikely that Morticia would remain the principal for the rest of the series. Instead, Morticia should simply serve as the interim principal until Nevermore finds Weems’ permanent replacement, as Wednesday needs her experience at Nevermore to be her own.
