I say this with a heavy heart and weary soul. As a life-long Harry Potter fan – someone who clung to every new book release, idolised Hermione Granger and can still quote the original films line for line – we should all be redirecting any love for or obsession with stories of witches, wizards and other magical creatures to a world less problematic. Enter Wednesday season 2.
The Netflix series following The Addams Family's sallow, deadpan daughter to Nevermore Academy has more than a few parallels to the Potter world. Magical school full of weird and wonderful pupils? Check. Similarly eccentric teachers with potentially dodgy intentions? Check. Various mythical creatures, such as werewolves and sirens, walking in our protagonist's midst? Check. A surprising amount of gruesome murders are occurring on campus, inexplicably left to our lead character (Wednesday, or Harry Potter and his friends, depending on your poison) to solve, instead of any senior member of the school's staff? Check, check and check.
As production for the new HBO adaption begins, we ask how much longer can the Harry Potter legacy – now inherently tinged with transphobia – survive?
This season (or the first half at least, which dropped this week) is a magical delight, as Wednesday returns to Nevermore Academy a reluctant hero, not unlike Harry Potter. She soon gets caught up in a series of mysteries and murders to solve, culminating in a terrifying vision that her roommate (and werewolf) Enid, played by Emma Myers, is destined to die. True gems of the industry have also joined for this season, including Joanna Lumley, Billie Piper, and Thandiwe Newton. Lady Gaga also reportedly filmed a cameo in a day.
Now I'm not saying Wednesday and Harry Potter are exactly the same, or that one can replace the other, but many of their core plot points and mythical DNA are very similar. The key difference? The Tim Burton Netflix series feels so much less problematic, in stark comparison to the transphobic controversy that surrounds Potter author JK Rowling and, by extension, the Harry Potter franchise itself – particularly the upcoming TV reboot, which has begun early production processes, with many major castings having been announced.
Despite the fact that I grew up with the books and original films and absolutely adore them as lore and a nostalgic childhood memory, I feel very uncomfortable with the idea of a Harry Potter TV remake.
The selection of storytellers that craft what we see on screen, who write our books, who are given the honour of making and performing said art – it matters. And whose stories get to be told, and believed – that's the thing that matters most of all.
Besides, Wednesday's second season is just a lot of wholesome magical fun. We see much more of Catherine Zeta Jones' Morticia, as well as her almost-too-doting husband Gomez (Luis Guzmán). Morticia's presence on the Nevermore campus helps us delve into her (self-described) “fraught” relationship with Wednesday, as well as Lumley's introduction as Wednesday's wealthy grandmother, Grandmama Hester Frump – and the many family issues that she brings with her. A highlight so far has to be a stand-off between Zeta Jones and Lumley, truly iconic. Throw in Wednesday's brother, Pugsley's enrolment to Nevermore, and his discovery and reanimation of a lethal zombie, and we've got a party.
That's not to say Wednesday has been without scandal. The actor who played a rather promising love interest of Wednesday's in season one, Percy Hynes White, was accused of sexual assault back in 2023. The actor has denied the allegations, saying, “The rumours are false,” adding, “I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety.”
He later confirmed his departure by posting a photo of himself with his castmates on his Instagram Stories, "Had so much fun working on this show. I can't wait to watch season 2 :) Much love." While Netflix has not commented on Hynes White's exit from the show, the message from the decision makes it plain that such controversies were not going to be attached to Wednesday and its story. In my view, this course of action means the show's narrative isn't overshadowed – something that perhaps can't be said for the new Harry Potter saga.
In a recent interview, Wednesday herself Jenna Ortega – who also is an executive producer for the second season – remarked that the actor's absence from the new season was “a weird redirect, but we’re introducing so many different characters that I think it kind of will get lost,” adding that Wednesday’s “world does feel slightly askew anyway.”
Ortega herself has also owned up to “almost unprofessional” behaviour on set in the past, mind you. She has admitted to “changing lines” due to the fact that the show was originally aimed at a younger audience, and she felt it needed to be much darker.
But the difference is this. Ortega has owned and explained her behaviour – she acknowledged where her behaviour may have been inappropriate. Plus, her vision of Wednesday's character undoubtedly contributed to its wild success, and – crucially – hasn't discriminated against any marginalised groups.
The casting announcements for the Harry Potter reboot continue to generate more and more controversy: Paapa Essiedu received racial abuse after his casting as Severus Snape, while others have taken issue with American actor John Lithgow being cast as Dumbledore.
By comparison, Ortega continues to have a strong track record for being a great role model. She's already spoken out about the importance of representation for young Latinas, and is vocal about issues surrounding mental health awareness and social justice. Rowling, in comparison, stands firm in her harmful convictions, no matter how many vulnerable people they hurt.
So the next time you have a craving for some magical escapism, consider your choice of watch – and what the team behind it is doing to support the communities that love these shows.
Critics have said before that the magic of Harry Potter fades every time its creator tweets. My advice? It's time to dive into a new magical world.
The Wednesday star on her ‘legendary’ co-stars, coping with fame and how the industry still needs to fight for diversity and representation
