There are certain characters that stay with fans through several generations because they stand for something more than just the limited world of their show. The Addams family members, and in particular Wednesday herself, is one of these characters, because she represents a character that goes against all of the norms and the expectations of the society in which she lives.
Wednesday is a usurper of conformity, a champion of voices who often go unheard, and as such, she has long been heralded as a queer icon with whom many underrepresented communities can relate. That is why many die-hard fans of the original show were anxious to see how Netflix's modern rendition would pay homage to the original design of this beloved macabre wonder, and many fans are pleased to report that Jenna Ortega massively did the character justice.
The Addams family themselves are a subversion of the stereotypes of the usual wealthy aristocratic family. Oftentimes austere heritages like this are depicted as overly privileged snobs, who portray themselves as pillars of the community in order to demand and receive respect from those they deem lesser than themselves.
The Addams's however are the total opposite, being a rather secluded and unusual bunch. They have no interest or concern in the fact that others find them weird or frightening, they are comfortable with their differences, and as such, they have become a monument for marginalized people to speak their truth, and shared their lived experiences authentically and without judgment. Ortega’s presentation of Wednesday on the Netflix show which broke another viewership record has added to this in leaps and bounds, both with the actress’ own personal identity with the role, and with some exciting and surprising theories about the character herself.
With Ortega having strong roots in both Mexican and Puerto Rican lineage, she has long been a proud advocate for the challenges faced by the Latin community in America. In previous statements and interviews online, she has discussed the barriers she often faced when trying to gain success in the filming industry because of her Latina identity, and has expressed frustration that there is still so much prejudice and specificity around the ethnicity of roles within the movie and television circuit.
This is a circumstance that she has faced many times in her life, and is something that she was really able to bring to her role, which she could deeply relate with in terms of being different, and being ostracized for not looking and behaving a certain way within a community who values sameness. Ortega saw many similarities between herself and Wednesday Addams, for the aforementioned reasons, but also because of the dark sense of humor and the deadpan approach to so many controversial things that they share in common. Thus she has expanded and elaborated on a presentation of the already fabulous Wednesday into a bold and fearless protagonist who is able to face the deepest cruelties and insults in a strong and stoic way that always gives her the upper hand.
That is not to say that Ortega’s Wednesday is unfeeling, in fact, quite the opposite, she is a surprisingly gentle and compassionate soul despite the un-fazed persona she gives off, and this can be seen in her relationship with housemate Enid Sinclaire. The two share many great scenes, and although they seem like very different people, they share an undeniable connection.
This is another reason why the recent Wednesday has become a champion for the queer community, not only because she has always been a representation of non-conformity, but also because her relationship with Enid is believed by many to be blossoming into romance. This isn’t something that has been confirmed by Netflix, but is a strong suspicion of fans of the show, who are excited by the long looks and the intimate secrets that the two characters share, suggesting that Wednesday herself may in fact be a part of the LGBTQI+ community. This may be something that the series has changed from the Addams family movies, or perhaps has been a long-running understanding of the character, but it's certainly an exciting possible development for Season 2 of Netflix's Wednesday.
In this sense, Wednesday Adams represents both sides of the Queer meaning, from being denoted as ‘odd’ or ‘weird’ by those around her, but celebrating her uniqueness and distinction, to her identity as a marginalized individual who is proud of her queer community. Wednesday is and has always been a hero for those who stand out and carve their own paths in life that go against the established norms and beliefs of society, and Jenna Ortega’s take on the iconic character, guided and influenced by other hugely successful people who have lit the way for the dark and macabre sense of humor and comedy to stand for something much deeper, like Christina Ricci and Tim Burton, is truly a celebration of humanity and the wonderful strengths that diversity and variety can bring to modern culture.