In 1945, Archie and his gang were introduced into the comic world. He and his crew quickly became a favorite among a niche group of comic lovers. The comic series was so well received that it would spawn decades of entertainment around the popular comic book character. One of those shoot-offs would be Riverdale, an ultra-dark look at Archie and his hometown. While Riverdale included the titular characters of the classic, it was divergent in some noticeable ways. However, the 2017 feature would gain a massive fandom of its own. The darker re-work worked well for the new generation. While it remained a teenage drama focusing on the angst of those years, it was more foreboding. But the key factor was its relatability.
Wednesday, the newest Addams Family spin-off and Tim Burton original began streaming on Netflix on November 23. And in its short run, the series has garnered much acclaim and criticism. Whether the series inspired criticism or fanfare, one thing was sure Wednesday had everyone talking. And one of the talking points that has become popular among viewers is the parallels between the series and other popular shows. One interesting comparison centers around similarities between Wednesday and Riverdale. While some are in full agreement, no questions asked, such has led others to inquire exactly why the two are being compared, and here's what we came up with.
The Wednesday vs. Riverdale Comparison
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There are likenesses, and that's irrefutable. The most correlative factor would be the backdrop and core concept. Wednesday is a teen drama like Riverdale but also like many others. Some examples are Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The list of comparisons is non-exhaustive. However, this remains the simplest parallel, leading fans to draw comparisons. The other more pertinent factor would be that both are dark and mystery driven.
Wednesday and Riverdale are darker remakes of the original. At its height, Archie was lighter, if not in its context, then in its tone. However, Riverdale, the creative offspring of the Archie comics, dealt with more supernatural elements and darker subtexts. So, the newer offering shifted the look and tone. The same can be said of Wednesday. While the Addams Family has always been about a blood-linked clan of a macabre outcast, giving the story an instantaneous darker subtext, in the earlier versions, the tone is lighter.
The original Addams Family television series was written as a comedic family sitcom. Wednesday moves away from the comedic spin, darkening the tone a bit. Thus, it's not difficult to see how one finds closer links between both, especially given Wednesday and Veronica's investigative characterizations and goth style.
Monster High: The Movie Is Another Apt Comparison
Although there are similarities between Wednesday and Riverdale, one will find they are slight in nature. And while some fans may see how the two relate, many will not. In fact, some might be more apt to draw comparisons betwixt Wednesday and Monster High, but more specifically, Monster High: The Movie. Wednesday and Monster High: The Movie has similar plots, character iterations, and settings. Monster High: The Movie is also about outcast teenagers set apart due to their less-than-human characteristics.
In Monster High: The Movie, a hybrid monster named Clawdeen ends up at a special school for those like her. Wednesday, too, draws a parallel here. The only difference is Clawdeen wants to attend while Wednesday is forced. However, the rationale is the same, finding a place to belong. Clawdeen's status at Monster High is threatened by an advancing threat, much like Wednesday's at Nevermore. And much like Wednesday, Clawdeen takes matters into her hands and saves the day. Given these ties, one would be hard-pressed to deny the overt parallelism between these two features as well.
What's the Verdict?
Everything is relative! There are so many comparisons that can be made to various series. Many teenage dramas have the same subtext, so viewers will surely find some semblance between Riverdale and Wednesday. So to answer more pointedly, why are the two being compared? The simplest response is relative perspective.
What one gleans from a show is what they are looking for. And perspective is always in the eye of the beholder.
Tim Burton's Wednesday: The Plot
Wednesday is a story of the deadpan and brilliant darling of the Addams Family as she finds her place in the world. She is taken on a journey due to situational circumstances. And we watchers witness how she makes her way as Burton fixates his lens, drilling down her reasoning processes and interactions with the world. And thus, we can leave with a better sense of whom this darkened soul is.
Tim Burton crafts an intriguing feature, a fresh take on the Addams Family universe. The feature shows the depth of a character not fully explored, with the closest being the 2019 animated feature. Despite dissenting opinions, this feature is a fascinating addition to the Addams Family collection. And for those who have yet to make comparisons, there is still time to do so!