Over two years have passed since Wednesday premiered on Netflix, and if the streamer wants to bypass delays with future installments, it should look into copying an approach made by a previous horror show. Wednesday season 2 is set to release in two parts, with half the season coming in August and the other half in September.
Wednesday season 1 debuted around Thanksgiving in 2022, just missing out on releasing the supernatural series around Halloween. That said, banking on viewers being available for a binge-watch around the November holiday paid off. In addition to more immediate viewership records, Wednesday is still Netflix’s most-watched show in history on its global charts (via Tudum).
Despite its immense popularity and pop culture dominance, thanks in part to Jenna Ortega’s rising stardom, Wednesday season 2 wasn’t rushed by Netflix. Multi-year delays are understandably frustrating for fans, but there’s a way the series can avoid similar situations with future seasons when looking at another Netflix show that ended in 2020.
Wednesday Can Avoid Delays With Holiday Episodes Like Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina
Wednesday Should Take A Page Out Of Sabrina’s Netflix Playbook
In many ways, Wednesday is the perfect replacement show for those missing Netflix’s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Like Wednesday, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was based on existing IP, leaning into the supernatural horror vibes while focusing on a young female lead. Though Chilling Adventures of Sabrina was canceled after two years, the show embraced the holiday special concept.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina season 1 consisted of two parts, but the first came to an end with a holiday-themed episode about six weeks after the first batch of episodes debuted. To avoid further release delays and gaps between episodes, Wednesday should explore holiday episodes like Chilling Adventures of Sabrina‘s “A Midwinter’s Tale” special.
For Wednesday to take a similar approach, future seasons wouldn’t have to utilize special episodes so close to the rest of the season like Sabrina. However, debuting special bonus episodes between seasons would help cut down the frustrations if Netflix expects substantial time gaps between future seasons.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina‘s “A Midwinter’s Tale” notably went off in a different direction by focusing on aspects of Christmas folklore, but it still worked within the continued story. What’s more, the show was able to explore holiday elements without abandoning the horror genre, which is something Wednesday could definitely achieve.
Past Addams Family Projects Have Shown Why Wednesday Holiday Specials Would Work
The Addams Family Already Has A History With Holiday Celebrations
Considering Wednesday Addams is still at Nevermore Academy, now with Pugsley also enrolled, there are plenty of opportunities to incorporate holiday episodes. Wednesday and Pugsley could go back home for Christmas or a winter break, allowing them to get into shenanigans alongside other members of the Addams Family.
In fact, The Addams Family TV show from the ’60s memorably embraced various holidays with episodes set around Halloween and Christmas, in addition to various family gatherings and parties. The 1977 reunion special was also focused on Halloween. The movies from the ’90s didn’t focus on any holidays, but they did prove how special events involving the family could create worthwhile storylines.
If Netflix renews Wednesday for season 3, perhaps there could be a surprise episode in store, whether it’s to make the wait time for the new season less extreme or to bridge gaps within a multi-part season. With streaming services noticeably tweaking their release strategy over the years, anything is possible.
Source: Tudum
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Wednesday
8/10
- Release Date
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November 23, 2022
- Network
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Netflix
- Showrunner
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Miles Millar, Alfred Gough
- Writers
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April Blair
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Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
7/10
- Release Date
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2018 – 2020-00-00
- Showrunner
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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa
- Directors
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Rob Seidenglanz, Alex Pillai, Kevin Rodney Sullivan
- Writers
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Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Christianne Hedtke, Jenina Kibuka
