Since its premiere in 2022, Wednesday has become one of Netflix’s biggest hits. It combines gothic horror, teen drama and deadpan comedy with its wildly successful formula. With Jenna Ortega in the lead role (Wednesday Addams), the show has quickly captured audiences thanks to its fresh take on the classic Addams family legacy. After an impressive first season filled with clever writing and eye-popping visuals, fans have eagerly awaited the second chapter. 

After years of waiting, many fans were surprised by a season two release in August 2025 with only four episodes. But with new characters and a sharper, more horror-forward tone, the episodes have kept viewers hooked. Yet there are some burning questions about the ongoing drama and mystery surrounding the haunting Nevermore Academy. One of which is, why is Wednesday only four episodes? Here’s what to expect and know about Wednesday’s shenanigans this season. 

Is ‘Wednesday’ season two only four episodes?

While it may seem like season two is unusually short compared to last season, fans actually have more to look forward to. The truth is that season two will actually have a total of eight episodes, just like the first season did. The catch is that Netflix decided to split the release into two parts. So the first four episodes were available for viewing on Aug. 6, 2025. The remaining four are scheduled for release on Sept. 3. This staggered rollout is part of a growing trend by Netflix that helps to extend viewership, raise engagement and build anticipation. 

This split-season strategy was even used in other Netflix shows like Stranger Things and Bridgerton. While this rollout allows viewers to digest the show with a natural climax before the release of the second half, it may cause frustration for fans. Despite this wait, the good news is that there is still more Addams family weirdness to come. Although you won’t be able to binge the whole thing at once until next month, part two of the second season promises to be a darker and even more intriguing watch.  

Will there be a season three of ‘Wednesday’?

For fans not looking forward to another long wait, there is some good news. Per Radio Times, Wednesday has officially been renewed for season three as of July 2025. In a recent interview, showrunners Alfred Gough and Miles Millar confirmed that the Addams family lore will continue. They shared that, “We will be seeing more Addams Family members and learning more family secrets in season three,” so fans can expect the upcoming season to focus more on long-buried secrets and Wednesday’s relationships. 

More complex storylines will be highlighted, but of course, the horror and mystery elements will remain. While no release date has been announced, the renewal reassures viewers that the series isn’t ending anytime soon. Considering how season two of Wednesday is building up, season three is set to complicate the Addams-verse in bold and unexpected ways beautifully. 

Why didn’t Xavier come back?

Although everything hasn’t unfolded just yet, there is a lot to grasp in season two of Wednesday. One of the most noticeable things off the bat is the absence of one of the central characters. Xavier Thorpe, Wednesday’s psychic classmate and former love interest, was played by Percy Hynes White in season one. He had a significant role in the narrative as Wednesday tried to navigate murder investigations and two very different suitors. However, as viewers may have noticed, he’s completely absent from season two.

Narratively, Xavier’s departure is explained early in season two. After he was falsely implicated in last year’s Hyde killings, his powerful (and politically connected) family pulled funding from the school and transferred him to Reichenbach Academy in Switzerland. So, he leaves behind a crow painting as a farewell to Wednesday, symbolically linking to the show’s larger sense of mystery. 

But, as many fans may now know, there was a behind-the-scenes real-world reason for Xavier’s disappearance. And it’s much more serious than you might expect. In 2023, Hynes White faced sexual misconduct allegations. Although he denied the accusations and no legal action followed, Netflix quietly decided to part ways with the actor. As Cosmopolitan reports about season two of the series, Xavier sends his art and last words to Wednesday: “Consider this my goodbye gift. The image suddenly flashed in my head. Don’t ask me how I know or what it means, but it’s connected to you, I’m sure.” So references to the art piece, which was conjured by Xavier’s psychic powers, will likely be the last time that viewers hear about his character.

Does Wednesday have a love interest in season two?

With the narrative collapse of the steadily progressing love triangle between Wednesday and her two suitors, Xavier and Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), there is a lot to unpack. And in stark contrast to season one of Wednesday, season two completely seems to avoid romantic subplots for its lead character. This shift was very much intentional and is in part thanks to the influence of Jenna Ortega, who plays Wednesday. She also serves as a producer this season, so her concerns about the romantic elements in season one have been heard. As Ortega shared with Variety, “It’s still coming together, but we’ve decided we want to lean into the horror more. We’re ditching any romantic love interest, which is really great.”

As a result of this change, season two has a more horror-driven plot. This gives Wednesday more room to evolve without the distraction of romantic entanglements. Instead, the focus shifts to more pressing matters like her complicated relationships with friends, family and her adversaries. The focus on the chilling new threats lurking around Nevermore and beyond stays true to Wednesday’s classic no-nonsense and emotionally guarded persona. This move away from teen romance is a refreshingly bold choice that underscores her character’s growth as she confronts larger and more personal mysteries.  

Who is the stalker in ‘Wednesday’ season two?

The mystery of Wednesday’s anonymous stalker picks back up from season one with a reveal in season two, episode two. The unsettling stalker is revealed to be Agnes DeMille, who Evie Templeton portrays. As Slash Film reports, Agnes is a quiet Nevermore student who has long harbored an obsessive fascination with Wednesday. Of course, her stalking hasn’t been necessarily easy since Wednesday is such a formidable figure. But she has the ability to turn invisible. So with her intriguing ability, she has escalated her stalking to new heights in the new season. After Wednesday receives cryptic letters, Agnes turns up the heat. She steals and threatens Wednesday’s manuscript, which is her prized possession that she has been working on for years. 

Wednesday does end up saving her manuscript from ruin. But Agnes then orchestrates traps for her bubbly friend and roommate, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers). She leaves clues to draw Wednesday’s attention, which lead to her being caught and Enid being freed. But Agnes confesses she never intended harm, yet wanted validation from Wednesday, whom she idolizes. And with that, Wednesday, who was initially thinking that recent murders in town were related to her stalker, quickly turns her attention back to more dangerous threats. 

Who is Judi Spannagel?

Along with the slight change of tone for season two, there are new characters for viewers to sink their teeth into. Judi Spannagel is introduced in the new season and quickly becomes central to the mystery unfolding. The character is played by Heather Matarazzo, best known for her role as Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries, per TV Insider. In season two of Wednesday, Judi first appears as the chipper and overly helpful executive assistant at Willowhill Psychiatric Facility. Her bright personality and retro aesthetic greatly contrast the dark and brooding world of Nevermore. This difference initially casts her as a type of comedic relief. 

But as fans know, it is better not to trust surface appearances. The narrative pushes on, and it becomes clear that Judi’s true role is much more complex and sinister. As the season progresses, viewers will be able to notice strange inconsistencies in her behavior. Hints develop and suggest that she is involved with an endearing and deeply unsettling twist to the story.  

Who is the Avian? 

The true menace in season two is the mysterious Avian, a serial killer who controls birds and leaves a bloody trail behind. In episode four of part one, Wednesday finally uncovers the Avian’s identity, Judi Spannagel. Outwardly, Judi seems to be the jolly executive assistant of Dr. Fairburn (Thandiwe Newton) at WillowHill Psychiatric Facility. But she is actually the daughter of the disgraced science teacher Augustus Stonehurst, who paves the way for her villainous streak. 

As a part of his highly unethical Long‑term Outcast Integration Study (LOIS) he extracts the Outcasts’ abilities and transfers them to Normies. But Stonehurst turns Judi into one of his experiments and unleashes a threat that turns murderous. During Wednesday’s investigation, with the help of her Uncle Fester, she infiltrates the facility and releases captive Outcasts. Yet amid all the chaos, Judi’s powers are revealed. So, the twist of the first part of season two is that a seemingly harmless character harnesses deadly power.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Wednesday ever smile in the series?

Despite the character’s opposition to this facial expression in prior movies, Wednesday smiles in the Netflix series. Ortega’s version of Wednesday does manage a slight smile up to seven times in season one, as IMDb reports. 

How many seasons are there going to be of Wednesday?

As of right now, only three seasons of the show are confirmed. But showrunner Alfred Gough confirms via Netflix that, “Our goal for season three is the same as it is for every season: to make it the best season of Wednesday we possibly can.”