The last thing Wednesday needs in season 2 is a new love story

“People like you and me are just different. We are original thinkers. Fearless runaways in a vast cesspool of adolescence. We don’t need these ridiculous coming-of-age rites.” That’s what Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) says about her classmate Eugene (Moosa Mostafa) in episode 4 of the Netflix series. Admittedly, the statement is theatrically exaggerated. But at its core, it perfectly sums up what I love about the protagonist.

Danger: This article contains spoiler for the entire first season. Wednesday is an anti-hero who single-mindedly pursues her own agenda rather than fitting into the school hierarchy. To their fellow human beings and the social expectations she only allows herself to a limited extent. In Season 1, however, Tyler (Hunter Doohan) kisses.

If season 2 would now serve us the next romance, would that hurt Wednesday’s character.

The special thing about Wednesday is her dark, argumentative nature

I find Wednesday an exciting protagonist because she is dark, fearless and unpredictable. Right at the start of the series, we experience her penchant for sadism in a scene in which she throws piranhas into the pool while training her old school’s water polo team to avenge her brother’s bullying.

Throughout the first season, the teen doesn’t strive to be popular or to be loved, but is always on a collision course. She is only too happy to throw herself into all sorts of dangers. One of the reasons for this is her enthusiasm for morbidity. These are all elementary qualities that make up the character of the main character. For me, however, there is another side to Wednesday that is at least as important.

Wednesday’s independence is formative for her character

Ambitious, focused and independent, she is a refreshing teenage character who doesn’t align her priorities with others – let alone boys – but sets her own personal goals. In Season 1, that’s completing her book and solving the murders surrounding Nevermore.

Wednesday usually only uses friendliness to manipulate people and use them for their purposes. The same goes for the two young menwho are clearly in love with her: Tyler and Xavier (Percy Hynes White). She usually only spends time with them when she needs a driver or wants to learn more about the monster.

Apart from that, we experience Wednesday as distant and chilled. She regularly criticizes her brother Pugsley for being too soft and weak when he shows feelings.

There are certainly exceptions in which Wednesday also reveals feelings: The film date and the kiss suggest that she wants more from Tyler than just his help. She worries about Eugene after he gets hurt for going into the woods without her. In the end, Wednesday even becomes the savior of the entire student body and hugs Enid (Emma Myers) voluntarily – which she previously strictly refused. Xavier also gives her a smartphone so that she can better participate in social life.

Please no romance for Wednesday in Season 2

I hope that these concessions do not indicate any further development and that Wednesday will remain a stubborn anti-heroine and lone fighter in Season 2 as well. My biggest fear is that they will new episodes a relationship with Xavier could come after the two reconciled following the false allegations against him.

The fact that characters first choose the “wrong” person before they find their actually perfect love interest is part of the story typical game with our expectations. We see that on a small scale with Enid, for example, who approaches Lucas on the ball before she finally gets together with Ajax (Georgie Farmer).

Should Wednesday team up with Xavier in season two, it would be a classic twist — but also predictable and easy not the style of the protagonist. Luckily, showrunner Miles Millar agrees. In an interview, he explains that Wednesday’s disinterest in romance is part of her character and that it should stay that way.

It was understandable that she still got involved with Tyler in Season 1. The realization that Tyler, who turns out to be a literal monsterdeceived her, but rather confirmed her distrust of relationships.

I therefore hope that the wish of actress Jenna Ortega, who wants to play an even darker, braver and more purposeful anti-heroine in Season 2, will be granted. That’s exactly what Wednesday is for me – and one love story after the other simply has no place there.

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