Netflix’s spooky sensation Wednesday is back this summer, and Season 2 promises even more macabre twists. With new faces, deeper horror elements and a two-part release plan, the upcoming season looks set to expand the world of Nevermore Academy in style.

Release Schedule and Format

Season 2 will be released in two parts. Part 1 drops on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, followed by Part 2 on Wednesday, September 3, 2025. Each part includes four episodes, making up an eight-episode season in total. The month-long gap between parts is short enough to maintain momentum while giving viewers time to speculate and process each cliffhanger.

Story and Tone

Netflix teases a storm of “fresh foes and woes” awaiting Wednesday Addams. After uncovering a deadly conspiracy in Season 1, Wednesday must once again balance school life, supernatural danger, and her complicated relationships. But this time, she’s doing it with a darker edge.

Jenna Ortega, who reprises her role and also serves as producer, has hinted that Season 2 will ditch romantic subplots and focus more on psychological horror and mystery. Expect sharp dialogue, eerie plot twists and a greater emphasis on the Addams family’s creepy legacy.

Cast: Familiar Faces and Bold New Additions

Returning to their roles are Jenna Ortega (Wednesday), Emma Myers (Enid), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia), Luis Guzmán (Gomez), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley), and Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester). Hunter Doohan, Joy Sunday, and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo also return, with several promoted to regulars.

But it’s the newcomers that bring even more intrigue. Lady Gaga joins Part 2 as Rosaline Rotwood, a revered Nevermore instructor with mysterious intentions. Anthony Michael Hall appears in a secretive role. Billie Piper plays a character named Capri, while Steve Buscemi brings his signature intensity as Barry Dort. Other additions include Evie Templeton, Owen Painter and Noah B. Taylor. Joanna Lumley guest stars as Grandmama, Thandiwe Newton portrays Dr. Fairburn, and Christopher Lloyd, who played Uncle Fester in the 90s films, appears in an undisclosed role — a major nod for longtime fans.

Production and What to Expect

Filming for Season 2 took place in Ireland from May to December 2024, after the production relocated from Romania. Tim Burton returns to direct four episodes, including the premiere, ensuring the show retains its gothic visual style.

The new season dives deeper into Wednesday’s psychic powers, explores more haunting environments, and introduces chilling new storylines that lean heavily into horror. It’s clear the creators are embracing the darker elements of the Addams mythology while keeping Wednesday’s deadpan brilliance at the center.

Final Thoughts

With a release schedule designed to dominate the summer and a lineup of iconic new cast members, Wednesday Season 2 looks poised to outdo its debut run. From its bold horror direction to the buzz surrounding Lady Gaga’s mysterious role, the season is shaping up to be a must-watch event for fans of the strange and supernatural.

Mark your calendar for August 6 and September 3 — Nevermore Academy is opening its doors once again, and Wednesday Addams is ready to face whatever shadows lurk beyond them.

Arcane made a powerful debut in 2021, captivating both League of Legends fans and general audiences with its painterly 3D animation and emotionally charged storytelling. Created by French studio Fortiche in collaboration with Riot Games, the show became a landmark moment in video game adaptations. With co-creator Christian Linke confirming early on that the series would conclude with a second season, Arcane was always meant to be a complete two-act saga within a larger Runeterra universe.

Picking Up the Pieces

Season two begins where the cliffhanger left off—Jinx’s impulsive attack on the Piltover council using a stolen Hextech gemstone. Her actions ignite a looming war between the upper city of Piltover and the oppressed undercity of Zaun. As the story unfolds, Vi and Jinx are forced to confront the ghosts of their past and the damage they’ve done to each other.

The series reintroduces viewers smoothly after a three-year break, using early episodes to revisit key plot points and re-establish character dynamics. This helps both returning fans and new viewers settle into the emotionally complex world of Runeterra.

A Visual Powerhouse

Fortiche once again pushes the boundaries of animation. Season two builds on the visual splendor of the first season, offering dynamic action scenes and rich worldbuilding rendered in a blend of hand-painted textures and CG movement. Scenes like the explosive rocket attack, a dramatic neon-soaked sister showdown, and a sprawling climactic battle show just how far the studio has come in visual storytelling.

Critics have praised the series as one of the most visually striking animated projects on any platform. The gritty textures, vivid lighting, and expressive character animations bring the fantasy world to life in mesmerizing detail.

Complex Structure, Uneven Execution

The season unfolds in three acts, released over three weeks, with each act diving into different corners of the world and shifting perspectives. While this structure allows for a broader exploration of Runeterra beyond Piltover and Zaun, it also dilutes the central narrative.

Secondary characters are introduced and dropped with minimal impact, and the political conflict that once grounded the show takes a backseat. The story’s ambition sometimes works against its emotional core, as the tight character focus that made season one exceptional becomes scattered.

Themes and Missed Opportunities

Arcane continues to examine weighty themes—trauma, power, personal responsibility—but it struggles to give these ideas the space they need to develop. The time jumps between episodes often gloss over pivotal moments, giving the impression that characters evolve off-screen. As a result, some emotional beats in the finale feel unearned, making it difficult for viewers to fully connect with the characters’ final choices.

The conclusion attempts to tie up all loose ends but does so hastily, sacrificing the nuanced storytelling and emotional depth that made the first season so memorable.

Final Thoughts

Despite its rushed narrative and structural flaws, Arcane Season 2 remains a visually stunning and emotionally resonant experience. The animation is groundbreaking, the world feels rich and alive, and the sibling rivalry between Jinx and Vi remains compelling. While the show stumbles in its final act, it still sets a high bar for what animated series—and video game adaptations—can achieve.

If future stories in the Arcane universe take the time to let characters grow and avoid cramming too much into too little space, there’s still great promise ahead for Runeterra. As it stands, Arcane is a remarkable achievement that ends with a bit of a stumble—but never loses sight of its artistic ambition.

There are two ways to approach a story about a near nuclear crisis: play it with deadly seriousness or lean into the absurdity of it all. Disney+’s Swedish miniseries Whiskey on the Rocks takes the bold second route. Based on the bizarre true incident in 1981 when a Soviet “Whiskey”-class submarine ran aground deep within Swedish waters, the six-episode series turns real-life diplomatic chaos into a sharply written, darkly comedic political satire.

This show marks Disney+’s first original Nordic production, in collaboration with Sweden’s public broadcaster SVT. The result is a high-quality series rich in period authenticity and unapologetically critical of political incompetence.

A Strange Truth Stranger Than Fiction

The real-life event behind Whiskey on the Rocks already had the makings of a dark comedy. In October 1981, during a time of military drills, a Soviet submarine found itself stranded just ten kilometers from a Swedish naval base. The Swedish government, shocked by the intrusion, considered it a serious violation and potential act of aggression.

The show takes this incident and amplifies it through a satirical lens, presenting a parade of overreacting politicians, fumbling military leaders, and panicked bureaucrats. Reminiscent of The Death of Stalin, the writing cleverly exposes how fear of making the wrong move often results in exactly that. The tension is real—but so is the absurdity.

Strong Performances Ground the Farce

One of the series’ greatest strengths is its cast. Rolf Lassgård plays Prime Minister Thorbjörn Fälldin as a gruff, reluctant leader more comfortable on his farm than at the helm of an international crisis. His deadpan delivery anchors the chaos with quiet charm.

Elsa Saisio brings magnetic presence to the fictional Soviet ambassador Aleksandra Kosygina. Fluent in multiple languages and full of understated wit, her character feels both menacing and oddly relatable. Every time she appears, the tension sharpens.

The supporting cast—including Niklas Engdahl, Filip Berg, and Adam Lundgren—adds layers of both comic exaggeration and looming threat, never letting the audience forget the gravity beneath the humor.

Laughter with an Edge of Danger

What sets Whiskey on the Rocks apart from typical political comedies is its ability to balance humor with genuine dread. One minute you’re laughing at a general’s absurd misunderstanding of military protocol, and the next you’re reminded how easily human error can lead to catastrophe.

This dry, dark humor is quintessentially Nordic—no gimmicks or laugh tracks, just sharp dialogue and restrained performances that reveal their absurdity through understatement.

Though tightly paced across its six episodes, the final act feels a bit rushed. The resolution ties up too neatly, and the climax could’ve benefited from an extra episode or two to fully explore the geopolitical game at play.

Disney+’s Smart Nordic Gamble

Despite minor pacing issues, Whiskey on the Rocks is a brilliant blend of satire and suspense. It’s one of Disney+’s most distinctive original series to date, offering a refreshing take for viewers bored with self-serious political dramas. The show demonstrates the unique strength of Nordic storytelling—where history and humor are interwoven to unsettling and entertaining effect.

Premiering on January 22, 2025, the series is ideal for a weekend binge. Fans of films like Dr. Strangelove or The Death of Stalin will find a lot to enjoy here. Whiskey on the Rocks reminds us that history is full of close calls—and sometimes, all we can do is laugh through the madness.