THE ARTIST | Jenna Ortega
THE SHOW | by Netflix Wednesday
THE EPISODE | “Chapter VIII: A Murder of Misfortunes” (November 23, 2022)
THE PERFORMANCE | Prior to the supernatural mystery finale, leading lady Jenna Ortega had already impressed as a sardonic teenager. His tongue-in-cheek delivery? Perfection. That spooky dance-influenced Siouxsie Sioux, 80s gothic dance clubs and OG on-screen Wednesday Lisa Loring, among others? Iconic.
But at a heartbreaking moment in the season finale, Wednesday was forced to contemplate feelings she had long suppressed, with Ortega putting in her strongest work of the show so far in a double performance that will please everyone. the crowd.
“Are you here to take me to the other side?” Wednesday of Ortega said to his ancestor Goody, too played by Ortega. Up to this point, WednesdayThe titular character had relished his status as an outcast. She was an unrepentant loner who gleefully frightened others with an impenetrable shield of sarcasm, eccentricity, and icy stares. But as the death-obsessed teenager lay against a stone column with a dagger through her abdomen, ready to accept her lonely fate, her ghostly ancestor rushed in with a reminder that she was not alone and that she had a objective.
“The school needs you on Wednesday,” Goody asserted, his gravelly voice sinking into the idea that saving his descendant also meant disappearing forever. It was in that solemn exchange that we saw Wednesday, not as the enigmatic crackpot, but rather something more… human.
As she marched with renewed strength towards the danger that awaited her, there was a noticeable shift in character, and the usually calm heroine finally showed some emotion. It was cathartic to watch that volcanic rage swirl in Wednesday’s eyes as she stabbed Crackstone through the heart, that mask of slippery steel. And the small gesture of kissing Enid afterwards, again allowing those disgusting feelings to briefly come to the surface, says a lot about her growth.
While the show’s fate remains undetermined, one thing is clear: Ortega closed out the season with a memorable, career-defining performance that solidified the young actress as a formidable on-screen force.
HONORABLE MENTION | Every time we think Yellowstone Powerhouse Kelly Reilly can’t impress us more, she says, “Hold my beer.” Case in point: Sunday’s episode (recap here), in which Beth spotted a baby seat in her brother Jamie’s hated SUV and learned a devastating truth. “You had my belly cut from me,” she said, Reilly letting disbelief give way to rage, “and God gave you a boy?!?” What followed was a stunning streak that found the Emmy nominee who should have filled her character with more combustible feelings than her body could hold. Beth being Beth, she wanted fury to be the only emotion on display. But Reilly, a master of the pivot, weaved a visceral horror and sadness into his performance that punched even bigger than the punches Beth landed on Jamie.
HONORABLE MENTION | Anytime Abbott Elementary School gives us an Ava-centric episode we know we’re in for a treat. This week’s episode – in which principal Ava replaced an ailing Janine – didn’t disappoint on that front, thanks to Janelle James’ consistently bubbly and highly entertaining performance. As Ava tried to juggle her under-eye mask business with her reluctance to follow Janine’s lesson plan, the actress threw hilarious zingers like firecrackers. (The liveliness of her “Stop flirting” response when Gregory gave her teaching advice was remarkable.) started bonding with the class that left the biggest impression on us.
HONORABLE MENTION | Assuming you don’t end up on his side, a good Camille de Haan company powerhouse disguise can be a positively thrilling experience, thanks in large part to the actress’ mastery of verbal abuse. Amanda Warren. Watching her completely dismantle Kate last season was a treat that we continue to relish, but as we’ve seen in Gossip Girl, this meeting was only an aperitif. The main course was served to Camille’s daughter, Monet, whose overzealous display of individuality left her mother deeply ashamed, utterly embarrassed and rightly furious. It was the conversational equivalent of setting someone on fire and feeling good doing it.
Which performance(s) hit your socks this week? Tell us in the comments!