The Wednesday dance scene has received unwarranted complaints from fans on TikTok, which misses the point of the character’s awkwardness. Dancing to “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps, Jenna Ortega choreographed Wednesday's scene herself, which has launched a series of imitations and complaints of second-hand embarrassment for the bizarre moves. Fans are pointing out how uncomfortable Wednesday Addams’ choreography is at the Rave’N dance, which sees the title character engaging in unconventional moves as she’s surrounded by classmates at the center of the dance floor.
While audiences are right in that the Wednesday dance scene wasn’t typical for a high school dance, that’s exactly the point. Wednesday is an outcast at the Nevermore Academy school for outcasts, so even though these characters are used to the bizarre, the Addams’ eldest daughter goes the extra mile to distance herself from others. The Addams Family’s charm is that they stand out due to their perceived strangeness, with unconventional dance moves at an event where teens are more insecure being a great way to exemplify Wednesday’s uniqueness. True, her dance moves are weird, but this is who Wednesday Addams is, and she doesn’t care what anyone else thinks.
Why Wednesday's Dance Scene Is So Good
The Wednesday dance scene in season 1 receiving complaints about being too weird is the series’ intended response, which is why it’s so perfect for the character. The dance scene proves how brilliantly Jenna Ortega embodies the character of Wednesday Addams, and especially the kooky and eerie nature of the entire Addams family. Wednesday’s dance is even better considering Jenna Ortega choreographed it, with her inspirations coming from fitting sources, including the very first live-action Wednesday Addams.
One of the main inspirations for the Wednesday dance scene was Lisa Loring, who played Wednesday in the 1960s sitcom. Loring’s dancing as Wednesday in the sitcom has also circulated the internet in recent years, so Ortega’s strange dancing is a nod to the hit series and the pervasive eccentricity of the characters. Ortega also took inspiration from videos of goth clubs in the 1980s, which gives Wednesday season 1’s gothic dance more authenticity. The various inspirations and Wednesday’s song choice of 1981’s “Goo Goo Muck” by The Cramps make the dance timeless in relation to The Addams Family, perfectly embodying the gothic essence of the misfit Wednesday Addams even in a modern context.
Wednesday's Dance Scene Is Important For Her Character
With the whole school watching her, the Wednesday dance scene is important as an example of her individuality shining through in an outcast-heavy school. Not only is Wednesday wearing black while the rest of the dance is dressed in white, but her classmates are all dancing in ways that move with the norm or keep from drawing unwanted attention. Wednesday isn’t necessarily asking for attention in her dance scene, but it demonstrates that she truly doesn’t mind if anyone stares at her. As a character, the unsmiling Wednesday Addams has always been a champion of awkward and misunderstood outcasts, but she holds herself with dignity and confidence that make Wednesday’s “odd” dance moves look cool.
Jenna Ortega Had Some Big Wednesday Dance Complaints
While the Wednesday dance scene became a viral sensation, including several famous people mimicking it, actor Jenna Ortega had some problems with the entire dance. It wasn't doing the dance that bothered her. Unlike many fans who complained, Ortega got the entire purpose of the dance scene. However, it was her dancing that bothered her as she looked back at the scene. In an interview about her Wednesday dance, Ortega said she looked back and wished she had done things differently.
"Some of the moves I had planned, some of it was improved. That was one of the scenes that I stay awake at night thinking about. There was so much I could have done and should have done."
Jenna Ortega had a lot of problems with the Netflix series. She has publicly said that she changed lines on the set in an effort to improve things and protect the character she cares about. She also said she hated the idea of the love triangle and felt the show should have more horror and less romance. However, as far as the Wednesday dance scene, she appreciated the scene, but just wished she had done a better job when she was on the dance floor making a scene.
