Netflix’s Wednesday Series Traces Its Roots to Smallville
Hi, I’m Elena West and get ready—this revelation is a game changer for every TV fan seeking inspiration and insight.
Wednesday’s creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have openly credited their hit Netflix series to the groundwork they laid two decades ago with Smallville. In an August 8 interview with Variety, Millar stated that there is no Wednesday without Smallville, highlighting that the core family dynamic in both shows springs from their earliest work. Smallville followed teenage Clark Kent, portrayed by Tom Welling, as he navigated adolescence alongside his devoted parents Martha Kent, played by Annette O’Toole, and Jonathan Kent, played by John Schneider. That same grounding in parental relationships pulses through Wednesday, starring Jenna Ortega at Nevermore Academy.
Gough explained to Variety how the era of Dawson’s Creek and Buffy shaped their vision. In Buffy, adults were almost non existent except for Giles, and in Dawson’s Creek kids often outshone their parents. The duo sought a different approach. “We wanted a very functional relationship where Clark went to his parents because he had to,” Alfred recalled, emphasizing that Martha and Jonathan were the keepers of his secret and the architects of his boundaries. This formula resonated with audiences and set a precedent for Wednesday’s treatment of Gomez Addams, played by Luis Guzmán, and Morticia Addams, portrayed by Catherine Zeta-Jones.
In episode two of Wednesday season two, viewers see Morticia reel her daughter back from overusing her psychic gift after a harrowing vision in which her best friend, Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), dies. As black tears streamed down Wednesday’s cheeks, Morticia seized her spellbook and reminded her daughter that “Your ability is not a weapon to be deployed. It’s a gift to be respected.” Wednesday’s defiant response—“You cannot tell me to blaze my own trail and then put up these roadblocks”—mirrors the spirited push and pull between freedom and guidance that defined Clark’s upbringing in Smallville.
Both series explore themes of family loyalty, discipline, and the primal importance of parents and children understanding each other. Variety’s conversation with the showrunners underlines that Lionel and Lex Luthor’s complex bond on Smallville was intentionally set against the Kents’ aspirational model. That duality of relationships has become a signature of Gough and Millar’s storytelling style, proving that success leaves clues.
As we anticipate the second part of Wednesday season two on September 3, consider adding these series to your watch list. The Yogurt Shop Murders on HBO revisits a chilling 1991 crime in Austin with interviews that probe investigative practices and media influence. And Hulu’s King of the Hill revival continues the Hill family saga with Hank and Peggy retired and Bobby carving out a culinary path in Dallas.
Take this behind the scenes insight and channel it into your own creative journey—your next breakthrough could be rooted in the wisdom of what came before. Now take what you’ve learned and make something great happen!
Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online, Variety
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
