How Wednesday season 2 explains key star’s absence from return of Jenna Ortega Netflix show
Netflix has today released the first few episodes of Wednesday season two and fans are ecstatic to finally return to Nevermore Academy.
The Jenna Ortega show’s first season was the most successful English-speaking instalment of TV that Netflix have ever put out so anticipation for the second season is high.
Starring Ortega as Wednesday Addams the second season sees a number of returning stars as well as massive names joining the cast such as Lady Gaga, Billie Piper, Joanna Lumley, Thandiwe Newton and Steve Buscemi.
One major star from the first season is not back for season two however and the Netflix show explains away his character’s absence.
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Percy Hynes-White, who plays Xavier Thorpe in the show, was confirmed to not be returning for season two of Wednesday when a cast announcement was made for the show’s second instalment and he was not included.
Hynes-White posted the cast photo to Instagram, saying; “I had so much fun working on this show. I can't wait to watch season two. Much love.”
This came as a shock to many fans with Xavier playing a major role in season one and being involved in a love triangle with Wednesday.
His absence in season two, which released Part One earlier today, sees him sent to ‘Reichenbach Academy in Switzerland’ as his parents pulled him from school following the murders in season one.
He plays a minor part later in the second season however with Enid, played by Emma Myers, reading a letter he sent to Wednesday.
Xavier, who was a psychic in season one, suggests he has had a vision related to the season two story.
The letter says that he had ‘tried texting’ unsuccessfully before Enid reveals he sent it with a painting of a red-eyed crow relevant to the season two plot.
It went on to read: “Consider this my goodbye gift. The image suddenly flashed in my head.
“Don't ask me how I know or what it means, but it's connected to you, I'm sure. Who's Wednesday Addams without a mystery to solve, right?"
Netflix has never discussed the reasoning for Hynes-White’s departure but it came following sexual assault allegations made against the actor.
The allegations, which Hynes-White denies, alleged that he had thrown parties to give young girls alcohol and had assaulted a girl at one of these parties.
He responded to this via Instagram, saying: “Earlier this year, somebody I’ve never met started a campaign of misinformation against me online.
“My friend Jane was falsely portrayed as a victim, and her attempts to set the record straight have been ignored. She gave me permission to include her in this message.
“The rumours are false. I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety.
“These are the kind of baseless, harmful claims that can create mistrust toward victims.”
Jenna Ortega has not commented on the controversy, however said that his character’s departure was a ‘weird redirect, but we’re introducing so many different characters that I think it kind of will get lost’.
Wednesday season two: Part One is available to watch on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, Jenna Ortega, TV and Film, TV, Celebrity
Michael Slavin