Netflix’s Wednesday Addams Probably Meets the Diagnostic Criteria for Autism. Here's Why That’s So Important.

Netflix’s quirky murder mystery Wednesday has been a record-breaking hit with viewers. Not only are its offbeat humor and deliciously macabre details resonating with its ever-growing audience, but so is the show’s central theme: embracing differences. The titular character, Wednesday, grows throughout the season; most notably, she makes friends that love her for her, including her flat affect and self-expressed struggles with emotions.

Though Wednesday is not explicitly identified as autistic in the show, many fans have interpreted the character’s behavior as evidence that she is autistic. Let’s take a moment to put ourselves in the shoes of another character on the show, therapist Dr. Kinbott, and go over how the diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.

One diagnostic category for ASD involves “restricted, repetitive behaviors.” Wednesday adheres to a strict schedule when writing her novel, even initially declining to participate in the Poe Cup over concerns that it would cut into her allotted writing time. In addition to writing, many of Wednesday’s hobbies and preoccupations, such as taxidermy or torture devices, could be called hyperfixations due to their specificity and how intensely she is fixated on them. The same could be said for how doggedly she pursues the murder investigation at the show’s heart, down to even making a large poster board of well-labeled evidence.

Wednesday also appears to have hyperreactivity to sensory input, another diagnostic category. She says she is “allergic” to color and reacts to bright colors with disgust or, sometimes, headaches (a common symptom of sensory overload). This adverse response to specific sensory stimuli is a hallmark of autism and would explain why Wednesday’s aversion to color goes beyond simple dislike and causes a physical reaction.

Wednesday is uncomfortable with change and transitions. She resists acclimating to Nevermore, even when invited to participate in several activities. Changes that a neurotypical person might take in stride — like meeting a new roommate or a coffee shop only having drip available — seem to bother Wednesday quite a bit (even though the bother never shows on her face).

Another diagnostic category is “persistent difficulties in the social use of verbal and nonverbal communication.” Wednesday has an abnormal social approach, as evidenced by her markedly blunted affect and the stilted way she interacts with her peers on the show. She also displays difficulty in understanding and maintaining her relationships. Over episodes 6 and 7, Wednesday even puts her friends Enid and Tyler in danger by taking them to explore the Gates mansion. Enid is understandably upset that her friend would risk her safety, but Wednesday doesn’t seem to understand the impact of her actions and is confused as to why Enid packs her things to leave their shared room. When Enid points out that they all could have died, saying that she feels like Wednesday doesn’t value her as a friend, Wednesday’s response is, “But we didn’t.” Many would consider this an atypical response, as it lacks the appropriate reassurance and does not address the root of the issue — that Enid feels like Wednesday is using her without regard for her well-being.

Wednesday also does not display typical nonverbal communication. Her body language is stiff, and she communicates very little information through microexpressions (although the perceptive viewer will notice that Jenna Ortega, the actor playing Wednesday, is a master at showing complex emotion in the barest twitches of her face).

Of course, when diagnosing a real person with a neurodevelopmental disorder, practitioners require more information than just observation. This might include information about Wednesday’s childhood and development, as well as whether her symptoms are causing her distress and in what way.

Wednesday Addams is a fictional character, which raises the question: Why is it significant that a character displays these behaviors? There has been little positive representation of neurodivergent people in the media and even less of autistic women (or autistics of other non-male gender identities). The little neurodivergent representation currently available in the media is often far from flattering. Characters such as Sheldon Cooper are overbearing and unpleasant to be around. Savant characters such as Raymond in Rain Man are portrayed as tragic or pitiable figures, saved from being totally useless only by one defining skill. This representation (or lack thereof) parallels the disturbing lack of research on and acceptance of autistic people assigned female at birth in real life.

While Wednesday is not explicitly autistic, she is certainly neurodivergent-coded and many autistics, including me, relate to her. She is sharp and talented. Her many skills, including writing, playing the cello, fencing, postmortem examination, and archery, also give her character depth and texture — something that is frequently missing from neurodiverse characters. As the main character, she is set up for the audience to like and relate to, both things not often afforded to autistic people in real life.

Beyond providing much-needed representation, though, Wednesday also represents the gold standard for how autistic people deserve to be treated. At the end of the season, Wednesday has not significantly altered her affect, hobbies, or mannerisms to fit in better with her peers. The lessons she learns about being a better friend and about social connectedness do not lead her to change herself nor to doubt her own uniqueness. It is also important to note that no one treats Wednesday as incapable or impotent because of her social difference. Her friends are impressed by her and continue to accept her for who she is, often going to great lengths to accommodate her and relate to her in a way that makes her comfortable.

In showing all this, Wednesday models healthy neurodivergent-neurotypical relationships, perhaps influencing how neurotypical viewers will interact with the neurodivergent people in their lives — mainly with kindness, acceptance, and unconditional faith in their proficiencies. Although, hopefully, no one finds us autistics nearly as spooky as they do Wednesday Addams.