Is Wednesday Autistic? - Therapist Reacts!

[@trinaq]

I liked how Enid respected that Wednesday wasn't a hugger, and gave her time to initiate a hug in her own time. 💞

[@queenannsrevenge100]

I loved how Enid was so conscious of Wednesday’s viewpoint even when ecstatic or hurt. Wednesday fails to comfort her in the scene, and Enid does not concern herself with how it hurt her. Most people in that moment would have likely gone with, “You’re an ***hole” Or “I hate you” It was, “you’re terrible at comforting people” She had the presence of mind to explain what she needed from Wednesday instead.

[@kazmine6831]

I don't think she really respected her. She sounded annoyed at Wednesday when she rejected hugs

[@truecrimelover2022]

@@kazmine6831 she had feelings but she also respected her boundaries without being mean about it as a non hugger i prefer that reaction when a real hugger is around me and understands my boundary

[@bensweiss]

@@kazmine6831 I agree. She always was going in for a hug (and saying "Ok, later") thinking that she would change and do things that she wanted her to do-not really listening to what Wednesday wanted and accepting that. And I felt badly for Wednesday with the last hug because Enid initiated it and then Wednesday hugged her. I wished people would respect her her desire to not be touched or hugged without her initiating it. I thought her Mom modeled how to treat Wednesday in that sense-by not touching her. I thought the scene between Thing and transforming Enid was very touching (one of the most touching for me) as that is how Enid wanted to receive support and be supported.

[@karencarter18042]

I thought it was strange that Pugsley hugged her when she is not a hugger . To me it felt like they didn't know each other they way I would have thought Addams family members should.

[@morganqorishchi8181]

Something that another KZbinr noted is that black clothing absorbs sunlight, Morticia has mentioned sensory issues with sunlight touching her, and Wednesday needs to wear all black for her sensory issues, even during her hobbies. So it could be that Morticia is neurodivergent as well, hence why even though they don't get along, Morticia made sure that Wednesday was allowed to have the clothing she needed to deal with her reaction to that stimuli. There's something so sweet about that. We rarely see neurodivergent parents who look out for their kids so lovingly in media.

[@dazzlingdexter5060]

Morticia and Gomez love Wednesday even if she starts to push off during teen hood.

[@BoopMonkey]

As an autistic person, I identified a lot with both Wednesday and Enid at different points throughout the series. It was a fun watch and I would have missed it completely if not for your videos!

[@spacecat8511]

As someone who’s probably adhd, same! 😅 -although I think Wednesday’s autistic and Enid prolly hsp vs either them as adhd-

[@nicfamelli]

Same

[@tieflingcorpse9817]

would you say theyre both different sides of autism?

[@gaf407]

There was an interesting article I recall reading about autism and human rights activism as it pertained to Ghandi… while Ghandi being autistic is dubious, there was an excerpt on the article that rang true and feel like it could apply to Wednesday: “There is a good reason why autistic individuals will find it easier to become human rights defenders than others. They have more difficulties than others to keep their opinions to themselves, even if voicing them will get them into trouble, and therefore have a well-deserved reputation for being stubborn and inflexible when it comes to their moral values. They tend to oppose scenarios that others perceive as normal, justified or at least inalterable, and their sense of fairness motivates them to stand up and speak out when they feel that an injustice is being committed against themselves or others. On top of this, be it that the autistic person fails to perceive a thinly veiled threat, or that they do feel intimidated or threatened but do not display that emotion in a way that can be sensed by others, they may give the impression that they are determined before they actually are. Subsequently they might be treated as a serious antagonist by their opponents which can help strengthen their resolve and encourage them to continue their fight.” As someone with ADHD and sub-clinical autistic traits, I can personally attest that the cocktail of impulsivity and seeking truth and justice, can often be confused for bravery. Wednesday is also quite impulsive, as Weems stated.

[@Dyslexiella]

As a normal person I dont

[@doru2013]

One point in the show that I wish these videos would bring up is when, during the dance, Bianca mentions wishing she could care less and Wednesday responds that she sometimes wishes she cared more. That scene really hit it on the head for me because it shows that she is aware that she genuinely has trouble understanding other people's emotions and whatnot and that it's not as simple as just wanting or not wanting to do so for her. There are many other situations in the show that allude to it, but that scene in particular is where the idea that she may be on the autistic spectrum really hit home for me.

[@lonnnna]

Watch The Truth Doctor on KZbin she’s covering the whole series and I’m pretty sure she’ll mention it!!

[@lovetobe6118]

That's when I rang true with Wednesday. I rarely cried and wished that I could cry in certain moments. But Wednesday's Intense knowledge in random subjects is where I relate the most.

[@mychaeljones7526]

Yes. There's also a scene when she's in that first hideout the cave and she says something to the bee friend. I don't remember.

[@Dancestar1981]

So much of it seems to be that way. The director Tim Burton is actually autistic himself and often explores themes of being different in his movies

[@JDMimeTHEFIRST]

As an autistic person, I think I care too much. It’s been my experience that neurotypical people see to be able to flip a switch and become cold and hostile towards us. I wish I could be less caring like neurotypicals (not how they think of themselves but how they actually are)

[@woolph58]

The bloody prom scene is an homage to that '76 horror classic Carrie. That's why Wednesday said, “They couldn't even spring for real pig's blood. It's just paint”.

[@bibliobeauti6487]

Honestly when watching it. My fiancé (autistic/bipolar) and I (adhd) both felt that Enid and Wednesday’s dynamic felt very much like what happens when an autistic person and someone with adhd become friends lol I don’t know if this show was supposed to be coded but there were definite moments where we were like “hey, wait a minute!” 😅🤷🏻‍♀️

[@RandomSkyeRoses]

I thought I was the only one who thought Enid had ADHD

[@gaf407]

I have ADHD myself… Enid does show certain qualities that are associated with ADHD (people pleasing, being a chatterbox, rejection sensitive dysphoria) but we have not really seen many of the core traits of ADHD being expressed with her… a lot of people with ADHD are quirky, but not all quirky people have ADHD. You want someone who actually meets the diagnostic criteria for ADHD? Try Anna from Frozen. I’d like to think Enid has it… but we’d need to see more.

[@platinum_noelle]

Lmao I (autistic) told my bf (def at least adhd) that Wednesday and Enid are basically us 😂 he loves bright colors and pink and is a clear extrovert, too, and I lean more towards darker colors and simpler settings (though I do like stuffies, even if I don't have many of them).

[@PunchandJewelee90]

i also like to think that enid has ADHD but when i brought it up to my others friends that have adhd they said she didn’t have it 😅 (i have ADHD myself) i guess it’s just up to what people associate with adhd, and it’s different for eveyone

[@jam9064]

ME!!!! Omg so true. My fiancé is so much like Wednesday and he's been suspected for autism for a long time and same on my end with adhd. We just shoot each other a look and laugh when either Wednesday or edin acts similarly to one of us, and that's a lot haha

[@Stardweller1]

I’m an autistic person myself, and I sometimes feel like there’s this stereotype about people on the spectrum being uncaring or selfish, possibly because the difficulties some of us have in social interaction might come across that way. But from my own experience, I can definitively say that we’re not any more selfish or uncaring than anyone who’s not on the spectrum.

[@GetsLonely]

There's a movie I feel perfectly challenged that trope/stereotype. The Saban Power Rangers Movie from 2017. RJ Cyler played Billy Cranston as autistic, however, he also had the most heart, and was the spiritual glue that held the team together.

[@mrcodpwns]

This character Is not autistic, autistic people thinks or wants to think that weird characters are autistic, they are just weird characters, nothing more.

[@IATEALLTHECHEESE]

Yeah. Like sometimes we don't show it, and we blank out on the outside until strong emotion hits. But me and other autistic people I know are super empathetic.

[@kaistinakemperdahl9667]

One thing I missed in this video (Which I otherwise enjoyed) was mentioning that being autistic doesn’t mean you lack empathy. But it can mean being overwhelmed by empathy and not knowing how to react and therefore giving the wrong signals. An important distinction that I wish society as a whole understood better instead of insisting on the same old stereotypes.

[@darekun46]

It's partly a confusion between affective empathy(caring) and perceptive empathy(face-reading). We auties tend to be high in affective empathy and low in perceptive empathy. Psychopaths/sociopaths tend to be the opposite, but the same confusion applies.

[@jamesd5842]

I’ve always wondered why Wednesday would be so convinced she can only rely on herself when she has an incredibly supportive family

[@andrewhudson7108]

I feel like it’s on par for a lot of teens. At least on my own experience when I was a teen with a supportive family. It’s easy when you’re young to feel the whole world is against you. But while it’s important to acknowledge your hardships, it’s also important to take a step back and realize there are people in your corner.

[@DEATHBYFLYINGCDS]

Your idea of supportive is not everyone's. Everyone has different needs

[@dragon_lover6491]

I mean you can have a super supportive family but still get trama and stuff from other people in the world like in school which is what a lot of people experience

[@halfofakitty]

You assume stuff is happening off screen. Child mirroring is immensely important for bonding and emotional development. This includes at home and at school. Her parents may look nice and smile but look at what's actually happening. Childhood Emotional Neglect happens out of ignorance (please Google). Her parents are too absorbed in themselves to respond to her emotions, and even if they do it's few and far between (not referring to the movies). She was the first child and developed alone until her brother was of playing age. Developmental years lost. There are two flashbacks and she's alone in both. Alone walking the pet, alone at the funeral, alone at her birthday party (with strangers in the background). And you know she didn't fit in at school. If we go with the lack of parental mention then they had no actual relationship with her past transactional; here's dinner, here's your laundry, here's your school supplies. She definitely has ODD (Oppositional Defiant Disorder) which do not come from good homes.

[@DeLaSoul246]

They support her doing what *they* approve of (like going to Nevermore), but they don't seem to fully respect her autonomy (sending Thing to spy) or privacy (giving Dr Kinbot her writing) or understand what she really wants from life (encouraging her to do what they did, rather than asking what she wants). Perhaps they will understand better at some point, then they can be truly supportive of her. They are loving people, so I think they will.

[@NicoleM_radiantbaby]

My wife and I are autistic and definitely feel Wednesday is coded as neurodivergent. It's probably open to interpretation, of course, but we both definitely accepted her as one of our own. 🖤🖤

[@SannaJankarin]

Hello, lovely people! I would love to see certain differences in life of such people. I'm a writer in my spare time and I wanna include more neurodivergent representation in the media. Thank you anyway.

[@seanmcfadden3712]

Autistic and Asexual here, and I think Wednesday might be on both of those spectrums, but also accept she might not. She is who she is, and that's awesome.

[@francislelievre5172]

the entire family, though often excluding Gomez as the most athletic and socially confident, have been neurodivergent coded, or "strange, European and wealthy", since 1938. the comics and movies have a lot of autistic and/or sociopathy coding.

[@norakderrote2136]

As a autistic person, watching Wednesday felt much of the time like watching an Over- The - Top Cartoon version of myself.

[@GraveyardMaiden]

No she's not coded as "neurodivergent" the Adams family are cryptids that don't fit in with society or actively and purposefully go against social norms.

[@thra-x1855]

Jenna Ortega really nailed her role. where the show kinda fell down for me is how normie all the rest of the supposed 'freaks' in the school act. i mean, if i were a vampire at the high school dance and it appeared to rain blood, i'd be happy about it. Edit: the counter arguments for the fake blood reaction are valid, but that is just one example i used, there's plenty other ways that the other students are uncharacteristically vanilla.

[@DEATHBYFLYINGCDS]

THANK YOU!

[@leizee1011]

You’re not alone, I definitely agree with you and that was one of the biggest issues I had with the show too

[@owowhatsthisitisidio661]

Idk bro, if I got soaked with applesauce from the ceiling I’m not sure I’d be too happy about that either.

[@Sway22]

Not so sure about that. If my favourite dish started falling at me from the sky like that I would be annoyed.

[@spacecat8511]

Gonna gently push back. You can Not Fit In and find you do now that you’re in a different environment OR (like Wednesday) you can Not Fit In less because of a quirky aesthetic or what you are…and more because your social skills freaking *SUCK.* There’s quite a bit the show’s kinda…tonedeaf about (that damn love triangle, making a black man the owner of Pilgrim World, etc) but Wednesday needing to learn some actual social skills and finally finally realize she wanted them when Enid stands up to her? That’s actually something that the show did *right.*

[@iSmartMan1]

I just assumed that "member of the Addams Family" was it's own special subcategory of neurodivergency

[@seanmcfadden3712]

Thank you so much for this! I'm on the Autism spectrum (I was diagnosed fairly young), and I love it when people discuss it like this. It can be easy for people who don't understand the Autism spectrum to realize it's not a fixed set of criteria or that I am not going to behave exactly like a specific person or character they know who's also Autistic, or that not everyone who acts in ways associated with autism are on the Autism spectrum.

[@taoist32]

Which is why it’s confusing for most people, even if they get an official diagnosis because they may not follow the media stereotypical image. I’m also autistic, but at times the doubt creeps in. Despite years of feeling and observing every experience I have had until now at 48, the label of autism is always going to be surrounded by typical or stereotypical traits.

[@Easy-Death_Oven4056]

I am Autistic, and related very strongly to Wednesday Addams, and have very similar difficulties with making social connections. My mannerisms are pretty deadpan, and I have trouble showing empathy to other people even if I do feel for them. At the same time, Idk how to relate to most people unless they are anything like me, which is very difficult because even if you sent me to a school full of weird outcast kids, I'd still be the weirdest one there. And yes, this has actually happened.

[@keeptaiwanfree]

oh my god, I’m in the exact same situation here. I have Asperger’s and i’m an HSP, and I relate to wednesday so much too. I have been an outcast my whole life because I struggle to make any social connections. I also lack an interest in most people, spending most of my time with myself and my interests (and family.) People in middle and high school used to spread rumors that I was secretly a killer or had some kind of evil secret because I was such an outcast lol ☠️ i would “admit” it just tk creep them out too, which didn’t help my cast. I definitely would also be an outcast in a school of outcasts too, sadly… i would definitely be good friends with Wednesday though, i feel like i could get along her really well

[@taoist32]

As a kid I never got diagnosed, not until I was an adult. Despite my happy exterior at the time through school, I realized this was called masking. I could never fully connect with people, and I still have the same problem. I had acquaintances but no real true friends until college. But even then, when I thought I was really connected to my friends it turns out most of them got along better with each other and I was still the outsider. And it’s funny because these friends I would deem neurodivergent as well. One I thought I was closest to exhibited both Autistic and ADHD traits. The other showed similar autistic traits to me. And the third was ADHD. And up the present, I keep in contact with two of them while the third (autistic/ADHD) got married and moved.

[@Easy-Death_Oven4056]

@@keeptaiwanfree really sorry to hear that. Even if you aren't necessarily interested in being friends with other people, it doesn't mean they should be spreading lies about you for it.

[@felixrivera895]

I definitely picked up some very authentic feeling neurodivergent vibes from Wednesday. She's, as a whole, expressing that she experiences the world fundamentally a little differnetly from other people. She grew up in a loving household, surrounded by people who care about her and respect who she is. Never the less, she's just not physically affectionate, or quick to express emotions. We know this because Pugsly is Weird, but he isn't emotionally quiet the way Wednesday is. Morticia and Gomez clearly showed constant affection for each other and their children. Even Lurch is characteristically pleased to see Wednesday. Uncle Fester even has a Remarkably pleasant relationship with Wednesday, but her behavior doesn't shift drastically as it would if her behavior were entirely an adaptation to feeling isolated from her loved ones. She's just a little different, and the people in her life either accept it, turn out to be monsters that want to kill her/use her for other purposes, or both.

[@schiffelers3944]

Yes, but she is full aware she does it differently, it's not because others point it out to her. She is an Adams, non-conventional and a-normal. She is full aware of the social differences herself. She chose to do and be different, she was raised to be and do different, view the world different. Neither are the other Adams family characters, all Morticia and Gomez express are passion and attraction for each other especially when French is spoken. They play by decapitating, blowing things up, electric chairs, this is the Adams family.

[@felixrivera895]

@@schiffelers3944 yes. So does Pugsly. He still is obviously a kid who cares about his sister. He's fairly average for a kid his age even as an Addams. Wednesday displays neurodivergent behavior on top of being an Addams

[@schiffelers3944]

@@felixrivera895 So because Pugsly is average and Wednesday is above average she has a problem? To me it seems the society has the problem with her, she is coping fine with society. And it is obvious his sister cares about him, and Enid, and even her parents and uncle, and thing, etc. Never said she wasn't neurodivergent, technically we are all neurodivergent, what can I say about labels/order and obsessions with them; very autistic. Autism is a trending topic in (pop) culture, so having it portrayed as a possible thing in our current times is not such a surprise, question was if she was autistic, and even professionals stated we can't diagnose her like this as is. And in my opinion this fictional character is not, she has traits that could be labeled as such, but she isn't.

[@felixrivera895]

@schiffelers3944 that's a lot of language to express that you don't fully understand how coding and representation in media works. That's fine, but it very much is the focus of my orginal comment. The fact that she unapologetically represents traits associated with neurodivergent individuals, especially people with autism, is a form of representation. The fact that this is represented with context that reinforces it (Pugsley being from the same household but not being presented as a portrayal of autistic traits) only improves it as representation, as far as I see it. Wednesday isn't "the way she is" because "she's an Addams". She's actually, noticeably, Knowably different from the people around her, and the conclusion the show comes to is that that is okay. In addition to displaying neurodivergent behavior, the character of Wednesday Also happens to be an Addams, and the people who surround her by the end of the show are perfectly happy about both aspects of her character. Lastly Wednesday shows growth as a character without outright shedding her neurodivergent behaviors. She actively hugs Enid, learns to apologize to people she cares directly avout, and learns to consider the concerns of the people she cares about. Otherwise Wednesday is still reserved in her mannerisms and still "stares" at people. We haven't seen a second season to see how this plays out, but I am pleased with what I have seen thus far.

[@spacecat8511]

6:40 The annoying thing with both guys is that Wednesday had *never* given them any indication she liked them romantically, was basically pressured into asking them to the dance by both of them, and she is aware on some level they like her even though she’s not even sure she likes them as Friends vs Allies (or “keep suspects closer”). Ugh. That part of the season was both relatable and frustrating to watch. Major secondhand embarrassment (and a deliberate acting choice regardless of “what the script said” 😅)

[@Mambo1061]

Yes yes yes exactly. I like that we’re completely in Wednesday’s point of view for that and we can see how disorienting and strange it would be for these two people who represent the status quo of thought and emotional processing to so utterly misinterpret what we can see is a clear obsessive goal to solve a mystery and maintain her pride instead of romantic interest. And it also feels so heteronormative, not in a way where I fully blame the characters for their misguided expectations, but like, that because she’s a girl and spends time with them at all or can eventually be persuaded to spend time or energy on them is somehow an indicator of romantic interest.

[@spacecat8511]

@@Mambo1061 Yuuuup!! When like. If she has any Possibly Not Exclusively Platonic Curiosity chemistry, it’s with Bianca. Otherwise? She’s giving off STRONG asexual spectrum + aromantic spectrum (ahem. Aroace spec) so…y’know. Aside from Not Interested in *these* guys, she’s just not interested in romance in general + kinda queer-coded (by acting choice; the actress is open to aroace and/or sapphic Wednesday and was…less than thrilled with that love triangle)

[@keeptaiwanfree]

@@spacecat8511yeah!! im a girl with Asperger’s and i might be aroace, and i related to her so much the whole show and felt so strongly that wednesday, of all people, would NOT be into romance, i get so much aroace energy from her

[@PinoccThePiccolo]

I hate them for that. 😭 I have been pressured to return feelings like that before so I know how it feels , and honestly, why do they feel she owes them anything? She's simply being herself around them and if they think that that entitles them to a romantic relationship (all the while having a platonic relationship wouldn't change anything about their interactions). then it's probably better for them to stay out of her life, especially due to her having enough things to worry about and not needing useless drama created by people who don't put the effort into seeing things from her point of view. But anyway I sympathise greatly for her in this situation and she deserves better. (Also I heavily headcannon her as aroace purely due to myself being aroace and it would make me extremely happy if she were even though it's likely not to happen.)

[@RB-vo4gi]

Especially because Wednesday doesn’t show much emotion or body language. I don’t know what signs the guys thought they were picking up on. I think they just thought she was pretty and assumed she liked them because they liked her.

[@elainaanderson9560]

My mom actually was the first to comment on it. I recently was diagnosed and I grew up watching the 90s movies of the Addams family and addams family values. I even dressed up as her for Halloween when I was younger, I really liked how they handled her character. Because they could've very easily have stated that she is autistic but I also feel as if then it would have been back lash from it. Like it would've been taken as a reinforcement of stereotypes rather than as representation, especially given the Addams family's characteristics of murder and such. I think that if they said anything, especially before the show was released it would've been harshly critiqued

[@brandonmroe265]

Being autistic myself, I honestly think Wednesday is one of the best representations I've seen in entertainment media -- regardless of whether they ever address it as such in-show. Every moment she was on-screen, it was as if I was watching a heightened version of myself. I think it's also crucial that, in addition to being the protagonist, she is the narrator; the story isn't just about her, it's her own story as told by her. The show has numerous issues outside of its titular character, but Wednesday herself (and Jenna Ortega, through her performance) is a template for how to do fictional representation of neurodivergence correctly.

[@GraveyardMaiden]

She's not neurodivergent, the Adams family are supposed to be cryptids that actively and consciously go against social norms

[@Ylyrra]

@@GraveyardMaiden Kinda feel you're missing the point of the conversation here. Her ND traits have nothing to do with her "being an Addams", her other family members may say "eff society norms" too, but they don't carry it the same way she does. They also have fairly neurotypical relationships with each other, even if the way they express it is subverted to be "spooky".

[@RenaissanceRockerBoy]

@@GraveyardMaiden Why are you so mad about people feeling represented? A bunch of actually ND and autistic people relate to her, and have related to the Addams Family interactions for as long as they’ve existed. Whether you want to accept it or not, Wednesday exhibits traits of being autistic, and we love her for it

[@golbatgirl]

I honestly think Wednesday is coded as someone who represents childhood trauma victims (ie bullying at a young age). She's highly introverted and chooses not to show emotion. She spent more time devoted to her interests vs having friends who wouldn't get her. I'm guessing with such morbid fascinations, and her family seen as "weird" to the normies, she had an extreme difficulty making friends. Now that she has a whole school full of not normie people she is now able to come out of her shell a bit.

[@katvelyte]

Yeah, I can see this. It tracks with why people also could consider her Autistic. Unfortunately a lot of autistic people like myself go through a lot of bullying and childhood trauma. So i guess it could potentially be both or either.

[@rowan404]

Ironically, I’m one of said victims (and also autistic) and I couldn’t even finish the first episode because this portrayal of Wednesday reminded me too much of my bullies. Also, being introverted/extroverted is hard-coded, so, despite my severe trust issues, I’m still an extrovert. However, I wish I was an introvert because I have severe social anxiety, so I have to choose between socializing and experiencing increased anxiety and not socializing and experiencing increased depression.

[@delsingray5923]

This. Tho I'm not only autistic but have cptsd/ptsd and still deal with bullying today. Often many therapists lately have been ignoring my ptsd and pushing it under being autistic

[@RenaissanceRockerBoy]

She’s still most likely autistic. Most autistic people also have childhood trauma and are bullied in school. And that’s typical for autistic people, we’re able to feel like we belong more in a place of other “weird” people

[@strictnonconformist7369]

I was late diagnosed, and I have been bullied not just in school, but even in a ”professional” work environment in tech in a place that screamed they valued, embraced diversity, but alas, only if it was the kind they were. I didn’t disclose there, no way I could trust them. Later got fired via constructive dismissal, it was a contract-to-hire scenario. When you are around people like that, it’s natural to avoid trying to be social, because the most social people are bullies.

[@Genin99]

As an Autistic, I definitely see some traits in Wednesday and find her to be a relatable character. The fact that this show puts her into what is essentially Monster High, reminds me of an old show I use to watch as a teenager called Vampire High. I found the vampires from Vampire High to be really relatable, which was a catalyst for my vampire interest.

[@Pohgg-c9o]

Dr Karl Deisseroth specializes in a few things, one being autism and those on the spectrum. He mentions in his book that if a person on the spectrum has had successful treatment for anxiety. They may still have problems with maintaining eye contact in social situations. He reasons that there is a deficit in processing too much novel information at one time. A separate processing issue. That trying to find reason and patterns in real time communication can overload a person with autism not even struggling with anxiety. A tv show isn't going to cover such a concept but is fascinating and useful. One can close their eyes (or purposely look away or down) and only concentrate on the audio and eliminating the excess confusing information that comes from body language and expressions. Thou would suggest that one nods their head at times to show the person talking that you are listening.

[@GeorgiaDow]

ThanksI will read up more on his work. Appreciate it = ))

[@nikolascoffey6453]

As an autistic man, I just stopped caring about blending in after years of doing it and doing it well and ended up becoming far more like Wednesday as a result. Way happier since I'm not masking anymore, I don't give a shit how they think. At the very least I am a good actor since I was playing a character for most of my life to fit in.

[@Pink_pr1ncess]

Im not autistic but I kinda see myself being on the spectrum. I wish I was more like Wednesday because people like her are generally happier and more functional.

[@Lillith.]

I see a lot of my autistic traits in her. Doesn't mean she is, would definitely be interesting to explore in later seasons if they keep the therapy in. Thank you for not diagnosing her. I don't like it when people do it with characters. They are an interesting tool to show people what characteristics are. I often hear from people I don't seem autistic, there is a reason I was diagnosed at 24 after seeing the same therapist for over 2 years and seeing therapists since I was 15ish. Masking is a very effective tool.

[@josefschiltz2192]

I'm sixty and was assessed for Asperger's at my own request. Previous to that - which is now four years ago - I would engage what I call my 'Benign User Interface'. I still use that term. It is a very usual thinking tool that acts like the desktop on a computer. Of course, now, I know it is commonly called masking. I will still refer to it as my BUI.

[@wolfbird6613]

I’m autistic and I’m telling y’all: Wednesday is extremely autistic coded

[@killakamikaze88]

She also smiles for her Uncle Fester. I forget who said it but I heard it’s because he’s an outcast too in a family of outcasts and she feels seen

[@Dularr]

The debate is that learned behavior. Is she mirroring Uncle Fester, who she views as a roll model. That Uncle Fester see her true self.

[@Ylyrra]

The smile for Uncle Fester and for the "blood" made it seem all the more real to me tbh. Moments when the mask was FULLY gone.

[@BlackReshiram]

when he said "you keep giving me these signals" im like WHAT FUCKING SIGNALS

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

Right? Seems *he* is the one struggling to interpret social cues and just projects whatever he wants Wednesday to feel.

[@DeLaSoul246]

I am autistic and Wednesday is one of the best representations I've ever seen on screen, by far. It'd be quite an amazing coincidence if her many, many autistic traits could be explained by a bunch of other disparate things instead.

[@lamortevivante]

Agreed!

[@katiekirks1253]

I think I live vicariously through these videos. Wednesday is a character I relate to a lot, so when you are analyzing her behaviors I can kind of see it in myself rather then actually speaking to a therapist.

[@mnk9073]

It's strange to see Wednesday struggle with understanding emotions given how she was raised and lives among people who emote up to 11 24/7.

[@highlorddarkstar]

Although, in counterpoint, she grew up with people whose emotions are at eleven. So people who emote at a five or six could be hard to read.

[@raro344]

@@highlorddarkstar there is also emotional expectations. Her family ether indulge her or let it happen.

[@kellharris2491]

It's different that Wednesday is only comfortable with her family in the beginning. They know how she is and they have adapted to her. She hasn't had to change because her family knows how she is. This is impart why Morticia feels the need to send her away from family. Maybe Morticia was being overbaring but it comes from a place of real concern.

[@gengarfluid]

I'm autistic, and my family is very emotive and boisterous, but I still don't really understand people's emotions unless they happen to overlap with expressions my families use. What's happened is that I (mostly?) Understand my immediate family, after nearly 30 years of being alive, and sometimes I can guess at strangers' with a lot of context clues. I feel like I'm constantly sleuthing in silence to keep up with what others are emoting.

[@trinaq]

I love Jenna as Wednesday, I never would have pegged her as being on the Spectrum, but you make convincing points. I also like that she doesn't blink, which makes Wednesday seem even more eerie and strange. 🖤

[@taoist32]

If you watch the two movies from the 90’s you can see Wednesday does not blink and still is portrayed in the same way that Jenna portrays Wednesday.

[@merisav4171]

Points are not convincing, imagine calling someone going to a gym an autistic just because that person loves to work out.

[@Serenov.a]

@@taoist32 cool?

[@Specters0rd]

@@Serenov.a Interesting little thing abt Wednesday, so yeah it is cool. :3

[@sl7722]

Your calm, and non-judgemental ways, soothe me and also help me learn. You're great

[@GeorgiaDow]

Thank you so much it makes me happy that it is southing

[@tonycardone990]

As an autistic person, I would say with 99.99% certainty she would qualify to be in the club. Kind of reminds me of myself when I was younger, and now also but I've gotten better blending in over the years. The only problem with blending in is that its too stressful and causes physical exhaustion from concentrating on not reacting how instinct tells you to. So now I usually just tell people after I get to know them a little bit that I'm autistic so if when we talk I start looking down or to the side I'm not getting bored with the conversation, I'm actually listening to them better than if I was looking at them, as well as a few other things I do that may seem weird to most normal people.

[@lexdraws1729]

I’m not autistic but I feel like those with anxiety and more introverted personalities can also relate to Wednesday ❤

[@VortexVisionary]

You're all overthinking it. Shes supposed to be strange and kooky, like the rest of the Adams family. I dont even think the family is supposed to be human but its never explained what they are.

[@A-TALKING-TOASTER]

people here being too quick to diagnose her because they want someone to relate to

[@WilliamMcGrath_Madrid]

Autistic+ADHD here. The show is about me, about us, surviving in a world of normies with varying degrees of hostility. It's about embracing your powers, cherishing your oddity, flying your freak flag.

[@lamortevivante]

Georgia, chapeau. You have no idea HOW MUCH your astute analysis means to me - it's telepathic, and since I'm autistic and my family always identified well with the Addams, I utterly confirm it! Keep up your great work!

[@tygressblade]

I notice how she responds to manipulation like with Tyler. I think that she has stronger reactions to deliberate manipulation even if she doesn’t know when she is being manipulated.

[@theresenabua8666]

During the scene where she interviews her father, she complimented her father by raising her to be a tough girl by training her with sharks in the water and other dangerous things.. she experienced traumatic events early in life including her pet Scorpio killed by bullies

[@timmy334]

I'm autistic myself. I knew she was autistic after a couple episodes.

[@Raven_Black_252]

The video we all have been waiting for! Nice cosplay, very simplistic, outright iconic and easy on the eye. Lots of people say she was autistic coded, I didn't know for sure because she is an extreme character. Even though every other character is a work of fiction, just like Wednesday, she is even more of a work of fiction and feels too unreal for how extreme she is in her likes, abilities, talents, lifestyle and behaviorsm. So I always gave her the "she's just a fun character" label, maybe neurodivergent at most. She is either black or white, speaks in catchlines all the time etc, if other characters are 100%, she is 500% in everything she does. You know, you can find a lot of fictional characters who are obsessed about peculiar things and master them at inhuman levels. But one thing that stands out for me is how she struggles with connecting emotionally. That feels too real and relateable for autism. She is not "I really don't care and I am able to connect with you and understand you but I just dgaf rn so I'll ignore you." She wants to connect and wishes she cared more, she does care but doesn't quite know how to share. Even when she tries to connect - such as the dead pet scorpion memory she shared with Enid on the rooftop - it is still unconventional and doesn't do well for the other person because it's not something exactly Enid can relate to. We all can relate to losing a pet, but a scorpion pet does not ewoke the same feeling for us so we can't exactly share her sadness there. It's the same for everyhting else, for example torture is fun for her, not for us so we find it funny but we don't understand how that would ever be fun. It's kind of like she speaks another dialect so others understand bits and pieces but not everything she says, which always sounds like autism for me. It's also interesting you mentioned the stare, I haven't thought about that but it makes sense. She is not incapable of feeling, she can show expressions sometimes and there are times her stare is not creepy but shocked with fully open eyes or sad and mellow looking eyes like during the Enid leaving her alone scene (Jenna's microexpressions are on spot). So maybe the regulat creepy and kind of aloof stare is her compensation for her supposed inability to keep eye contact and that's why she usually looks creepy because forced expressions look creepy on everyone else and give the uncanny valley effect. So combination of the obsession stuff and the lack emotional connection and confusion about it does sound like autism and maybe that is the right answer but idc personally. Btw Thing is my favourite character, no jokes. Are we ever gonna get a video about this lovely appendage? Although, I don't know how you could do that, it's just a hand after all. But it definitely has more personality than a lot of characters I've seen on tv and you'd be the first person to have a psychology video about an appendage, which sounds interesting. Also, looking at the outro cosplay, are we getting Morticia Addams? Anyways, great vid! Stayed up to write this, it's almost 2 am here lol gtg. Have a nice day!

[@GeorgiaDow]

Thanks Raven = )) and yes I may just get a video on thing as well. he is beloved by me also

[@Raven_Black_252]

@@GeorgiaDow omg, if you ever do that please, I don't wanna sound like bossing around and telling you what to do, but can you just record your hand on the table only as it speaks/signs and do a voice over? That would be f*ing hilarious!

[@gaf407]

I would venture to say a lot of the tropes around “extreme” and “unreal” characters are based on neurodivergent traits or neurodivergent people. The disorganised wacky scientist archetype is clearly based on Albert Einstein, for example. I think we are coming into a time where neurodivergent folks are reclaiming those narratives and asking for them to be called what they actually are.

[@weltraumkotze]

You think I can't feel for a scorpion pet? I still don't know if they actually showed it being run over because I look away every time

[@highwayman15]

The running over of the scorpion was done "off camara" -- as in the action was partly filmed but not the casualty. You don't have to look away.

[@lizzykatieschindele6265]

This was such a good explanation! Some people say it’s like a switch, yea or no, but is isn’t! You make such good arguments in the video and analyze he so well!

[@Mentanyul]

That's was my first thought when I watched the series :D I'm autistuc and got diagnosed only after 30. As a teenager I had very similar coping mechanisms like Wednesday. Dress in full black and goth clothes, isolate myself, doesnt trust people, couldnt handle and understand emotions, escape into books and art, music. But in real life you dont get popular with a behaviour like that - but bullied, yes. It's unrealistic, how people are attracted to her.

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

I was diagnosed early and it was used as an excuse to abuse me. I wasn’t even allowed to pick my own clothes let alone wear all black and I didn’t like music because I thought all music was slutty pop music and wasn’t allowed to use the internet to explore other kinds of music.

[@Mentanyul]

@@nuclearcatbaby1131 that sounds awful 😞 I had some early diagnosed autistic friends, but I never heard such a terrible story from them. I'm sorry that you went through that experience. 😢

[@nuclearcatbaby1131]

@@Mentanyul My twin sister who’s lower functioning is still being abused. We’re 34. She’s under conservatorship with our former abusive foster parent and not allowed to talk to me. When I was almost 21 I got kicked out and half a year later I found my dad who I hadn’t seen in 9 years and moved back across the country to live with him. He and our mom are both dead now and I live with my aunt who’s not abusive. Also I only rather recently got into a real college. Her abuse caused me to be stuck with no option other than a community college which is a Kafkaesque roach motel and caused me to end up in the nuthouse. My depression is all gone now that I go to a real college just as I knew it would be.

[@peachypineapples502]

I’m not diagnosed with autism but I’ve been around autistic people my entire life (my dad and brother are autistic as are many of my friends) and I have ADHD myself. I can definitely sense that Wednesday is on the spectrum. I kinda have a sixth sense for knowing when people have autism LOL 😂. I’ve told many of my friends that they are autistic before their doctors diagnosed them LMAO

[@Jesses001]

If parents think their child might have some neurodivergence, it is best to have them tested. The tests are not difficult or anything like that. It is mostly a few interviews, drawing geometric shapes on paper, and advance testing has an EEG but that is not strictly necessary, so no need to be afraid of the tests. I enjoyed them actually. My mother cut them a bit short because she did not see value in knowing more specifics about me being autistic. In retrospect, she was wrong. My understanding that I would not learn in the same way as the other students allowed me to abandon specific learning skills I was taught in school and find different learning tools that worked for me. Otherwise I might had just kept hitting a wall not understanding why I could not progress like the rest of the class.

[@chappuVT]

I found it very sweet that you cut the audio off before they could say 'serial killers' so as to pair neurodivergency with something positive like 'great writers'.

[@andy6877]

Oh I absolutely felt wednesday was coded as autistic. The intense special interests and amazing ability that comes with that but simultaneously prioritising those so much it might harm friendships or trying to use her interests to bond friendships cause its the only thing she understands. The observational way of noting how "other people" work but still not understanding it, so problems with theory of mind and social ques. Difficulties with expression and outward emoting of empathy despite actually being extremely passionate about right and wrong, caring for those who are vulnerable, etc. On that, "black and white thinking" or as i like to call it strong unshakable integrity, she knows her moral code and doesnt let anyone else shake it. Strict routine, obvious sensory issues with colour and physical proximity or touch. Her social struggles are just so recognisable to me cause they are ones ive had all my life. Caring deeply for friends, but not displaying that in a way that is easy to understand for neurotypicals. Also, even with the visions, they have a lot in common with seizures that a large portion of the autistic population experience. Oh and bodily movement that is out of the norm which you can see in how she dances, those big swinging movements are really satisfying. All of that together plus even previous iterations of wednesdays portrayals, the character definitely reads as autistic to me, I dont think its intentional but because these traits are what in real life people deamonise as weird, outcasts, and even in many religious circles get treated like unnatural or cursed ways of existing, it makes sense for a character who exists to celebrate the bizarre to have them. I just wish people would love all these same autistic traits they love in Wednesday, the same in real life autistic people and stop shunning us as strange or judging our intense passions and difficulty with social cues.

[@Espinozaize]

7:12 No. I am pretty sure that that is a reference to the movie/book Carrie, based on Stephen Kings work about a mentally ill teenager. In the book/movie the main character Carrie comes from a broken family of religious fanatics & thus is extremely introverted & fearful in regards to social interactions. She is as I recall 16-17 years old & is bullied at her school. The popular crowd at her school decides to pull a prank on her: They make the most handsome guy flirt with her & invite her to the prom. When they are woted to be Prom King & Queen though & Carrie stands proud on the stage. A bucket of pigs blood is poored all over her from above. This was all planned by the popular guys & gals of the school. Inorder to humilate her. However in both the book & the movie...Carrie has these strange experiences. Such as she can lift things with her mind or push people back if they try to assult her just using her will to do so. So after she is cowered in pigs blood & humiliated at the stage before everyone...Her mental powers comes into full effect. She goes crazy with her mental powers & starts tearing the school down & killing the people whom had set her up to be humiliated. Just using her mind Now this is a Stephen King book. It tries to explore what would actually happen if someone like Carrie in fact had telekinetic abilities. Well not the best of things given her upbrinnig & social status. Wedenstday is put in a similar situation. Yet unlike Carrie she is not the emotional type & therefore reacts completely opposite

[@GeorgiaDow]

yes I think for sure as well carrie

[@gozerthegozarian9500]

It could be both, certainly it works as a reference to both works, and both works suit the dark, gothic Addams universe.

[@davequinn2902]

I've recently discovered that I may be on the spectrum from seeing characters like this who either are canonically autistic or at the very least coded. Which is funny to me because it usually plays out like "hahahaha, I strongly relate to this person......... wait a minute!" I also really appreciate videos like these because it helps me better understand the language when it comes to being neurodivergent and makes it easier to explain things to myself and others. It also helps that deep dive analyses into fictional characters is one of my fixations 🤷‍♂️

[@helennyko6953]

I also noticed a significant moment when Enid was angry at her and moved out to a group mate's room, Wensday sat exactly in the middle of divided floor and the stained glass window so maybe it symbolized along with her words about loneliness that it wasn't as easy as she used to take it (before Enid entered her life

[@Sasuke83]

I’m think people are finding things that they are looking for in a character. It is like a Rorschach test for personality. People see what they want and give them characteristics that reflect themselves and ignore characteristics that doesn’t conform to their perception of their reality.

[@athos1029]

I feel like she specifically states that she intentionally stunted her emotions because of the trauma of Nero's death. For that reason I don't think she's on the spectrum. I think she's a brilliant minded young woman dealing with trauma and what she views as a world that will be the never-ending source of more trauma in the most rational and effective way she knows how. "I view the world as a place that must be endured." Her personal philosophy is "Kill or be killed." That tells you everything. She was 6 years old taking her pet out for a walk when several older stronger boys held her down and brutally murdered that pet while she was forced to watch. Turn Nero from a scorpion to a puppy. How would most young girls react to having their puppy murdered while she watched? What would the reaction of the local authorities be? We can imagine because the pet in question was a scorpion the police didn't do much of anything. Because the Addams family is considered to be outsiders rather than the boys who brutalized Wednesday facing justice it was Wednesday that was examined and prodded and questioned while those that wronged her went on about their lives. Therefore I view Wednesday less as on the spectrum and more like neurotypical in an extraordinary situation.

[@helloitsme4035]

I disagree. Wednesdays always been quite strange. She had a scorpion for a pet after all. Her being bullied for her quirks since a young age can represent people with autism being bullied for strange special interests.

[@athos1029]

@@helloitsme4035 I’m just stating an observation.

[@helloitsme4035]

@@athos1029 I understand :)

[@marissawilson4644]

Thank you! That scene is so crucial. Her behavior is trauma based.

[@aleaf01]

As an autistic person I didn't even notice anything uncanny about Wednesday, eye contact is nersrly imporssible for me so I didnt notice. Every 10 mins I felt myself going "ha, me" whenever she showed a trait.

[@VikiSil]

Here's a a funny thing about Aspies: having what's called "special interests" will make you one hell of an expert in the chosen subject. Now, what if an Aspie makes understanding emotions and relating to people a "special interest" of theirs...

[@sirensong237]

Let’s not forget Wednesday also struggling on social cues, and even her brutal honesty now and again.. Not to mention, her powers also kind of tie into her diagnosis. She is very logical and observant. Her powers are of Psychometry, which are psychic abilities, such as visions that are triggered via touch. As someone who’s on the spectrum, this causes an uncomfortable sensory overload or “shock”. much like how Wednesday describes her visions. Being touched leaves her with an uncomfortable sensation that almost feels “painful”. This also is a nice note to not liking being touched. Not only to explain her powers, gothic persona and family name, but to also sneak in sensory sensitivity of someone who is neurodivergent or on the spectrum. Morticia also might be hinted to be on the spectrum, as she also shares psychic abilities.. which also might range on the opposite side of autism, which one notion is not properly expressing emotion, whilst the other has no filter.

[@mackenziedrake]

As someone who starts thrashing and shifts mental states when the overload goes beyond endurance, yes, well and interestingly coded. Been there, done that, no visions, alas.

[@mysterroniouscherry326]

She seem like she struggles with social cues. But in reality, she just doesn't care. I disagree that she has any mental issues. She is totally normal in my book. I know a lot of people in my life, especially my mom, who's exactly like her personality. She just hate comforming social hierarchy, social norms, and being touch. Nothing weird about that? She's just an individualistic person who loves her personal space.

[@nublock5000]

This is a really neat head cannon. I'm looking forward to going through the series with this thought in mind.

[@ribottostudio]

I like that you don't actually diagnose characters, cause we just don't KNOW these people. We have this weird parasocial relationship with them, but we don't know them. The guys over at Cinema Therapy diagnosed Anakin Skywalker with I believe Borderline Personality Disorder and I just don't agree with that. Anakin suffers from abandonment issues, fear of loss, is overprotective and obsessive, but that's about it. I'm not sure if he has any personality disorders, because I don't really KNOW him. Though I really would love for you to react to Clone Wars, or the SW movies to take a look at Anakin. He's absolutely fascinating as a character. Fascinatingly tragic.

[@HopeGardner3amed]

Characters are fair game in the psych world. Real people who aren't patients are not. So Characters make good examples when studying psychology. Plus good ASD representation is hard to come by.

[@GeorgiaDow]

Thank you = ) appreciate your support of the manner in which i do it

[@violethourvision6829]

Borderline personality disorders stem from abandonment, which lead into behaviors he exhibited. Of course we don’t know for sure if he was, but with BPD those are common symptoms.

[@raro344]

@@HopeGardner3amed hell no. Many chararters we see only part of then and many have fantastical elements that skew proper diagnosis. There is often interest here like shipping or sort of "i this chararter to be this"

[@cosmicsalt4590]

The color one is clearly an exaggeration, shes not overwhelmed by color, its just not her style since her character is dark and moody. She doesnt have a few very fixated and interest, she’s incredibly knowledgeable on everything and thats why she’s good in glass, all the examples seems like of like a reach to me

[@ironfreddy3192]

Finally some said it. To me, she is a textbook example of a person with anti-social personality disorder. Lack of empathy, tendency to manipulate others, disregard for other's safety and her own, tendency to be violent and so on.

[@zabmcauley5647]

I like wearing bright colours and I find it over stimulating to be around bright decorations, lots of things around etc. Skin peeling off is an exaggeration yes, seemed like her way of making a joke to explain her dislike.

[@MistyKathrine]

I was diagnosed with Non-Verbal Learning Disability when I was a child and a lot of this stuff is very relatable.

[@Pohgg-c9o]

At 7:50 timestamp Wednesday is sitting on the floor with her arms around her knees. Her shirt is highly profiled with the checkered white and black. Which is in contrast to her all-black outfits. She is having a moment of doubt/vulnerability, good art direction choice.

[@marinasilva8689]

As an autistic person, I really identify with Wednesday. Thank you for the video.

[@zxdith]

“I think there’s a lot of discussion whether Wednesday is autistic or not.” *W H E R E?*

[@infinityc2859]

My older brother is Autistic and I grew up with a lot of Autistic people. When I watched Wednesday I suspected she might be on the spectrum since she is so obsessive with her interests (note just because someone is obsessive with interests doesnt mean they are always Autistic) glad I'm not the only one who theorized this.

[@TheKeyser94]

Autism seems to be in my family, I have Asperger, my cousin may had some kind of Autism or he is very quiet, the son my other cousin certainly have a greater level of autism that I have, but at difference from him, I didn't discover till I pass my twenties, and let me tell you was no fun, being in high-school, being bully and being totally incapable of understanding other people jokes or social norms, I was the pariah of the pariahs.

[@chuckb8514]

Great video, I always look forward to watching your content when I get the notifications.

[@airynod]

I don't think she is on the spectrum. Growing up under bad influence(in terms of normies) and probably socially-isolated family, it makes perfect sense for her lack of social skills and "sociopath" action and thought.

[@rashido_grey]

I know a lot of people are projecting characters to be Autistic or have some kind of orientation that they identify as. Dwight from The Office has been called as much, but when the writers and creators say "No, they're just written to be like this" shows that we need to stop saying a character has a certain development. Following what The Addams Family is, she literally could be allergic to colour and break out into hives. They're written to be creepy and kookie, mysterious and spooky. In 1938 what's weirder than a little girl who's allergic to color?

[@Stormbrise]

I see a lot of me in Wednesday and I have a diagnosis. However, I see me in Enid, who I classify more as ADHD/ADD. I too go bouncing off walls and love color, but I also love my routines and I am rigid in terms of my moral codes. I just do not understand why no one else seems to be. like idiots driving around with summer tires in snow and icy conditions.

[@chipsalom]

After 3 months of what felt like exhausting assessment after assessment and test after test, having it turn out with more recent ( that is to say more recent than 25 years ago in my case lol) testing that I was not only ADD but also on the spectrum was a huge life changer. I had already found countless ways to adapt and mask to seem more normal, lol, but trying to get ppl to understand how exhausting that is is so dang hard. It helped me understand wth has been going on and helped me have a better understanding and the language to express it.

[@taoist32]

At 48 I don’t really have time to get a diagnosis. It seems like it would take forever to get one. I already feel I’m on the spectrum as most if not all my life experiences strongly point in the direction of autism. It just fits compared to every other avenue I have followed to find out what’s going on with me.

[@TheRacoonGhost]

I was thinking that it would be quite cool if you made a video analyzing/Diagnosing just for fun (with all the caveats of "its a fictional character and only your perception and shouldn't be taken as fact and doesn't mean anyone has the the diagnosis if they recognize themself in the character etc") but seems you were way ahead of me! (also for some reason i wasn't subscribed earlier, I've fixed that critical lapse in judgement)

[@GeorgiaDow]

Why thank you and yay you subbed = ))

[@o_._o123]

Wednesday is actually pretty normal. That's the whole premise of the show and of The Addams Family. She's only seen by the outside world as abnormal or dysfunctional. Same with their family. In fact, it's the "normal" world that's actually most often dysfunctional.

[@5aturnian]

true! and neurodivergent people are also only seen as abnormal in a dysfunctional world that does not include us

[@Spiritwolfmac]

This, this this....

[@JurassicLion2049]

As Ive gotten older lately I feel pretty isolated as someone on the autism spectrum. Maybe its just the generation I was diagnosed or my upbringing but theres a lot I don’t know or don’t identify with (stimming being one). On the one hand in the past Ive related to autistic coded characters like a Wednesday Adams. But on the other hand I dislike nearly every person identifying only cold or gothy types as autistic coded cause it doesn’t always apply nor feel representative of me & in general other autistic people. But idk maybe Im just rambling. I do feel confused at this point in my life.

[@kpaxian6044]

I am autistic and generally externally warm. I think part of that is social anxiety and being raised to always be a people pleaser (I was seriously criticized for being more 'turned in.') I struggle with both stimming and eye contact but people have always said I come across as friendly, not cold. Have you watched Extraordinary Attorney Woo? I find myself relating to quite a bit from that show and Young Woo is shown as being friendly and kind but also prone to pulling back when overwhelmed. I felt Wednesday had some autistic coded behaviours but also quite a few schizoid type symptoms which could be confusing to those on the spectrum who do emote a bit more (even if how we might emote is still slightly different...and still stands out a tad in slight ways.)

[@septemasg.3522]

YES! Thank you! This was my first thought when I started watching Wednesday! I didn’t even think of some of these points!

[@TheAutisticBrewer]

In the scorpion story, that would be how we relate to other people. For others for some reason this comes off as making it about us when it's sharing something personal since you did and we want to reciprocate, it's a parallel in how we can relate based off our experiences to each other, a connection. Kind of like how much we enjoy parallel play.

[@if3359]

Thank you for the caveat at the end. I kinda feel like lately so many people claim they're on the spectrum (or might be, but with not much emphasis on the "might"), without having gone through professional assessment. For some it might definitely be true, but for some it seems at least unlikely. Seems like social media is fostering some highly simplified perception of what it means to be on the spectrum. Sort of like when people who are particular about how they like to organize their stuff claim to have "a little OCD", not understanding at all what it is like for people who actually have OCD. I worry it might make people underestimate/misunderstand what it is like for people who actually are on the spectrum, which might least to some unfair expectations...

[@KoolMB]

Wednesday isn't autistic. She's anti-social and introverted. Side question: Since when did anti-social/introversion become associated with autism? I see too many people who are anti-social and "self diagnosed autistic", but openly state the only so called symptom they have is that they don't like interacting with other people. I feel like this is a factor in the over diagnosis of autism over the last 10 years. I'm genuinely curious

[@kpaxian6044]

I agree insofar as I am autistic and warmer to people and always have been (I tend to worry about others too much). (Diagnosed in preschool but not told until I was an adult.) I think Wednesday does display some traits associated with autism but she also displays a lot of traits associated with schizoid personality disorder which is a cluster A condition. In fact, a lot of her traits seem more in line with this. There are some overlapping traits that often impact people on the spectrum too...especially those nearing burnout or shutdowns. I can feel my whole being sort to mentally slip and pull back emotionally when I am very overloaded. I deal with a lot of anxiety trying to get things right. When I do tend to be heading towards a crash, I can feel my brain making basic tasks harder. It's one of the warning signs before a meltdown. I have only had a handful as an adult but the fear of having one occur and not being able to get away does keep me focused on self care. Wednesday to me seems to show more schizoid tendencies although I have read that autistics who have been nearing burnout or have undergone trauma have higher rates for other mental health crises, such as psychosis, and a flat or blunted affect is more common during such episodes too. It's interesting. She has a few traits from quite a few distinct conditions. She also gives off dysthymic feel too...like a person chronically struggling with a low grade mood disorder. So much so that their entire personality tends to form around a low mood state. And she's very defiant. (I have dealt with mood disorders and know someone who has schizoid personality disorder and it's interesting to see the overlap.) I also think...even if this was real life, the same conditions can play out in myriad ways. So it would likely be difficult to know for sure without more input from Wednesday as to what her inner world and experiences are... But I agree with you...autism is not about not wanting to be around people. I have always tried to make friends but struggle to understand and also struggle to monitor and properly engage (my mind intellectually knows some things to do and not do but struggles to piece it together so I can communicate in a way that seems fluid, normal, unscripted. )

[@thebirdthatshtonyourcar8372]

I'm autistic and see alot of myself in Wednesday, i relate to her alot and wouldn't be surprised if she was. Either way I absolutely love her.

[@UchihaAlira]

This video made me consider a few things about my own neurodivergency (dyspraxia and ADHD). I have a weird blend of both an emotional and analytical personality. I am creative and highly empathetic. I suffer from emotional dysregulation and cry very easily. I bawl my eyes out at animated shorts haha But I am very analytical. It takes a lot to get angry or upset, but when I do reach that point. It's dissipates in seconds. My brain will rationalise that getting upset is pointless and will start formulating a plan of action. My fiancé, who has autism, says the speed in which I calm down is scary. He described it as cold. I can't help but wonder if I'm displaying autistic traits.

[@eldritchchaos2663]

7:05 I find it interesting that you connected this scene to one in Blade, because this is a blatant reference to the most well-known scene in Steven King's Carrie, down to Wednesday's pigs blood comment. I haven't watched either movie yet, so I don't know the scene which you are referring to, but you made a connection which I didn't expect, and I was intrigued

[@keeptaiwanfree]

i have Asperger’s (i am also a HSP) and i identified with Wednesday’s character so much while watching the Netflix series. I would get along with her so well, I’ve been an outcast my whole school life and I totally get how she feels. ughhh to find a friend like Wednesday would be amazing

[@KaiSub]

I'm autistic and It took me soo long to realize I didn't actually enjoy being alone, in fact, it took until I was at my breaking point. I've grown *a lot* since then and now I always analyze why I'm feeling the things I'm feeling whenever I'm down. It just takes some extra effort for me to understand my own emotions

[@MissSirenita]

I was diagnosed with both ADHD and Aspbergers. I personally relate more to Enid except more socially inept and awkward. I have gotten myself in so much trouble at not being able to communicate well. My last psyche even took away both diagnosis because I was just so bubbly and social. Keeping friends for me so so damn difficult and keeping a job is even harder. I get Wednesday on so many levels, but I just express it in a more energetic bubbly way cause the few friends I do have made it easy to remove this mask of acting proper and just be this silly and weird and bizarre as people have put it

[@river5253]

Hate to break it to you but Asperger's isn't real anymore...they updated it in the DSM-5. You'd actually be diagnosed with "high-functioning autism" (as someone with that diagnosis I just hate that term, just because I'm better at acting "normal" doesn't mean I'm better at functioning than anyone else on the spectrum) which has most of the same traits as what was Asperger's. Welcome I guess

[@Ylyrra]

I hesitate to say "yes she is", but a lot of her portrayal felt very true to my own experiences... and perhaps more importantly I think the reaction of everyone else around her and their struggles to relate to her are spot on. Several of the brutally painful conversations are ones that could be lifted from my own life, and the quality of her acting of always answering the question asked not the emotional need behind it is... yeah, not a thing that most on-screen depictions ever "get".

[@Cris-ef2qb]

Me being autistic: I don't feel she is autistic. Just a product of her enviroment, during the show she says she learned swords with her father, plants with her mom, corpses with her uncle. She looks a lot like Morticia (part of the plot is about this) with the only difference that Morticia is "optimistic" (in an Addams perspective) and Wednesday is a pessimist (even Morticia says about it). Wednesday just do not care about what people think about her. She has this spooky way that is like... An Addams thing? I think we can't judge just because she looks "weird" because the whole family is weird at the core. I think context matters and for me Wednesday is not autistic.

[@ellendaniels8715]

I'm glad people are seeing autism in a character as popular as Wednesday! I was so excited when I started watching the series to see such a popular show portray a character who is not cookie cutter.

[@KristinAlayna]

Wednesday having an ASD diagnosis would not surprise me. Wednesday having an OCPD diagnosis would not surprise me. This is how I related to Wednesday. The fact that she has to go to an alternative school for gifted children so she has a chance to fit in yet she still struggles was a clear indicator that she is nuerodivergent, we just can't say exactly what the specification is or the extent to which it presents.

[@slayerangel6597]

I have to admit, Wednesday's personality was really relatable as someone on the spectrum, especially when she says "Maybe it's inevitable that I'm alone. But for the first time, it doesn't feel good." I've felt that way a lot growing up. I'm a natural introvert, and when I like to be alone, I like being alone, but I've also felt really lonely when I don't make a connection with other people that I really want to. That line really spoke to me, and I'm really glad that the writers gave that dynamic to Wednesday's character.

[@Valravna]

I still wish people would rather use "is x autistic" instead of "does x have autism", as if it is a thing that can really be separated from us and who we are as people

[@FemboyLevi]

100% agreed

[@GeorgiaDow]

sorry my thumbnail person wrote it up and I had it fixed thank you for sharing and letting me know.

[@Valravna]

@@GeorgiaDow Thank you for fixing! It is so so appreciated!

[@crwydryny]

"if you have one or more of the criteria" All of the above... And a few more. didn't get diagnosed until my mid 20s and it's taken more than 30 years to really understand the emotions thing, though I did somewhat have tha masking figured out... Though not always

[@crafteariee]

as someone who just obtained a diagnosis (ADHD and apparently ASD as an adult) and had only just begun this journey of figuring things out more patiently and compassionately this year after struggling for quite a long while in my own life with socially getting to relate with other people on a natural level, thank you so much for this video! It’s rather comforting to hear such a calm and compassionate discussion of the traits one may perceive to be found in neurodivergent folks as explored through characters like Wednesday Addams in this series. Certainly helps making us folks feel at better ease recognizing that we’re certainly not alone! Ortega’s stellar acting helps with communicating her character very well. Certainly helps create spaces to grow better as we learn more both through entertainment media and in reality as well in more understanding ways, here’s hoping!

[@Jaseyrae213]

I loooooooooove that you covered this, thank you

[@TotalRookie_LV]

Creepy?! Wednesday is not creepy! Oh... I mean, what do I know... I always loved characters like -weird- funny pathologists in detectives the most, feels like they are my people. I don't have ASD (I think, not 100% sure though), just inattentive ADHD. And forensic pathologist was one of only three professions fitting my personality out of ~650 (the other two were a surgeon and an architect), test was done by our employment service, lady, who run the test went like: "WoW, that's rare combination of personality traits!" In case you are curious, those (in order from most dominating to weakest) were: 1) maths and scientific curiosity, finding out how do things work; 2) artistic traits; 3) working with hands, making and mending things; 4) social skills, communication; 5) commanding and organising others; 6) ability to submit, to abide and follow orders. Which is sort of funny, as having ADHD does not make me a rebel, I don't _choose_ not to abide authority, I just don't see and feel social hierarchy just like a colourblind person doesn't see red colour. I wonder if that's the same with Wednesday in the series - any authority and limitations likely will get pushed aside, if they conflict with her interests, you know - there are actually *important* things. I guess, the best allegory of ASD/ADHD person is that case is "a tank among small city cars" - it's fine in normal situation, we do abide rules IF THEY MAKE SENSE, If they do not, we might just press accelerator into the floor and just go ahead, it's not like anything around us poses a real obstacle to us.

[@ABeccaTag]

The fact that you put your sponcers at the end not the "Here's my topic but wait! FIRST!" makes me enjoy your channel more and I watch through and hear the sponcered ads out of respect because of it. Thank you for not making me annoyingly beg the screen that can't hear me to "OMG CAN WE PLEASE GET TO THE MAIN TOPIC NOW FOR THE LOVE OF GOD" I really do appreciate it other youtubers drive me insane with this.

[@GrimM0nk3y]

Wednesday and I have very similar behavioral traits the only difference is I learned that if you mimic "normal" emotions you get better results and beat up less and I'm not on the spectrum.

[@Shadow-zf5uc]

That mimicry is common in autistic people. It's called masking. You might want to look into autism or ADHD and see if you feel like either of those fit you

[@GrimM0nk3y]

@Shadow 2550 I was tested as a kid and again as a teen

[@Shadow-zf5uc]

@@GrimM0nk3y for both?

[@GrimM0nk3y]

@Shadow 2550 yeah, and a bunch of other tests

[@Prophetofthe8thLegion]

I remember a couple years ago my doctor said if I were a child today I would likely have been diagnosed as being on the spectrum and I can kinda see it. I don’t portray the typical most well known traits of autism of being like really triggered by sensory overloads or speaking in a way that seems deadened to the social situation, but I do show other traits like hyper fixation and knowledge on certain subjects, being stubborn in my ways and habits as well to a certain degree sometimes struggling to understand social cues and situations but again it’s nothing like the traditional idea of an autistic person struggling with socializing.

[@visualartsbyjr2464]

I know more than a few friends (and/or their kids) that are on the spectrum really identify with Wednesday whether or not she is. Personally I think that’s what is important. Great video.

[@gaelle4328]

Actually many people with autism are very emotionally sensitive so sensitive that you shut off more or less to survive.

[@sierrafarnum9689]

It's interesting because I acted exactly like Wednesday as a teenager (to the point where multiple people have told me that unprompted after this show came out) and I also "seemed more autistic" when I was younger to others. Now I don't act like that at all though. For me from a young age I completely cut myself out of the rest of the world and decided all others weren't to be trusted, and often hated everyone. Even my family considered me to be a hermit. I didn't trust others, but I also wanted to hate them before they could reject me. It's like I was so socially anxious I didn't want to even try being in the social world. The only thing I could count on filling me with any joy or purpose were my goals, so I became passionate about them. They were the way I filled my time and what gave my life meaning. In order to reach the things I cared about (one was actually writing novels, including mystery novels) I had to implement strict schedules or goals. I did that because without it I wouldn't accomplish what I wanted to, and also because it felt like if I didn't follow along I wouldn't know what to do at all. Then I graduated high school and there was a giant shift. I hyperfocused on mbti and realized I wasn't being open minded or accepting others despite their flaws. I also made goals surrounding being around others, and the more I pushed myself to do that the more comfortable I became around them and the more able I was to make friends and relationships. I'm way more expressive now because I don't feel like I have to put up a stoic front, and I don't seem anything like I used to in high school. In other words, she could be autistic, but she could also just be like me - someone who hasn't learned how to trust others yet.

[@eduardostapenko6808]

4:59 "im failing to see a problem here" is mine most kommon opinion to someones problem

[@MarsTheMartianTTV]

I was thinking about this the other day! I’m so glad to see you’ve made a video about it. I have Autism, and for once I felt like I could relate to a character a lot, and also find pieces of myself that I could accept and be okay with because of that character. I was afraid to make any assumptions (people do tend to get quite upset with that these days, especially with something so popular like this). I don’t have all of these traits - I tend to be more emotional and less stoic, but I admire that about Wednesday. Sometimes I wish I could be less emotional and more stoic, just for the sake of not wanting to keep getting myself into a world of emotional hurt. I think she may be on the spectrum. That would be so cool! She’d be an awesome ASD icon! Another thing is the way she speaks, her delivery, but also *what* she says, and how she says it. It’s like she can take intrusive thoughts and just say them, without fear of judgement. I wish I could be that brave! I love this show!! Thank you for making these videos. I smashed the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE buttons! You’re awesome, Georgia!!

[@GeorgiaDow]

Aww thank you for subscribing and being a part of my community = ))

[@norakderrote2136]

As a autistic person, watching Wednesday felt much of the time like watching an Over- The - Top Cartoon version of myself.

[@mysterroniouscherry326]

I disagree that Wednesday has Autism. She is totally normal. I know people in my life who are just like her, my mom too. And they are not Autistic. People like Wednesday are just very unique and rare individuals, which most people are quick to misunderstand her.

[@rainbowcity911]

shes just an introvert.

[@ric7044]

I have an autistic person in my immediate circle and they see themselves in Wednesday. Based on my own relationships I'd say that Wednesday has many of the traits (I don't need to tell you that the movie Rain Main might as well be "autisticface", or at the very least not representative of what most people on the spectrum are). We can't diagnose a fiction character, but chances are that she is, especially because of all characteristics that are present at the same time

[@ric7044]

@@rainbowcity911 Hey, not to be unkind or nothing, but that's one of the things that really frustrates the folks on the spectrum - at least the ones I know. "Autistic, you? No way. You look way too normal, you're just an introvert", while they are losing they brains trying to "mask" (pretend to be normal) for everyone else's comfort and benefit. "High functioning" is more like "highly stressed". The fact that they can "pass" doesn't mean acting that way is intuitive or painless

[@mysterroniouscherry326]

@@ric7044 they may resonate with her, still doesnt make her autistic. When you look at all the traits of an Autistic person, she doesn't check all the boxes. Where else her 'lack' of expression and 'underdeveloped' social skills, is actually due to her lack of interest to do so, not because she is impaired.

[@TMC1982Part2]

When did the whole emotionless, "Wednesday Addams speaks with a monotone voice" thing start? Was it with Christiana Ricci in the two movies from the early '90s? On the original Addams Family TV series from the 1960s with Lisa Loring, Wednesday did not talk like that.