The Netflix series Wednesday sees Jenna Ortega's character attending Nevermore Academy, a school that has drawn comparisons to Hogwarts from the Harry Potter franchise. The actor's powerful and humorous performance as the fan-favorite Addams Family character was acclaimed, and the two schools have a few things in common, including their strong-willed and well-written students who are learning and having fun in equal amounts.
While watching Wednesday Addams get used to her new environment and figure out her psychic abilities, along with solving the mystery of The Hyde, one thing is clear: Nevermore and Hogwarts have some similarities that are interesting to explore.
The Nevermore Monsters Vs. Hogwarts Houses
When comparing the Nevermore and Hogwarts students, it's clear that they both have magical powers. The Nevermore teenagers are monsters of various types. Principal Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) wants to make sure that this school is a place where these different teenagers can feel comfortable: she says, "Nevermore is a safe haven for our students to learn and grow no matter who or what they are. For over 200 years we have welcomed Outcasts of all kinds -- werewolves, vampires, sirens and gorgons." Psychics and shapeshifters are also students at Nevermore.
Although Wednesday has visions, Nevermore wasn't aware of this fact, which makes her time as a student even more compelling. It seems that she is a student because her parents attended several years before, something that she isn't thrilled about as she has a hard time away from home. Wednesday's roommate and new friend Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) is one of the most riveting characters as she is not only hilarious and sweet but also a werewolf frustrated by how long it's taking her to show her powers.
The Harry Potter franchise does a memorable job introducing audiences to this world of witches and wizards, as Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) begins attending Hogwarts and is fascinated by the beautiful old buildings and, most of all, the expansive dining hall and the huge feasts that the students are treated to. Both Harry Potter and Wednesday have memorable characters who are young, learning about themselves, and drawn into the cool and fascinating places where they are now living.
In contrast, the Hogwarts students are witches and wizards, and they are sorted into houses, which is one of the most interesting, exciting, and popular aspects of the franchise. Whether a student belongs to the Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, or Ravenclaw Hogwarts house is of great importance and interest. While the Nevermore students compete and play fun games, it's definitely true that the sorting into houses is more compelling than watching those scenes.
Where Are Hogwarts And Nevermore Located?
Harry Potter includes many wizarding schools and Hogwarts is located in Scotland in the Harry Potter novels and students get there by standing on London's Platform 9 3/4 at King's Cross station and getting on board the Hogwarts Express. Fans can visit Alnwick Castle, a filming location for Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secrets. Fans can also go to the Leavesden Warner Bros Studios in England, which is a fun place to spend a day.
Nevermore from Wednesday is located near the small town of Jericho, Vermont. Joseph Crackstone, who was a pilgrim, created the town in 1625, so it has a long and rich history. Jericho really does exist, although a fictionalized version appears in the Netflix series, one that includes main locations such as The Weathervane, a farmer's market, and Pilgrim World.
Both Harry Potter and Wednesday create rich and fascinating worlds for their characters, places that feel real and accessible. Wednesday sets up its season 2 by having the main character spend a lot of time at The Weathervane where she drinks coffee and meets Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), her love interest who she eventually realizes is The Hyde who has been terrorizing Nevermore students and the town of Jericho.
Is Nevermore Based On A Real School?
Although it would be a cool school to attend given its old-fashioned brick buildings and close-knit student community, as long as there was no more Hyde attacking people in the woods, Nevermore is a fictionalized school. According to Time Out, Wednesday filmed scenes at Cantacuzino Castle in Bușteni, Romania. Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino created the castle in 1911 and fans can visit it. It's worth noting that the series used CGI to include it as Wednesday's new home.
Although Wednesday Addams isn't a witch, she does have psychic abilities, and her visions of the past, including of her relative Goody Addams, make her time at Nevermore fun and fascinating. If the Netflix series told a new story about this famous character but didn't have her attend a school for teenagers with magical powers, the show would have a different vibe and wouldn't be as interesting.
When comparing Nevermore to Hogwarts, both are intriguing and well-crafted settings. However, it's hard to deny the staying power of Hogwarts, and it's clear that this Harry Potter location will always be a fan favorite.