Why Wednesday Addams and Buffy Summers Share More Than You Think
I love Wednesday, even though she is a dark, miserable, moody bully. (Anyone who wants to argue with me about that description just needs to watch the scene with the fudge). In fact, I am considering changing my name to Wednesday and embracing my inner "Wednesday's child is full of woe" because, unlike Wednesday Addams, I was born on a Wednesday.
Wednesday Addams is actually born on Friday the 13th (and from her mother's favorite poem, Friday's child is supposed to be loving and giving), but Morticia names her Wednesday instead, probably sensing "woe" would be a better fit. And Wednesday wears that identity like a boss.
From the very first episode, we know Wednesday is a bully, even when she comes to her brother's defense after he is the victim of bullying. "The only person who gets to torture my brother is me." Her retaliation against her brother's bullies (takes one to know one) results in her expulsion from Nancy Reagan High School and her enrollment in Nevermore Academy, to finding her tribe among the other "outcasts." (Regular people are called "normies.")
At Nevermore, Wednesday doesn’t just survive as an outcast—she owns it, using her sharp tongue and dark demeanor to shape how the world sees her. That deliberate embrace of identity is something she has in common with another unconventional heroine, Buffy, the vampire slayer. Though they come from very different worlds, Wednesday and Buffy share a common thread: the choice to own and shape their identities rather than let circumstances define them.
However, their approaches to identity differ significantly. For Wednesday, her darkness is her armor—sharp, deliberate, and unyielding—designed to keep people at a distance and give her the upper hand. Buffy, by contrast, uses her strength and identity as a Slayer to protect those closest to her, often at great personal cost. While Wednesday thrives in solitude, Buffy is defined by her connections, even when her role as a Slayer strains or threatens them.
Navigating Adolescence Amidst Supernatural Elements
Like I said, Wednesday is basically a bully, but so is my other favorite “outcast,” Buffy. Buffy, an outcast, you say? (And a bully, but we’ll get to that). Wasn’t the whole point of Buffy that she subverted the expectation by being the opposite of an outcast and was instead the popular blond cheerleader?
Buffy was born on a Monday, after all, and Monday’s child is fair of face. Well, yes, all that is true. But Buffy’s journey flips the script on the typical outcast narrative. Starting as a popular cheerleader, she ultimately accepts the burden of being a Slayer—an identity that isolates her even as it defines her. But just like Wednesday, Buffy has a choice to accept the identity that she is given or to cast it aside.
Wednesday was the victim of bullies herself at a young age (they killed her pet scorpion, Nero). Even with that tragic event, she could have chosen to walk the path of her inner Friday. Instead, she embraced being the epitome of a Wednesday’s child who is full of woe, embracing a tough outer shell as sharp as her tongue.
Where Wednesday uses her outsider status as a source of power and autonomy, Buffy struggles against the isolation it brings. Her desire for a normal life, free from the weight of being the Slayer, contrasts with Wednesday’s willingness to reject societal norms entirely. These differing responses to their roles reflect their personalities and the distinct worlds they inhabit—Wednesday’s gothic, satirical environment versus Buffy’s suburban, high-stakes reality.
Buffy, too, has moments of bullying, but hers are rooted in her role as a leader. Under the immense pressure of being the Slayer, Buffy often dominates her friends, brushing off their perspectives and enforcing her will. In Season 3’s Dead Man’s Party, she dismisses her friends’ justified anger after her return to Sunnydale, shutting down the conversation rather than addressing their pain. Similarly, in Season 7, Buffy’s authoritarian approach to leading the Scoobies and the Potential Slayers creates tension, isolating her from her allies when they need her most.
These moments of friction don’t undermine Buffy’s heroism; they show her complexity. Like Wednesday, Buffy’s strong personality and sharp edges often alienate those closest to her, but both characters believe their actions are necessary to protect the people they care about. Whether it’s Willow confronting Buffy—or Enid standing up to Wednesday, both heroines challenge those around them while navigating the delicate balance between strength and vulnerability.
Both Wednesday and Buffy Embrace Outsider Status
Both are extremely strong female leads chasing monsters and sometimes, their "strong" behavior makes them seem like bullies.
Strong personalities can be hard on the people closest to them, which tends to alienate and set them apart as outsiders. For both Wednesday and Buffy, being an outsider doesn’t mean being alone, even if their abrasive or distant behavior sometimes tests the limits of their closest relationships. This is evident in how Wednesday treats her roommate, Enid.
Wednesday is blunt and dismissive, showing no interest in Enid's interests or feelings. Enid is friendly and enthusiastic, but Wednesday's harsh and belittling responses come across as condescending. Enid tries over and over again, wanting to believe Wednesday is her friend underneath her veneer of contempt (maybe it's not personal; she treats everyone this way). But eventually, Enid feels inferior, hurt, and misunderstood.
Buffy's enduring friendship with Willow throughout the series encounters problems as well, such as when Buffy's behavior crosses lines. In season 2, Willow has to stand up to Buffy, "Being the Slayer doesn't automatically make you boss!" And in season 4, Willow declares, "Just because you're better than us doesn't mean you can be all superior." Willow is friendly, enthusiastic, and eager to help, which balances the more serious or brooding tendencies Buffy is drawn into because of the burden of being the Slayer.
Willow has a shy, bookish awkwardness, unlike Enid, who is very extroverted and socially confident. Yet both friendships reveal how strong female leads often push others away, even when they need them most.
Knowing that about Willow makes it even more impressive when she stands up to Buffy, especially when Buffy channels an "inner mean girl" at times, just like the stereotypical dynamics of a high school cheerleader.
Both Balance Personal Identity with Heroic Duties
Revealed in small hints throughout the series are some of the reasons Wednesday wears her morbid identity like a defensive cloak to protect herself from being hurt. This is very obvious in how she holds herself away from embracing Enid as a best friend, even pretending it doesn’t matter that Enid eventually asks to have a new roommate (there is just so much abuse from Wednesday that Enid is willing to tolerate).
Wednesday doesn’t believe she needs friends, yet she decides she might actually care about her fellow outcasts, especially Eugene, after he is attacked. It’s not just because she feels guilty; she abandoned him and their plan to stake out the cave to instead go to the dance; we can tell she truly cares for Eugene. (Although we'd better never tell anyone she admitted that).
Buffy’s journey mirrors this in many ways, though her guilt and isolation often stem from the heavy burden of her Slayer responsibilities. She distances herself from her loved ones, believing it’s the only way to protect them from the dangers of her world.
This is especially evident in Season 2 when Buffy leaves Sunnydale after her fight with Angel, convinced that her absence is the best way to spare her friends from further harm. Similarly, in Seasons 6 and 7, Buffy’s growing isolation—exacerbated by guilt and the weight of leadership—pushes her away from the Scoobies, even as they try to support her.
Both Form Unconventional Alliances
Although Wednesday wants to believe she doesn't need anyone and can do everything on her own, she enlists help from some surprising sources while trying to solve the mystery that endangers the future of Nevermore. Initially, one of those allies is Tyler, who is a normie and works at the local coffee shop. As the sheriff's son, he is uniquely positioned to provide Wednesday with access to local insights and connections.
Their budding romance, especially after the school dance, is as unconventional as Wednesday's friendship with Enid. Considering Wednesday and Enid's contrasting personalities and Wednesday's disdainful treatment of her resisting that friendship, Enid gives Wednesday the same kind of loyalty Willow provides Buffy. In the end, Enid is crucial in helping Wednesday save the school.
Buffy, too, builds alliances with unexpected figures, showcasing the complexity of her relationships. While her friendships with Xander and Willow are central to the series, her bond with Angel—an enemy-turned-ally and love interest—adds emotional depth to her character. Angel’s tragic journey from villain to a reluctant hero mirrors Buffy’s own struggle to reconcile her duty with her humanity.
Later, Buffy’s unlikely alliance with Spike, another vampire, evolves from hostility to a surprising partnership, challenging her own perceptions of trust and loyalty. These relationships underscore Buffy’s ability to see beyond black-and-white morality, embracing allies who bring nuance to her world.
Both Utilize Wit and Intelligence as Tools
Some of the most entertaining features of both series include witty dialogue and times when the audience can cheer Wednesday and Buffy along as they use their intelligence to overcome obstacles.
Wednesday cracks the Nightshade Society's secret code, something that current members never had to do, having just been told the right answer. The entire series is full of literary references tied to Edgar Allan Poe, and Wednesday demonstrates her ability to connect clues with cultural knowledge.
Because there are only eight episodes of Wednesday so far, we only get to see her piece together evidence about one monster and its threat to Nevermore by cross-referencing information from autopsies, research, and her visions. Also, with the help of some of her classmates, she has an opportunity to demonstrate her investigative brilliance, even solving a decades-old murder that exonerated her parents.
Buffy's series has 144 episodes, during which she uses her resourcefulness to defeat many supernatural threats. (Sunnydale is situated over the Hellmouth, making it a hotbed of supernatural activity). Buffy improvises at times, even breaking with traditional Slayer methods to show her adaptability and strategic thinking.
Despite these similarities, their styles reflect the contrasts in their worlds. Wednesday’s intellect is methodical and rooted in her love for dark literature, puzzles, and the macabre. Buffy’s wit, meanwhile, is instinctual and often laced with humor as a coping mechanism, especially in high-stakes moments. Where Wednesday’s victories often feel cold and calculated, Buffy’s blend of quick thinking and emotional intuition creates a balance between logic and heart.
One thing Buffy gets to highlight many times in the series is her physical skills at eliminating threats (she'd be a real asset during a zombie apocalypse). But like Wednesday, the series showcases Buffy's quick thinking in high-pressure situations, exemplifying her intelligence and cunning, proving she has more skills than just brute force.
Both characters show us that being a hero isn’t just about physical strength—it’s about using all the tools you have, from intelligence to resilience, to shape the world around you. And maybe that’s why they resonate so strongly with us.
At times, we may all feel like outcasts. Or we may even feel like boring normies that do not fit in with a bunch of kids that have something special about them.
While Wednesday and Buffy both teach us the power of embracing who you are, their journeys remind us that strength can take many forms. For Wednesday, strength lies in leaning into her darkness and independence, unapologetically rejecting convention. For Buffy, it lies in carrying the burden of leadership while still fighting for connection and humanity. Together, they show us that embracing your identity isn’t about fitting a single mold—it’s about using your unique strengths to shape your world.
Article WriterKiera Polzin
Kiera Polzin is a writer/storyteller who loves Stephen King, and she collects stories adapted and read in film and television. Having an MFA in Creative Writing allows her to weave her passion for all genres of fiction into a career teaching online creative writing courses and freelance writing focusing on entertainment and pop culture. She would be most at home in Ravenclaw because she loves immersing herself in research, including occasional shifts at a rural post office, which inspired her fifth novel.
Kiera’s first YA novel can be found on Amazon and on her blog at Kiera Polzin.
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