Wednesday Season 1 Episode 3 titled Friend or Woe

Opening: Wednesday Gets a Mission

The episode begins with  Wednesday Addams getting drawn into the school’s social structure against her will. Principal Larissa Weems  insists that she participate in Outreach Day a school tradition where students visit Jericho and help out in the community. Wednesday, of course, is far from thrilled at the idea of participating in forced socialization and public service, but she sees it as an opportunity to further investigate the mystery surrounding  Joseph Crackstone  and the creature she saw kill Rowan.

While her classmates see it as a day of fun or obligation, Wednesday views Outreach Day as a chance to uncover secrets hidden in the town’s history —especially related to her ancestor Goody Addams , whose ghostly visions are becoming more frequent and cryptic.

 Pilgrim World: A Living Lie

Wednesday is assigned to volunteer at  Pilgrim World , a cheesy historical reenactment park in Jericho that celebrates the town’s colonial history. Dressed in full pilgrim attire, she’s forced to serve food and interact with tourists, much to her disgust. But as she spends more time there, she uncovers that  the sanitized version of Jericho’s past is hiding a much darker reality

She explores the abandoned parts of Pilgrim World and uncovers a hidden crypt beneath the tourist attraction. There, she sees more visions of Goody Addams , who shows her scenes of  persecution against outcasts , including her own family, by Joseph Crackstone and his followers. Goody warns her that  a great evil is rising again and that Wednesday is the one who must stop it.

This part of the episode deepens the series’ mythology by linking the present day with the historical oppression of magical and supernatural individuals. It also firmly establishes  Goody Addams as a guiding spirit  trying to lead Wednesday toward her destiny

 Tyler and Xavier: Conflicted Allies

Meanwhile,  Wednesday continues to navigate her growing relationships with two central male characters: Tyler and Xavier.

Tyler Galpin  the sheriff’s son, helps Wednesday sneak into the restricted parts of Pilgrim World. They share a moment of connection and flirtation, though Wednesday remains wary.

Xavier Thorpe , on the other hand, seems to be hiding something. His warnings about the dangers of pursuing the truth only make Wednesday more suspicious. Xavier was close to Rowan and clearly has his own agenda, though his motives remain unclear.

These relationships create a subtle love triangle , but more importantly, they both tie into Wednesday’s investigation—Tyler as a willing accomplice from outside Nevermore, and Xavier as a possible suspect from within.

 Tensions with Bianca and the Canoe Race

Back at school, the annual  Edgar Allan Poe Cup  is about to take place. It’s a canoe race through a treacherous river maze that serves as a key school tradition. Wednesday’s team includes her roommate  Enid , the vampiric Yoko , and   Ajax , a gorgon. Their main competition:  Bianca Barclay , Wednesday’s rival and a powerful siren.

At first, Wednesday doesn’t care about the competition. But after learning that her parents once competed—and possibly cheated—she decides to  take the race seriously as a chance to outsmart Bianca  and gain some leverage within the school’s social structure.

Wednesday’s team faces multiple sabotages during the race, including a siren attack by Bianca’s group and a hidden creature in the water. But thanks to Wednesday’s clever tactics and Enid’s unexpected bravery, they manage to  win the race , giving her a small victory in her ongoing battle with Bianca.

This event shows Wednesday beginning to  respect her peers, especially Enid , even if she doesn’t express it openly. It also cements her place as a force to be reckoned with at Nevermore.

 The Hyde Strikes Again

After the race, tragedy strikes again. Another person in the woods is  brutally murdered by the mysterious creature. Sheriff Galpin investigates the scene and finds a footprint that doesn’t match any known animal. He suspects it’s connected to Nevermore, especially after seeing Wednesday snooping around.

Meanwhile, Wednesday sneaks into the morgue again and takes photos of the bodies. She begins building a  murder board in her dorm room , trying to connect the victims and determine the creature’s identity. She’s convinced the killer is not just a mindless monster, but someone with a motive—and possibly a  Hyde , a creature from legend that represents chaos and destruction.

This sets the tone for the season’s central mystery:  Who is the Hyde, and what do they want?

 Wednesday’s Growth: A Reluctant Hero

By the end of Episode 3, Wednesday is still a loner, but cracks are starting to show in her emotional armor. She begins to acknowledge that  she might need help to solve the mystery , and she even shows a flicker of appreciation for her teammates after the Poe Cup.

The visions from Goody Addams, the warnings of ancient evil, and the brutal killings all point to a growing danger. Wednesday now knows she’s not just an observer—she’s  at the center of a prophecy that will determine the fate of Nevermore and possibly the world beyond it.

 Conclusion: Prophecies, Power, and Peril

Episode 3 expands the world of Wednesday  by linking her to a  larger historical and supernatural conflict . Her investigation reveals not only that evil is lurking beneath the town’s surface , but also that she is destined to confront it.

Despite her resistance to attachments, Wednesday is starting to form alliances—however reluctant—and slowly embracing the idea that her role at Nevermore is more than punishment:  it’s destiny .