The Addams Family – Season 2
By John Sheridan, Blockbuster.co.uk
The Addams Family debuted a week before rival cooky family ‘The Munsters’ arrived in 1964 and was based on a popular comic strip. Now released on to DVD for the first time, The Addams Family Season 2 features some of the Addams’ finest episodes and should please any fans of TV nostalgia.
At first glance, the Addams Family appears to be creepy and kooky and altogether spooky (as in the intro song); Morticia Addams (
Carolyn Jones) wears skin-tight black vampire gowns with what appear to be tentacles at the bottom, her husband Gomez enjoys train crashes and playing the stock market to try and sell at the lowest point (before the shares rise in value). The Addams kids – Pugsley and Wednesday enjoy blowing things up and caring for exotic pets that include a lion while their bald headed Uncle Fester, spends hours relaxing on a bed of nails and can light up a light bulb by putting it in his mouth. That’s not mentioning Grandma Addams, Lurch, Cousin It or Thing.
Once you get past all the weirdness however, it soon becomes clear that the Addams Family aren’t that different from an average family. They each have a deep respect for one another, and care about each other deeply. They go further than most families by trying to reach out to their neighbours and community – they are deeply involved in politics; although find themselves always backing the losing candidate. They do not understand the world around them which to them seems strange, but still want to do their civic minded duty wherever possible.
Season 1 and 2 are identical in many ways, simply because the format of the show didn’t change throughout its run. Usually a visitor to the Addams house arrives and is shocked at the Addams way of life. The Addams on the other hand attempt to be nice to this visitor and the whole thing backfires. It’s a fish out of water story – not so much from the Addams perspective but more from the visitor to the house’s point of view.
Season 2 includes some of the best episodes from the series entire run; standout episodes include – My Son The Chimp (– where the Addams believe that Pugsley has been turned into … yes – a chimp!); Lurch the Teenage Idol (– where the Addams’ Frankenstein like butler becomes a pop star!); and Gomez, the people’s choice (– where Gomez Addams runs for mayor on a rather twisted electoral platform). Season 2 boasts a terrific line up of episodes, sure to entertain any one who has an affinity for vintage comedy.
There are thirty episodes of Season 2 all in all.
Episodes featured on this DVD:
Thing Is Missing
After Thing disappears, the family calls on detective Sam Diamond to unravel the mystery.
Crisis In The Addams Family
When Fester's antics cause the family's insurance policy to be cancelled, he takes matters into his own hands, becoming and insurance salesman himself.
Lurch And His Harpsichord
Lurch is despondent after his beloved harpsichord is donated to a museum, so the family tries to cheer him up.
Morticia, The Breadwinner
Morticia has money on her mind when she fears that Gomez has lost the family fortune.
The Addams Family And The Spaceman
After meeting the Addams family, two UFO investigators find that flying saucers and aliens are the least of their worries.
My Son, The Chip
The family goes ape when Fester mistakenly believes that he has turned Pugsley into a monkey.
Morticia's Favourite Charity
Hoping to clean out the attic, Morticia donates some uniquely Addams items to a local charity auction.
Progress And The Addams Family
Gomez won't give in without a fight when Mr. Henderson, the city commissioner, informs the family that their house has been condemned.