Summary

Barry Dort becomes the new principal of Nevermore after Larissa Weems' heroic demise.
The aftermath of the Thornhill-Crackstone disaster affects the school but opens a new chapter.
Suspicion surrounds Principal Dort's true identity, hinting at a potential connection to the Addams Family lore.

The former principal of Nevermore Academy, Larissa Weems, died a hero's death in the finale episode of Wednesday Season 1. She was given a dignified send-off, and she truly served her position with unwavering dedication. She died from nightshade poisoning during a confrontation with Marilyn Thornhill. But life at Nevermore is all about continuity — the old authority is gone, and a new one has already taken its place.

Steve Buscemi's role as Barry Dort, the new principal of Nevermore Academy and successor to Larissa Weems, is shrouded in secrecy, and that mystery has only fueled the Wednesday fandom's curiosity. The actor, who previously collaborated with Tim Burton on Big Fish, has a tough act to follow, given the high bar Gwendoline Christie's Larissa Weems set. He steps into Wednesday Season 2 as the new face of Nevermore, but beyond the weight of expectations resides a bigger mystery: who is Barry Dort, really? Could he have been placed at Nevermore by Gomez and Morticia Addams themselves, now that their second-born is certain to join Wednesday at the school?

Wednesday and Eugene Ottinger in Wednesday.

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By Bisma Fida

A New Principal Arrives At Nevermore

Steve Buscemi with Wednesday and Enid from Wednesday.

Barry Dort takes the reins of Nevermore in the aftermath of the Thornhill-Crackstone disaster — an event that shook the school's very foundation. Although peace has been restored, the public sphere is disruptive and distrustful. For centuries, Nevermore stood tall as a trusted institution, a sanctuary where parents believed their children would be protected and nurtured. Now, distrust prevails, and students are haunted by the fact that they were under the guidance of the traitor Marilyn Thornhill, who orchestrated all that destruction right under their noses. No one saw it coming until the outcast among outcasts, Wednesday Addams, convinced Principal Weems to listen to her.

The upcoming narrative will explore the aftermath of the Thornhill-Crackstone catastrophe, as it dealt structural and psychological damage to the institution and its staff and students. Its aftershocks are likely to ripple in Wednesday Season 2. Yet, it is the beginning of a new chapter for Nevermore, marked by the arrival of Barry Dort.

Could Barry Dort Be Hiding An Addams Secret?

Nevermore can either reinvent itself and rise from rubble, or plunge into a deep pit of chaos. Given the show's volatile nature, Principal Dort will be compelled to forge alliances at Nevermore to survive the incoming storm. But even then, suspicions about him persist. There is a possibility that he may be more than his description claims. Could he be working for the other side, depending on who the antagonist turns out to be? Or has he been planted at the school by the all-powerful Addams Family, especially now that Netflix's exclusive GEEKED WEEK Wednesday Season 2 drop has confirmed that Pugsley is joining the school?

The Addamses would want their children to be in capable, trustworthy, and nurturing hands. They have a long-standing history with Nevermore, and Wednesday, having played a critical role in saving it, opens the door to that possibility. The board could very well make an exception and hand over some level of control to the Addamses. Morticia and Gomez Addams consider Nevermore their second home — a place they’ve always trusted to protect and guide their unruly daughter after repeated expulsions from the Normie schools. Season 2 will, without a doubt, reveal who Barry Dort is and where his loyalties lie.

If Barry Dort turned out to be an Addams in disguise, it would be a delicious twist. Wednesday Season 2 is expected to lean more into Addams Family lore, and that certainly leaves the door open for Principal Dort to be revealed as one of their own. Wednesday would likely be aware of such a relative — and if not, it would add a layer of playfulness to their camaraderie.

A New Chapter For Wednesday, Pugsley, And Barry

It is the beginning of a new chapter at Nevermore, with not only Principal Dort but another Addams sibling entering the roster of outcasts. Plot details for Wednesday Season 2 remain tightly under wraps, but an analysis of available previews offers compelling insights into what lies ahead. One thing is certain: dark shadows linger over Nevermore. Principal Dort's backstory is deliberately ambiguous, with his narrative poised to tilt in different directions. Should he turn out to be an Addams in disguise, the twist would enrich the Addams Family lore and fulfill long-standing fans' expectations of the show.

Wednesday Season 2 is expected to return to Netflix in 2025, and the fandom is thrilled to see Buscemi reunite with Burton for his next act as Principal Barry Dort. It remains to be seen how Buscemi has approached the role of Nevermore's new principal. Will he channel the stern eccentricity of Weems, or take his position of power in an entirely different direction? The fandom is eagerly waiting to see how it plays out.

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