Abhiroop Das
Netflix’s ‘Wednesday‘ chronicles the story of Wednesday Addams, a sharp-minded but seemingly cold-hearted member of the famous Addams family. Following her admission into Nevermore Academy, she gradually begins to hone her skills as a psychic, and at the same time embarks on several new journies with her band of allies. As the risk increases, the protagonist finds herself deeper and deeper in the layers of mystery that seem to surround the town of Jericho. Things do not always end well, and she has to get used to change. The introduction of Principal Barry Dort into the equation brings a new set of challenges for Wednesday, as she has to get used to her newfound fame and the secrets that lurk within the underbelly of the institution. SPOILERS AHEAD.
The Nightshade Society Brings Down Barry Dort
As the new principal of Nevermore Academy, Barry Dort begins a malicious scheme to lure investors with the help of Bianca Barclay’s siren abilities. Hiding behind the facade of enriching outcast lives, Dort shows no hesitation in exploiting them for his own gain, going as far as to kill if necessary. To that end, he holds Bianca’s mother, Gabrielle, hostage and forces the teen to act out all of his whims. With seemingly no way out, she complies, but is ultimately helped by Wednesday and the renewed Nightshade Society, comprising Enid, Agnes, and Ajax. Pooling their powers together, the students bring Dort’s guard down, which allows Bianca to use her siren abilities to force him into revealing the truth to an entire live audience. Following this, Ajax uses his ability to turn Dort into stone, and the accidental fall of a chandelier acts as the final blow, killing the principal.
Barry’s plan involved brainwashing Wednesday’s grandmother, Hester Frumps, into donating all her property to Nevermore, and this uncharacteristic act is what ultimately brings the entire Addams family’s attention to the principal. This mistake of narrowing down his targets is a direct result of Dort’s rising greed, and that eventually becomes his undoing. Notably, he always keeps a choral amulet handy, as it is the only substance that can counter a siren’s call. In order to defeat him, Wednesday turns that confidence into his vulnerability, using the pomp and splendor of the gala to distract and ultimately defeat him. While the chandelier’s fall is not accidental, it is triggered by a flame that he sends flying. This action takes on a symbolic edge, showing that his own self-destructive tendencies pave the way to his demise.
Although Barry Dort’s fate appears to be sealed for good, there is a small possibility that he might have survived the incident. The key detail here is the fact that he disintegrates while still in his stone form. Given that Ajax’s ability wears off after some time, whether Dort similarly comes out in many pieces is still up in the air. As his stone form is technically inanimate, it can easily be reassembled to form one whole, which might bring the principal back to life. However, given the sense of finality to his conclusion, a revival is unlikely. Even if he does return to the fray somehow, Dort is no longer the principal of Nevermore, which means that he is cut off from all powerful connections and has no way of escaping the police. As such, all roads for his character eventually lead to a similar end.
Barry Dort’s Death Spells the End of the Morning Song Cult
Barry Dort’s inhuman actions are not mindless in nature, as he has a very specific reason to pool together large sums of money. A flashback reveals his identity as the original creator of the Morning Song cult, with Arnold Hunt merely serving as a charming figurehead. It turns out that Gabrielle was also directly affiliated with Dort at one point, serving as the original siren he used to control the masses. When the cult began to come into conflict with the authorities, Dort was quick to conceal his presence, and his new job as Nevermore’s principal definitely helped his cause. However, his actions as the cult leader did not stop there, and he secretly continued his plans of expanding the network to connect all the outcasts in the world under one umbrella of thought.
Dort’s real intentions with the Morning Song cult were to renew outcast identity from the ground up. Although the full extent of his ideology is not revealed, he seems to suggest a path of enlightenment. However, over the years, this motivation gets distorted, leaving the cult with a drastically different character than what he originally intended. In the same vein, Dort firmly leans into his power and money-hungry side, casually burning Arnold Hunt to ashes to secure his position as the leader. His conclusion, as such, brings an end to that plot thread, along with the cult as a whole. With Morning Song out of the way, Gabrielle can finally lead a life of peace out in the open, with no nefarious figures like Dort exploiting her abilities. This is only made possible by the efforts of her daughter and her friends, who, in turn, secure the future of their academy.’
Steve Buscemi’s Role in Wednesday Has Likely Come to an End
Actor Steve Buscemi added a comedic flair to a character who typically prefers to revel in cruelty, making Dort a memorable presence throughout the second season. However, with his demise, the entire Morning Song saga of the show has firmly ended, which makes it unlikely for Dort to continue as a part of the show. While the former principal of Nevermore, Larissa Weems, does make a reentry in the sophomore season as Wednesday’s new spirit guide, her character has a positive influence on the protagonist, unlike Dort. To that end, the chances of the new principal coming back for vengeance are increasingly slim. However, with some secrets about Gabrielle Barclay still up in the air, this is still a chance for Dort to show up in the form of a flashback, giving Buscemi another opportunity to flex his creative muscles.
Steve Buscemi’s journey with Wednesday is defined by his deep understanding of the narrative and how his character bounces off of it. In an interview with Deadline, he explained the context behind his character’s mindset and personality, and how that is key to his performance. He stated, “I love that he has disdain for the tactics of Principal Weems. (…) With him, there’s always another reason, a nefarious reason that he’s doing the things that he’s doing, even though he really does love being an Outcast.” The actor has confirmed that Dort is based on the look and vibe of Edgar Allan Poe, which makes the macabre theme of his conclusion all the more fitting.
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