Abhiroop Das
In Netflix’s ‘Wednesday,’ the titular protagonist often finds herself in a web of troubles, and while many of them come from external forces, she has her fair share of enemies within Nevermore Academy. However, in the list of the most reliable people within the institution, Professor Orloff’s name comes around the top. The aged professor of biology is known for his unique construction, being only a head within a device. Orloff more than makes up for the lack of his body with his brain, using it both to discipline the students and enrich their time of learning. But he is not without a history, and as the story continues, chunks of his past come together to paint a riveting picture. To that end, the professor acts as a vessel for the larger mythology of the narrative, channeling various twists and turns before they ultimately catch up to him. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Professor Orloff is Killed by His Very Own Student
Professor Orloff stands out for his unique presence in the show, and in season two, we learn that the device that sustains his life was invented by none other than Isaac Night. Given that Isaac eventually returns as a zombie, his journey of retracing his past directly leads him back to his biology professor. While in the past the two might have had an amicable relationship, things turned out to be different in the present. Orloff is surprised at the inexplicable return of his star student, but his surprise quickly gives way to horror as he realizes that Isaac is here for a very specific reason. Without batting an eye, Isaac dismantles Orloff’s device and takes out its energy core, ending the professor’s life supply. To make matters worse, he then begins eating Orloff’s brain, bringing a brutal end to his life.
While Isaac feeds on human brains, that is not his primary reason for killing Orloff. What he is really after is the energy source, which he needs to recreate his magnum opus: a device that can erase a person’s outcast abilities. In a twist of irony, Isaac tells Orloff that he is simply here to take back what is his and that the professor should be thankful for having thrived for decades in the first place. This cruel sequence shows the depths of cruelty that reside in the antagonist’s heart, and how he shows no hesitation in using even his allies as pawns. Notably, Professor Orloff’s death bears witness in the form of Agnes DeMille, who uses her powers of invisibility to escape unnoticed. It is this incident that sets off a chain reaction leading to Isaac’s death, showing that Orloff’s sacrifice was not in vain.
Professor Orloff Helps in Solving Many of Wednesday’s Mysteries
Although Orloff is frequently characterised as one of the cruelest professors at Nevermore Academy, he often brings a unique perspective to the table. In particular, he is partially responsible for solving not one, but two of the running mysteries in the show. In the first case, he remembers his friend Augustus Stonehurst and recalls the fact that he had a daughter with a love for birds. This detail helps Wednesday in solving the mystery about the avian murders and tying it to Judi Stonehurst, the lead at Willow Hill Psychiatric Facility. Orloff is also the first person to introduce Isaac and Francoise Night to the story, who become foundational to the larger narrative in season two. As such, despite his rough exterior, it is his intimate knowledge of the institution and its deceptively shady past that helps the protagonist win her battles.
On a symbolic level, Professor Orloff can be interpreted to represent the past and everything it entails. While he is initially played for a humorous effect, with the professor disliking the students’ joyous activities and frequently being teased for his disability, over time, he gains a deeper significance. And though the Professor knows about the two main antagonists of the second season, his information is always limited to their good side, and it is this obliviousness to the evil that they can perpetuate that ultimately leads to his demise. To that end, his death reiterates the story’s theme of secrets and how they can internally destroy lives if not managed well. Although Isaac’s betrayal comes as a shock to the professor, he still plays his part in bringing the murderer to justice.
Read More: Wednesday: Is Principal Barry Dort Dead? Did Steve Buscemi Leave Wednesday?
