Summary
Eugene Ottinger’s arc onWednesdayevolved beautifully. He went from a total nobody in Nevermore to one of the series' saviors. He harnessed his psychic powers to control bees, directing them at Marilyn Thornhill, the science teacher revealed to be an antagonist, to protect his friend, Wednesday. Even while recovering at the hospital, Eugene didn’t hesitate to rush to her aid. Wednesday owes him her life.
Eugene is the perfect blend of quirky, lovable, loyal, and talented. The sweetestkid at Nevermore, his Season 1 contribution had a strong impact. InWednesdaySeason 2, the story must delve deeper into Eugene’s background — where he comes from, what his life is like beyond Nevermore, and how he is around home. The upcoming season better deliver.
Who IsWednesday’s Eugene Ottinger?
Eugene is a Hummer - meaning he has a psychic connection to bees, which he uses to his advantage. He proudly leads the Nevermore Hummers, though initially there’s just him in the club. The only person who shows conviction in him and his abilities is Wednesday, who once told him that he reminds her ofher brother, Pugsley. Wednesday looks out for Eugene, the same way she would for Pugsley — only she’s slightly more affectionate towards him. She saves him from the Pilgrim World bullies on Outreach Day, and, albeit reluctantly, agrees to talk him up to Enid, even passing along his jar of honey. But when Enid turns him down for the Rave’N, the dejected Eugene bounces back fast.
Eugene knows quite a lot about hive life. He’s friendly, kind, and adorable. He genuinely wants to make more friends at Nevermore, but not many reciprocate. Enid steps into his shed once, as a favor to Wednesday, and remains a friend by extension, at best. Wednesday is Eugene’s only true friend at school, which is sad considering he lives by the hive code - never snitching on one’s friends.
AfterEnid turns him down for Rave’N night, Wednesday and Eugene decide to stake out the cave that they believe is the monstrous creature’s lair. But when Wednesday cancels on him at the last minute, he checks out the woods himself, ignoring Wednesday’s warning:
A Hummer never shies away from danger.
Eugene, expectedly, gets mauled by the Hyde, and Wednesday misses him by a few seconds. She sees him all bloody, and at this point, Thornhill, the Hyde master, who is obviously around, arrives, asking:
Oh my god! Is he alive?
Eugene Ottinger’s Moms and Life Outside Nevermore
Thankfully, Eugene recovers in the hospital, and Wednesday assigns Thing to keep an eye on him. During her visit, she runs into his moms, Sue and Janet, who share a few crucial pieces of information that had been missing all this time. They speak of how Eugene never really fit in at Nevermore and how Wednesday’s arrival at school changed things for him. They fondly describe his love for bees andhow genuinely happy he isto have finally found a real friend in Wednesday. Sue and Janet are grateful to Wednesday for visiting, but she is guarded per usual. She politely excuses herself and leaves Eugene in Thing’s care.
The next visit, Wednesday runs into Dr. Valerie Kinbott at the hospital. It’s Wednesday’s birthday, and she’s chosen to spend it by Eugene’s bedside. As she sits with her unconscious friend, feeling guilty over his condition, Dr. Kinbott walks in with flowers, explaining she works with Eugene’s moms. Since Sue and Janet had to head home, Dr. Kinbott graciously offered to check in on their son. Dr. Kinbott, a therapist, shares that the parents are traumatized by the accident, and ideally, this situation requires that Eugene spend more time with his mothers in the upcoming season.
The Many Questions ThatWednesdaySeason 2 Must Answer About Eugene
WednesdaySeason 2must delve more into Sue and Janet’s story and explore Eugene’s family dynamic. This ensures that not only the main but also the supporting characters get their fair share of attention. It would be compelling to provide an insight into what sparked Eugene’s interest in bees, how he interacts, and connects with his mothers on a day-to-day basis.
As Eugene proudly states that there’s no patriarchy in the hive, it becomes clear that he has been raised by well-reasoned people. His family dynamic — being raised by two mothers — breaks the mold, and is a refreshing portrayal. It explains his thoughtful nature and good manners, and maturity. Eugene doesn’t take Enid’s rejection personally, but accepts it with grace, showing emotional intelligence and a sense of self-worth. He also shares with Wednesday that his parents comfort him by saying people will appreciate him more in the later part of his life. This warm detail offers a compelling insight into a healthy Ottinger home environment thatdeserves more exploration in Season 2. Leaning into Eugene’s backstory will ground the character in emotional depth, drawing a strong contrast with the overall dark narrative of the series.
WednesdaySeason 2 will premiere on August 6 and September 3 on Netflix.
