If you’ve already watched the first episodes of Wednesday Season 2, you probably ended up with more questions than answers. So much happened all of a sudden! One of the most shocking moments was the apparent death of Marilyn Thornhill (aka Laurel Gates), the character played by the iconic actress Christina Ricci. But does she really die after being attacked by the Hyde? Netflix has already revealed the answer.
Who is Marilyn Thornhill in Wednesday?
Her real name is Laurel Gates, a descendant of Joseph Crackstone. In Season 1, she faked her own death to assume a new identity and fulfill Crackstone’s mission: to eliminate all outcasts. She adopted the name Marilyn Thornhill and infiltrated Nevermore Academy as a botany teacher, appearing harmless and friendly—so no one suspected her true intentions.
Marilyn used a Hyde (Tyler) to create chaos in Jericho. Eventually, she was discovered and imprisoned in a remote facility, while Tyler was taken to Willow Hill Psychiatric Center.
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Does Marilyn Thornhill die in Wednesday Season 2?
The character returns in the second season. Dr. Rachael Fairburn, head psychiatrist at Willow Hill, seeks to rehabilitate Tyler, but first must understand what Marilyn Thornhill did to him, so she decides to transfer Thornhill to the facility. Thornhill, of course, has no intention of helping. Her plan is to regain control over Tyler—but things don’t go as expected.
Wednesday investigates a series of murders in Jericho and tries to identify the killer before they reach Enid Sinclair, who appears to be the next target. Clues lead her to Willow Hill, and she heads there with her Uncle Fester.
Once there, the killer reveals their true identity: it’s Judi, Dr. Fairburn’s assistant. When exposed, Judi attempts to kill Wednesday and Fester, but Fester releases a powerful electric charge that shuts down the building’s power. This opens the cell doors… including Hyde’s. Now free of chains and security measures, he goes after Wednesday.
But first, he runs into Marilyn. Tyler feels betrayed and abandoned by her and now seeks to break free from her control—which means killing her. As Hyde, Tyler attacks Marilyn and slashes her torso with his claws. She collapses on the floor, motionless. Her facial expression suggests she’s dead—but is she really?
Alfred Gough, one of the series’ creators, has already responded to the question fans are asking:
“Christina Ricci is an incredible person and actress. She brings immense value to the series, and her character is fantastic… never say never. I’ll just say that in this series, no one is officially dead. There’s always a way.”
Hold on tight! Because with that statement, everything points to the second half of Season 2 being even darker and more intense than the last.
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What will happen to Tyler in Part 2 of Wednesday Season 2?
If a Hyde kills their master, it seals their own doom. Tyler appears to have killed his master, Marilyn Thornhill. After the incident at Willow Hill, he has escaped and is now free. The question is: can he survive without her?
Alfred Gough confirmed that in the second half of Season 2, we’ll see a Tyler who is slowly losing his mind, torn between his emotions and his Hyde side. What will happen to him? We’ll find out in September, when the next episodes are released.
When does Part 2 of Wednesday Season 2 come out on Netflix?
The second half of the second season will be available on the streaming platform starting September 3.
Will there be a Season 3 of Wednesday on Netflix?
Yes! Netflix has already confirmed that a Season 3 of Wednesday is in the works. While the release date hasn’t been announced yet, it’s expected sometime in 2026 or early 2027.
