What's Inside?
- Xavier Thorpe exits Wednesday Season 2 permanently, with his departure confirmed by co-showrunner Alfred Gough, ending speculation about a return.
- Xavier’s farewell gift to Wednesday—a crow painting and cryptic note—sparks mystery, hinting at unresolved connections despite his absence.
- Percy Hynes White’s exit follows public allegations, which he denied, prompting Wednesday’s storyline shift toward new characters and deeper Tyler-Wednesday dynamics.
The long-awaited return of Netflix’s gothic hit Wednesday has brought a major character shake-up that fans have been buzzing about since production began. The season 2 premiere, released on August 6, answers the burning question: why did Xavier Thorpe, played by Percy Hynes White, suddenly vanish from the Addams Family spin-off?
Xavier’s Farewell Comes with a Mysterious Gift to Wednesday in Season 2
Co-showrunner Alfred Gough confirmed the change in Wednesday Season 2 isn’t a temporary plot twist: “We have seen the last of him,” he told TVLine, making it clear that Xavier’s departure is permanent. Within the storyline, new principal Barry Dort (Steve Buscemi) explains that Xavier has transferred to Reichenbach Academy in Switzerland, a school previously referenced in season 1 as the European equivalent of Nevermore.
Fans didn’t have to wait long for an emotional nod to the character. In the first episode, Enid (Emma Myers) reveals to Wednesday (Jenna Ortega) that she received a painting from Xavier, a creepy crow on a headstone, along with a cryptic note:
“I tried texting, but I guess you lost the phone I gave you. Consider this my goodbye gift. The image suddenly flashed in my head. Don’t ask me how I know or what it means, but it’s connected to you, I’m sure. Who’s Wednesday Addams without a mystery to solve, right?”
While the reference may have sparked speculation about a possible return, Gough’s statement leaves little room for hope.
Behind-the-Scenes Context and Controversy Surrounding Percy Hynes White
Percy Hynes White’s exit follows a turbulent period in his off-screen life. In January 2023, he faced accusations of sexual assault and racism from an anonymous social media account. The actor denied the claims in a June statement, calling them “a campaign of misinformation” and adding, “The rumors are false. I can’t accept the portrayal of me as someone bigoted, or criminally negligent of people’s safety.”
Fans of ‘Wednesday’ call for Percy Hynes White to be removed from the cast following allegations of sexual assault. pic.twitter.com/JFWIlg6Y9Q
— Pop Base (@PopBase) January 20, 2023
The controversy and public scrutiny created what Ortega described in Vanity Fair as “a weird redirect” for the show’s storyline. Season 2 compensates by introducing new characters and expanding dynamics between Wednesday and Tyler (Hunter Doohan). “There’s definitely something there,” Gough teased about the pair, noting their on-screen chemistry remains “unspoken but electric.”
What Does This Mean for Wednesday’s Future
With Xavier gone, Wednesday shifts its focus to fresh storylines, bigger mysteries, and darker romantic entanglements. Season 2 will roll out in two parts, the first already streaming, and the second arriving on September 3, promising to keep fans hooked even without one of its original breakout characters.
For now, Xavier Thorpe’s departure closes a chapter, but the ominous gift he left behind ensures his presence lingers in the shadowy world of Nevermore, exactly the kind of mystery Wednesday Addams lives for.
