Summary
When Bianca Barclay was first introduced onWednesday, it seemed as if she would be the stereotypical mean girl, “queen bee” of Nevermore. She belonged to one of the biggest cliques on campus and was the ex-girlfriend of one of Wednesday’sSeason 1 love interests, Xavier.
However, before too long, Bianca showed that there was more to her than how she originally appeared. Not only does she excel at fencing and is shown to be a bright student, but she is also a member ofNevermore’s secret society, The Nightshades. That said, what is most engaging about Bianca is how her tough exterior hides her own inner turmoil.
Xavier broke up with Bianca because he could not tell if he liked her or if she used her siren song on him, something thatBianca confesses to Wednesdaywas hurtful. Bianca’s siren song, the ability to control others, is a strong power, but it also leaves Bianca herself confused about whether people really like her. This struggle really came to a head in Season 1, Episode 5 “You Reap What You Woe” with the introduction of Gabrielle, Bianca’s mother. Rather than making an appearance at Parents' Weekend just to see her daughter, Gabrielle has ulterior motives, mainly to get Bianca back involved in her “wellness movement”/scam app called Morning Song. Gabrielle needs Bianca’s siren song because herown power is drying up. Bianca initially refused until her own mother blackmailed her, threatening to reveal that Bianca used her siren song to get into Nevermore. At the end of the episode, Bianca promises to return to Morning Song, but only on the condition that she finishes out the school year.
Lucas Almost Got Ensnared in Season 1
However, while Gabrielle waits for Bianca to return to Morning Song, that doesn’t mean that she won’t stop scheming in the interim. It’s revealed in Season 1, Episode 6 “Quid Pro Woe”, that Gabrielle introduced Morning Song toLucas as a way to get his act together. Although he would not normally engage with this kind of idea, he “somehow believed her”, hinting that she used some of her waning siren song powers on him. Despite Lucas’s prank ruining her dress at the Rave’N, Bianca immediately intercepts him when she sees him wearing one of Morning Song’s bracelets, perhaps one of the ways they control their clients. She tells Lucas to delete the app immediately and that they are only after his money, not his well-being. Lucas takes Bianca’s advice and the two begin to develop a budding romance. This plot point reveals how someone, particularly a normie, could get ensnared into Morning Song, a symbol of their involvement with the app, as well as what the app is really for, using siren songs to scam customers out of ther money.
Morning Song Is Not Just an App, It’s a Cult
Bianca didn’t just attend Nevermore because it’s a haven for outcasts. She specifically chose to enroll as a way to escape Morning Song. In an effort to build a new life for herself and further distance herself from her mother and Morning Song, she went so far as to change her name from Brandy Jane to Bianca. Although Gabrielle refers to Morning Song as a “community”, Bianca is quick to call it a “cult”. While Gabrielle is quick to correct Bianca and says Morning Song is “a personal development movement that helps people take control of their lives.” This is an intriguing description. While an introduction of a cult into a show like Wednesday would usually imply something more akin to the occult, perhaps witha frightening monster, the description of Morning Song seems to imply that it is more in the vein of NXIVM. NXIVM was a cult that offered seminars on human potential development that was a front for cult leader Keith Raniere’s racketeering and other unsavory activities. It would be fascinating to see theWednesdaytake on this kind of organization, specifically with the integration of siren song powers as a means of control.
Who is Gideon?
Where there’s a NXIVM, there’s got to be a Keith Raniere. Gideon is implied to be the cult leader of Morning Song. Bianca is so disgusted with Gideon, she doesn’t even want to hear his name and is disgusted and disappointed when she hears that her mother married him. Interestingly, although Morning Song is an app that uses siren song powers, it’s implied that Gideon himself is not a siren himself but rather uses sirens to “do his bidding”, as Bianca puts it. This could mean that Gideon is a normie antagonist that uses his charisma to exert control over sirens who possess a more powerful means of mind control. As recruitment numbers for Morning Song have diminished and “the wrong people are starting to ask questions”, Gideon will most likely need to use Bianca to regain his power. The reveal of this evil stepdad will most certainly be one of the highlights of Season 2, especially if he hasany ties to the stalkeror isplayed by a beloved actor in the franchise.
Bianca Barclay has proven to be one ofWednesday’s most intriguing characters. Season 2 should delve into Bianca’s past, her relationship with her mother, what makes her tick, and, of course, what is going on with Morning Star. The integration of a cult has the potential to set up some great antagonists, including cult leader Gideon, forWednesday and her alliesto confront. After all, who doesn’t love a good cult plot?
Netflix
Netflix is one of the most popular and widely viewed streaming services in the world. Beginning with its mail order DVD service, Netflix has since grown into an entertainment juggernaut, with original shows and movies including Squid Game, Stranger Things, The Irishman, and The Killer.
