Thing was originally Isaac Night's hand—severed by Morticia Addams when she killed Isaac to protect Gomez years ago. This revelation in Wednesday Season 2 adds dark new layers to the beloved disembodied hand and his relationship with the Addams family.
The hand that has protected Wednesday all this time belongs to someone her mother killed.
Who Was Isaac Night?
Understanding Thing's origin requires understanding Isaac:
- Brilliant Nevermore student
- Attended school with young Morticia
- Had romantic feelings for her
- Possessed remarkable abilities
His Obsession: Isaac's feelings for Morticia weren't returned—she loved Gomez. This created a dangerous situation that ultimately led to his death.
His End: When Isaac threatened Gomez, Morticia was forced to kill him. In the process, his hand was severed and somehow gained independent life.
How Thing Became Sentient
The show doesn't fully explain Thing's sentience, but provides clues:
- Isaac's outcast abilities lived on in his hand
- Addams family magic animated the severed limb
- The traumatic death created supernatural residue
- Thing is a type of outcast creature that happens to be a hand
The Ambiguity: Wednesday (the show) wisely keeps Thing's exact nature mysterious. He's more interesting unexplained.
- Thing is definitely connected to Isaac
- He serves the Addams family faithfully
- He has feelings, personality, and loyalty
- He may or may not retain Isaac's memories
What This Means for Thing
The revelation recontextualizes Thing's entire role:
His Loyalty: Thing's devotion to the Addams family—especially Wednesday—takes on new meaning. Is he loyal because he loves them, or because he's bound to them by his origin?
His Relationship with Morticia: Thing serves the woman who killed his original owner. Is there resentment buried beneath those helpful gestures?
His Connection to Wednesday: Wednesday represents a new generation. Thing's attachment to her might be his way of moving beyond the past.
The Tragic Irony
Thing's situation is classically Addams:
- A murdered man's hand serving his killer's family
- Finding purpose in helping the child of those who killed him
- Being beloved by fans despite gruesome origins
- Isaac's love for Morticia led to his death
- His remains now serve her descendants
- He can never be whole again
The Hope: Thing seems genuinely happy. Whatever Isaac Night was, Thing has become something new—something that found family and purpose despite horrific origins.
That's actually beautiful, in a very Wednesday way.