The Addams family is supposed to be the opposite of a normal family in everything. So they're the opposite of a "normal" disengaged husband and nagging wife who've long lost all traces of love for each other.

The Addams family is just one of the many great things invented in NJ

John Astin and Carolyn Jones took it upon themselves to make their relationship more fiery than 1960s television censors would allow. They came up with the routine where everything she says in French drives him wild. Intense kissing on the mouth wouldn't have been allowed, but by starting with her hand and worked his way up her clothed arm he could be as passionate as he wished. They also did a lot with body language, facial expressions, and fiery delivery of mundane dialog.

They stood out because they were designed to be doing the opposite of most TV families. That's the whole premise, right?

I find Bob and Linda from Bob's Burgers a more realistic couple though. Dan and Roseanne from Roseanne were also realistic. Couples who find romance in giving up a little, in trying what little they can with each other. Showing realistic effort, and showing up.

Let's face it the Addams family owned a mansion, didn't appear to have jobs and their kids were invulnerable. Easy to be healthy and stress free partners in that situation.

and specific episodes I half-remembered

Join me in my series rewatch! Sadly I have not had time to post in two weeks now.

But actually, the whole franchise started with Charles Addams' deliciously, lovingly-morbid Addams Family comic art & strip series. You're in LUCK though if you were looking for that kind of thing, because one of our comics-sharing historians here has you covered!

If you have not been seeing my Addams Family posts, catch up and join us on Wednesdays.

I love the 90s film adaptations. There's a plot hole for me though, going by their relationship. How the hell do you only have 3 children?

Oh definitely. One of the best family values shows ever. They showed marriage at its very best. Original Adam's family movie did a great job with this as well.

I feel like the relationship between Morticia and Gomez was extremely lacking in the Wednesday reboot. Luiz Guzmán lacked much of the suave character traits of the original. Luiz was more comedic relief. The parents' relationship also felt less in the remake. It felt more one sided, like Morticia was just humoring Gomez.

The script for the Barry Sonnenfeld movies (with Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston) specified that Gomez and Morticia were "demonically horny" for one another. The same aside made clear that they constantly think about fucking, and do, and that if the movie did not reflect this then the writers would walk.

Unfortunately I can't find the exact full text because search engines are garbage now.

‘Pugsley, your present escaped.’

Always loved that series. They love each other, care for their kids, take good care of their house and pets… they really were role models for a young me.

— Tish!
— What?
— You spoke French!

Bet you they did a little bit of choking in the sac.

(Sorry, reference to another discussion I had recently on Lemmy. 😅)

Um, Lucy and Ricardo?

Pretty sure she was my first crush and is by far the finest Morticia ever.

True that, all is nice and super supportive in that series.

I grew up watching reruns of this show on the weekends, loved all of the adaptations to my core.