So, you’ve binged the first season on Netflix and you’re still trying to wrap your head around that hulking, bug-eyed creature that tore through Jericho. It’s creepy. It’s fast. Honestly, it’s a bit of a tragedy once you dig into the lore. The monster from Wednesday, known formally as a Hyde, isn't just a random CGI beast thrown in for jumpscares. It’s a specific, deeply unsettling subspecies of "Outcast" that even the most inclusive school in the world—Nevermore Academy—decided was too dangerous to keep around.
Banished. Erased from the curriculum.
That’s why Wednesday Addams had such a hard time identifying it. If the school hadn't scrubbed its own history books, she might have solved the murders by episode three. But the Hyde represents something darker than just a physical threat; it’s about a loss of agency.
The Biology of the Hyde Monster from Wednesday
Let's get into the weeds. What actually is a Hyde? In the world of the show, a Hyde is a person who carries a dormant mutation. They look like any other human or Outcast until their nature is "unlocked." This isn't like becoming a werewolf where you just wait for a full moon and buy some extra-strength hair ties. A Hyde requires a traumatic event or, more commonly, a chemical or psychological trigger applied by a "master."
Once that door is kicked open, the person and the monster become two distinct but tethered entities.
Tyler Galpin, played by Hunter Doohan, is our case study. His mother, Francoise Galpin, was also a Hyde. This is a crucial detail. The show hints that the Hyde trait is hereditary, often lying dormant for generations until someone like Marilyn Thornhill (Christina Ricci) comes along with the right botanical neurotoxins to wake it up.
The physical design of the monster from Wednesday is intentionally jarring. Those massive, bulging eyes? They aren't just to make it look scary. They reflect a state of permanent hyper-vigilance and mania. It doesn't look like a sleek predator because it’s not natural. It’s an aberration. It has those long, sickle-like claws and a distorted, hulking frame that makes it look like a grotesque caricature of a human being. It’s supposed to be uncomfortable to look at.
Why Nevermore Banned Them
You might wonder why a school that welcomes vampires, gorgons, and sirens would draw the line at Hydes. It comes down to the "master" dynamic. According to the diary of Nathaniel Faulkner—the founder of Nevermore—Hydes are inherently unpredictable. But the real kicker is that they are fiercely loyal to whoever "unlocks" them.
They become tools.
In the 1950s, the school officially banned Hydes after a series of incidents that proved they were too volatile for a campus setting. They weren't just students who lost control; they were potential weapons that any unscrupulous person could point and fire. By the time Wednesday arrives at Nevermore, the Hyde is a myth, a ghost story that nobody—not even Principal Weems—wants to acknowledge is real.
The Tyler Galpin Twist: Victim or Villain?
This is where the fan base usually gets into heated debates. Is Tyler a cold-blooded killer, or is he a puppet?
The show is actually pretty clear about this, though it’s subtle. When a Hyde is first triggered, they are often in a fugue state. They don’t remember what they’ve done. Tyler’s early "blackouts" were likely genuine. However, as the bond between him and Thornhill deepened, the lines blurred. By the end of the season, Tyler isn't just some confused kid. He’s leaning into it.
Remember the scene in the police station? That whisper to Wednesday?
"You have no idea what’s coming."
That wasn't a victim talking. That was someone who had fully integrated with his darker half. The Hyde isn't a suit you put on; it’s a part of the psyche that eventually takes over the driver's seat.
The Laurel Gates Connection
Marilyn Thornhill—really Laurel Gates—used a specific plant-based concoction to trigger Tyler. This is a direct nod to the classic Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. In the original book, the transformation is chemical. In Wednesday, it’s a mix of chemistry and grooming. Thornhill manipulated Tyler’s resentment toward his father and his grief over his mother to ensure that when the monster came out, it belonged to her.
She didn't just want a bodyguard. She wanted a "pet" that would do the dirty work of harvesting body parts for the resurrection of Joseph Crackstone.
Comparing the Hyde to Other Outcasts
If you look at Enid’s transformation into a werewolf (or "wolfing out"), the contrast is massive. Enid’s transformation is a natural, albeit late, rite of passage. It’s part of her community and identity. She retains her soul.
The monster from Wednesday is the opposite. It’s an isolationist transformation. There is no Hyde community. There are no "Hyde packs." It is a solitary, miserable existence defined by servitude. Even the Gorgons have a degree of control—don't look at people without your beanie on. But a Hyde? Once the master pulls the leash, the person is gone.
Practical Lore: What to Watch For in Season 2
With the second season on the horizon, the Hyde remains the biggest loose end. We saw Tyler transforming in the back of the van in the final moments of the finale. He’s out there.
If you're trying to keep track of the mythology, here’s what actually matters for the future of the show:
- The Master is Dead (Or is she?): Typically, when a master dies, the Hyde is "freed," but that doesn't mean they turn "good." It usually means they become even more feral and unpredictable. With Thornhill out of the picture, Tyler is a literal monster without a leash.
- The Mother's History: We still don't know the full story of Francoise Galpin. Expect more flashbacks. There’s a theory that the "medical records" Wednesday found only scratched the surface of what Nevermore did to "cure" Hydes in the past.
- The "Unlock" Process: Can a Hyde be unlocked by more than one person? Or is it a "first come, first served" situation with the psyche? This will be a major plot point if Tyler finds a new master—or if Wednesday herself is forced into that role.
How to Spot a Hyde (Before They Kill You)
Honestly, in the show's universe, you can't. That’s the scary part. They don't have the "tells" that other Outcasts do. No fangs, no stony skin, no gills. They are the "normies" of the Outcast world until they aren't. The only real giveaway is their lineage and a history of repressed trauma.
If you’re writing your own fanfic or just trying to win an argument on Reddit, remember that the Hyde is a metaphor for mental health struggles and the way trauma can be weaponized by abusers. It’s not just a creature feature. It’s a tragic arc about a boy who was hollowed out by a vengeful woman.
Moving Forward with the Mystery
To truly understand the monster from Wednesday, you have to look past the gore. Focus on the journals. The show spends a lot of time on Faulkner’s sketches for a reason. Those drawings are the only reason Wednesday was able to piece together the truth.
If you want to dive deeper into the inspirations for the creature, look into the concept of the "Id" in Freudian psychology. The Hyde is essentially the Id—all primal urge and violence—without the Ego or Superego to keep it in check.
Keep an eye on Tyler’s eyes in future episodes. In the finale, they stayed slightly dilated even in his human form. That’s a sign that the transformation is becoming permanent. The "boy" is fading, and the "monster" is here to stay.
✨ Don't miss: Vaazhai OTT Release Date: What Most People Get Wrong About Mari Selvaraj’s Digital Debut
Next time you watch, pay attention to the lighting whenever Tyler is on screen. The directors often used split-lighting—half his face in shadow—to foreshadow the duality of the Hyde. It was hiding in plain sight the whole time.
To wrap this up, the Hyde isn't just a villain to be defeated. It’s a warning about what happens when secrets are buried instead of dealt with. Nevermore tried to hide the Hydes, and in doing so, they ensured they would eventually return to haunt them.
The best thing you can do now is go back and re-watch episode six with the knowledge of Tyler's identity. Every line of dialogue he speaks has a double meaning. It’s a masterclass in "hiding the monster" in a script. Check out the scene where he talks about his mother—the pain there is 100% real, and it’s the fuel that the Hyde burns to exist.