The Big Picture

• Despite their dark atmosphere, Morticia and Gomez Addams model the epitome of romantic love, constantly expressing their overwhelming affection for each other and defying the unhappy couple stereotype in The Addams Family.
• Their shared love for all things spooky and bizarre allows them to be completely themselves with each other, cultivating a strong and unique bond that is accepting and freeing.
• Morticia and Gomez's openness, trust, and generosity towards each other create a deep connection, making them a strong and healthy couple who serve as great role models for their children and the rest of the Addams family.

The dark, gothic atmosphere surrounding the Addams family is truly one of a kind – evidenced by the macabre (and beloved) family’s warm reception in pop culture, from their beginnings in 1984 to modern-day stories still exploring the interesting relationships between family members. They all take pride in reveling in the wicked and strange, especially parents Morticia Addams (Carolyn Jones) and Gomez Addams (Jon Astin). But one unexpected aspect of the Addams parents’ relationship is the oddest and strangest – their overwhelmingly romantic behavior toward each other. Morticia and Gomez Addams' most consistent trait throughout their depictions over the years has always been their healthy infatuation with each other. Despite their dark atmosphere, Morticia and Gomez model the epitome of romantic love.

In addition to their gothic aesthetic, the darkly romantic duo also has their bases covered when it comes to romance; in fact, they can’t seem to keep their hands off each other, and they have no qualms about expressing their love publicly and overly affectionately, no matter who sees them. Whether they’re dancing in a rhythmic, sensual tango or giving each other long, suggestive stares, Mr. and Mrs. Addams enjoy each other’s company to an almost ridiculous (and certainly enviable) degree. Even after several years of marriage, they keep their romantic lives fresh and alive.

So, what’s the secret? How do Morticia and Gomez remain role models of romantic love? One would expect their dedication to wickedness to seep into their marriage as well, but funnily enough, they are one of the healthiest romantic couples in TV history. Considering the fact that the prominent dysfunctional family/marriage trope is prevalent in media and especially comedy, Morticia and Gomez defy the stereotype of the unhappy couple — most of their humor as it relate to their relationship stems from how over the top their love for each other truly is. And this healthy bond that they share mostly stems from the openness and authenticity in their relationship.

Morticia and Gomez Are All About Love, Despite the Ghoulish Aesthetic

Morticia and Gomez’s ability to be completely and utterly themselves with each other allows them to love each other so openly and overwhelmingly that it doesn't even enter their minds to try and hide their true selves. Their shared passion for spooky things gives them something in common, but it’s also a freeing aspect of their lives too: they can live in a huge creepy mansion, thrive in a living space with a gothic horror theme, and cultivate a strong interest in the occult with their children. As they feed into each other’s passion for all things dark and spooky, their passion (and appreciation) for each other grows. Neither of them ever feels the need to hold back what they love, and considering that most of their interests are on the scary side, they are truly a perfect match for each other -- there's no need for either of them to feign being "normal" when they know they'll be wholly and unwaveringly accepted.

Thanks to the mutual love and respect that Morticia and Gomez have for each other, they provide a stellar example of how to treat others, making them great role models for their children, Pugsley (Ken Weatherwax) and Wednesday (Lisa Loring). Though their way of life is unconventional, their interactions with their kids clearly show deep love. Even extended Addams family members like Lurch (Ted Cassidy) and Thing are treated with genuine affection. Although Wednesday and Pugsley don't always show the greatest care for each other (Wednesday has been known to show some disdain for her brother, even to the point of potentially very serious bodily harm), they show affection for each other in a uniquely Addams way.

In contrast, Morticia and Gomez’s interactions with the non-spooky community around them clearly show a lack of understanding between the two worlds. While the Addams’ behavior is usually very pleasant (if creepy) in the eyes of outsiders and guests, outsiders are often too scared to connect with the Addams family personally – for a number of reasons. Very few, if any, characters outside the Addams family circle are able to appreciate their dark aesthetic and morbid humor, making Morticia and Gomez’s shared passion a special part of their relationship. Because they will always have each other to spend time with, Morticia and Gomez aren't usually too bothered by the rejection of outsiders. If anything, it only deepens their love and appreciation for each other.

Morticia and Gomez Are Not "Normal" and That's Why They Work

Morticia and Gomez not only love the same things; their shared love for the dark and bizarre allows a certain amount of freedom to their lives – freedom that extends to every area of their relationship. They are free to be their entire selves with each other without being worried they'll scare the other away, and this disregard for keeping up with “normalcy” (as defined by the outside world) extends to their every interaction, allowing them to express themselves fully, no matter the occasion. Even mundane moments in their everyday lives are enriched by this freedom: every time Morticia and Gomez appear on-screen together, they are overcome with passion, making any regular day a new adventure for them.

Their excitement to be with each other, two halves of a whole, is expressed through constant support for each other and overly cheesy romantic gestures – and neither of them tires of the dance. They aren’t shy about expressing their love, and they aren’t in the least bit embarrassed to express that love openly in front of others. It doesn’t matter who’s around: Morticia and Gomez will always be giving each other steamy looks, without fail. Even in the Netflix series Wednesday, which shows their daughter acting somewhat annoyed by their displays, their obvious sexual tension is never considered to be a problem for the couple nor are they embarrassed by it. They are always drawn to each other, and the validity of their love is never called into question by either of them.

Even the way they speak to each other showcases their constant excitement and joy – it isn’t every day you find the love of your life like they have. While Gomez will often heap compliments onto Morticia, knowing exactly what will cause her to practically melt in his arms, Morticia’s tiniest pointed movements will make Gomez’s eyes go wide every time. Not to mention his reactions whenever Morticia speaks French and smiles at his arousal. They give each other pet names, with Morticia cooing “cara mia” and “querido,” and Gomez swooning and replying “cara bella” and “querida” in return. Morticia and Gomez’s love for each other (and their excitement at being around each other) knows no bounds.

The Addams Family Is Made Stronger By Their Love For Each Other

Even apart, Morticia and Gomez speak highly and lovingly of each other. Gomez, in particular, will work his wife into conversations with others so that he can gush about Morticia and how much he loves her. While other TV couples in comedies and otherwise (and, unfortunately, many real-life relationships) take the opportunity to bash their significant other behind their back given the chance (all in the name of mean-spirited comedy), the Addams operate in the opposite way. Their comedy is positive rather than negative, in that the humor comes from everyone else’s reactions to their over-the-top declarations of love. You will never catch Gomez making "I hate my wife" jokes, nor will you ever hear Morticia complaining about her husband's flaws. They aren't a toxic couple or dysfunctional; they're funny because they're so abundantly head over heels, and that sort of comedy feels just a little bit warmer.

This juxtaposition between the common sitcom couple and Morticia and Gomez Addams highlights their openness with each other even further. Both know that their partner would never speak ill of them behind their back, so the level of trust between them is astronomical. They always tell each other the truth and expect the truth in return. Their relationship works primarily because of this trust, as well as their openness, honesty, and care — showing each other a generous amount of affection without shame is an invaluable part of their relationship, and the effects of this acceptance are far-reaching in the Addams family.

Morticia and Gomez’s romance works because they share a passion that forges a deep connection between them. And, if properly stoked, this connection will only deepen and grow. Their generosity to each other and genuine joy in showering each other with praise and affection help keep their romance fresh and engaging, and they actively keep the sensual element of their relationship going strong. Their openness with each other is the secret behind their successful romance, making them one of TV’s most iconic – and healthy – couples. In the end, we could all learn a thing or two from TV’s kookiest, spookiest couple.

The Addams Family is streaming on Netflix in the U.S.

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