🖤 The shadows hide a monster, and his name is Tyler Galpin! Dive into the chilling untold story of the Hyde in Wednesday—a tale of tragedy, manipulation, and raw power. From a small-town barista to Nevermore’s deadliest threat, what turned Tyler into the beast? Uncover the secrets that haunt Jericho!
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Introduction: The Monster Within
Netflix’s Wednesday, since its 2022 debut, has captivated audiences with its gothic charm and Jenna Ortega’s iconic portrayal of Wednesday Addams, amassing 252.1 million views to become the platform’s most-watched English-language series. At the heart of its first season lies Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan), a seemingly ordinary barista whose shocking reveal as the Hyde—a monstrous outcast—upends the narrative. Season 2, with Part 1 released on August 6, 2025, and Part 2 dropping today, September 3, deepens his story, exploring the tragic origins and chilling anatomy of the Hyde. This analysis delves into Tyler’s transformation, his mother Francoise’s legacy, and the Hyde’s nature, drawing on the series’ lore and fan discussions to uncover the untold story of Nevermore’s most complex antagonist.
Tyler Galpin: From Barista to Beast
Tyler Galpin is introduced in Season 1 as a 16-year-old Jericho resident, working at the Weathervane coffee shop and navigating a strained relationship with his father, Sheriff Donovan Galpin (Jamie McShane). Initially charming and supportive, he forms a bond with Wednesday, helping her escape Nevermore and sharing a kiss that triggers her vision of his Hyde identity. This revelation, in Season 1’s finale, marks him as the secondary antagonist, responsible for the Jericho killings under the control of Marilyn Thornhill, aka Laurel Gates (Christina Ricci). His confession—“At first, I woke up naked, covered in blood… Over time, I started to remember. The screams, the panic, and fear so primal you could taste it”—reveals a descent into darkness, blending guilt with a disturbing relish.
In Season 2, Part 1, Tyler’s arc intensifies. Imprisoned at Willow Hill Psychiatric Hospital, where outcasts are experimented on, he’s chained and fitted with a shock collar to prevent transformation. His rage peaks when Thornhill attempts to manipulate him again; he kills her and, in a violent clash, hurls Wednesday through a window, leaving her in a coma. Part 2, as teased in trailers, sees him escape, targeting Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers) and fueling speculation about his mother’s return. Tyler’s journey is one of tragedy and manipulation, shaped by his Hyde nature and a past he never chose.
The Origin: A Tragic Inheritance
Tyler’s Hyde nature ties directly to his mother, Francoise Galpin, a former Nevermore student. As revealed in Season 1, Francoise was a Hyde whose powers emerged after Tyler’s birth, triggered by severe postpartum depression. This led to her institutionalization at Willow Hill, where she supposedly died. Sheriff Galpin, fearing Tyler inherited her condition, kept it secret, fostering a strained relationship marked by neglect. Tyler’s therapy with Dr. Valerie Kinbott reflected his pain over his mother’s loss and his father’s silence, as noted in fan analyses on Reddit.
Season 2, Part 1, casts doubt on Francoise’s death. Wednesday discovers a woman in a high-security cell at Willow Hill, marked “Extreme Caution,” and Sheriff Galpin’s investigation into the “Long-term Outcast Integration Study” (LOIS)—a program to extract outcast powers—suggests she was a subject. The finale credits list Frances O’Connor as “Francoise,” hinting at her return in Part 2. Fan theories, like one from u/Tiny_Teaching_318 on Reddit, propose she’s the woman Wednesday freed, potentially influencing Tyler’s actions—either as a calming force or a catalyst for further chaos. Her Hyde nature, possibly more potent than Tyler’s, could redefine their dynamic, with trailers showing a shadowy figure alongside Tyler’s rampage.
The Anatomy of the Hyde: A Monstrous Enigma
The Hyde, as explained in Wednesday, is a rare and feared outcast type, banned from Nevermore due to its unpredictability. Described by Uncle Fester (Fred Armisen) in Season 1, Hydes appear human but transform into hunchbacked, sharp-toothed, clawed monsters through trauma, chemicals, or hypnosis. Tyler’s transformation was induced by Laurel Gates, who used plant-derived chemicals and torture in a cave to unlock his Hyde, binding him to her as his “master.” This process, detailed in a Reddit analysis by u/No_Needleworker6734, stripped Tyler of autonomy, brainwashing him into obedience.
Physically, the Hyde, designed by Tim Burton and portrayed via motion capture by Daniel Himschoot, is a grotesque embodiment of rage, with bulging eyes and knife-like claws. Its psychological complexity lies in its dual nature: Tyler retains awareness during transformations, as seen in his confession, but the Hyde’s instincts dominate. Fan discussions on r/Wednesday argue Tyler’s guilt—tears in his confession scene—suggests a struggle between his human side and the Hyde, which grows stronger with each transformation. Season 2 hints at increasing autonomy, with Doohan telling Tudum, “Tyler’s been obsessing over Wednesday,” indicating a blurred line between his human emotions and monstrous urges.
The Hyde’s lore draws from The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, but Wednesday reimagines it as a tragic condition. Hydes are “artists by nature,” per a Reddit post, capable of emotional manipulation, as seen in Tyler’s taunting of Wednesday. Their dependence on a master, however, makes them vulnerable to exploitation, as Laurel’s abuse of Tyler shows. Season 2’s LOIS program suggests Hydes were targeted for their power, with Francoise’s fate potentially tied to experiments that could explain Tyler’s volatility.
Tyler’s Role in Season 2, Part 2
Part 2, released today, positions Tyler as a central threat. Trailers show him in human form, weary in a drain tunnel, and as the Hyde, poised to attack Enid, fulfilling his Part 1 threat. His escape from Willow Hill, facilitated by Wednesday’s actions, fuels his vendetta against Nevermore, which he blames for his mother’s fate. The potential return of Francoise, possibly as the freed woman, could pivot his arc toward redemption or deeper villainy. A teaser clip hints at a confrontation with Wednesday, where he says, “You made me this,” suggesting he holds her responsible for his plight.
Fan theories speculate Francoise could be a stabilizing force, given Tyler’s close bond with her, or a dangerous wildcard if her years at Willow Hill have unhinged her. The LOIS conspiracy, linked to Judi’s crow attacks, may reveal Francoise as a victim or perpetrator, with Wednesday’s visions—guided by the spectral Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie)—uncovering the truth. Lady Gaga’s cameo, with her cryptic “Beware, there will be a price to pay” voiceover, might connect to the Hyde legacy, perhaps as a figure tied to Francoise’s past at Nevermore.
Themes and Aesthetic: Tragedy and Gothic Horror
Tyler’s story embodies themes of trauma, manipulation, and identity. His transformation reflects a loss of agency, with Laurel’s grooming exploiting his neglected upbringing. Doohan, in a Pop Culturalist interview, related to Tyler’s pain, noting, “I lost my dad five years ago. I understood the pain to bring to that underbelly.” The Hyde’s duality mirrors Wednesday’s own struggle with darkness, as co-showrunner Alfred Gough told Tudum: “She’s attracted to the serial-killing monster.” Burton’s gothic aesthetic—shadowy woods, eerie labs, and the DĂa de los Muertos gala—amplifies the tragedy, with practical effects enhancing the Hyde’s menace.
Critical and Fan Response
Season 1’s Hyde reveal shocked fans, with Reddit posts like u/Borahae_Muffin’s analysis praising Doohan’s “amazing” acting. Part 1 of Season 2 earned a 6/10 from IGN, lauding Ortega but critiquing “messy” plots. X posts, like @astridsinclair_’s, debate Tyler’s redemption, while a 188-vote Reddit thread on r/WednesdayTVSeries theorizes Francoise’s return. Gaga’s voiceover drew 11,000 likes, tying her to the Hyde mystery.
Conclusion: A Monster’s Untold Truth
Wednesday Season 2, Part 2, released today, unravels Tyler Galpin’s untold story, from his tragic origins to the Hyde’s chilling anatomy. Francoise’s potential return and the LOIS conspiracy deepen his arc, blending horror with heartbreak. As Wednesday confronts this monster she helped unleash, the Addams legacy evolves. Stream now on Netflix to discover the truth behind the Hyde—it’s a tale that haunts.
