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They who hesitate are lost.
 

The Widdershins Family are the known relations to Captain Widdershins; this name is used solely for convenience, as the books confirm that Fernald does not share his stepfather's surname.[1]

Members[]

The family is known to be associated with VFD; all known members seem to be Volunteers, (though Fernald later defected to the fire-starting side) and Fiona appears to have been raised in the organization.

Mrs. Widdershins was killed while Fiona was a child, and Widdershins claims she died from a manatee accident; however, this is suspected by Fiona and stated by Lemony Snicket to be untrue. Fernald left sometime around this; while the circumstances are unclear, it seems to be immediately following the fire at Anwhistle Aquatics, which both Fernald and Widdershins took part in, though only Fernald was blamed. Fiona was then raised by her Stepfather aboard the Queequeg submarine, though he never considered her a part of the crew.

The family was torn apart after Widdershins abandoned Fiona, leaving her to turn to the fire-starting side in order to stay with her brother. However, very quickly, her and Fernald betrayed Count Olaf and stole his submarine,[2] meeting up with their stepfather and Kit Snicket aboard the Queequeg, before the Self-Sustaining Hot Air Mobile Home crashed into them. They were either killed or saved by the Great Unknown.[3]

Speculation[]

  • Caliban Family
    • Mrs. Widdershins is Miranda Caliban, and she retreated to the island, leaving Widdershins to claim she was dead. This would make Fernald and Fiona siblings or half-siblings of Friday Caliban, depending on the identity of Thursday; many theorists believe that Thursday may be Widdershins himself, as Widdershins's first name and Thursday's surname are not revealed.
      Miranda netflix square
    • Both Miranda and Widdershins use the excuse of a "manatee accident" to explain the disappearance of their partner.[1]
    • Fernald, Fiona and Friday have alliterative names, presenting a pattern. Another fact supporting this theory is that most siblings in the series come in groups of three, and even on the rare occasions that only two siblings are known of, the existence of a third sibling is usually hinted at (such as the White-Faced Women). The only known siblings in groups of two (aside from Fiona and Fernald) are from All the Wrong Questions: Pip and Squeak Bellerophon, Kellar and Lizzie Haines, Zada and Zora, and Tatiana and Treacle Cozy.
    • Evidence against this theory could be that Kit Snicket believes Friday's father and Miranda's husband, Thursday, is alive and well, and mentions dining with him the day before meeting the Baudelaires. The day before meeting the Baudelaires, Captain Widdershins was with them on his submarine, and by the time Kit was discussing Thursday, Kit believed the Captain to be either deceased or in mortal peril due to the crash of the Queequeg and arrival of the Great Unknown.[3]

Family Tree[]

 
 
Captain Widdershins
 
 
Mrs. Widdershins
 
 
 
Unknown
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fernald
 
 
 
 
Fiona


Fiona and Fernald's biological father is unknown; all that is said of him is that Fiona is under the impression that he moved away. However, as Widdershins lied to her about her mother's death and brother's location, it is plausible that this is incorrect.

There are some fan theories that Widdershins is Fernald and Fiona's biological father and only claims to be their stepfather; however, there is no evidence of this.

Trivia[]

  • "Widdershins" is a rare word for going counterclockwise, considered unlucky; it literally means "against the direction of the sun."[4]

Appearances[]



Gallery[]

Sources[]

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