Wednesday, season 1 revealed that Tyler was the Hyde, and thus the villain, all along—but then why did he save Wednesday from Rowan in episode 1? The Netflix series worked hard to keep Tyler from being too suspicious and instead tried to push audiences to suspect Xavier to be the Hyde. However, the ultimate revelation that Wednesday's normie boyfriend was the monster made things like his effort to save her life or drive her to the train station make little sense—or imply that he might not have been all bad. However, this changes when considering the overall Crackstone plot.
Wednesday season 1, episode 1 jumpstarted the excitement by making it clear someone did not want the titular Addams to be at Nevermore Academy. First, Wednesday was nearly killed by a falling gargoyle, but she was saved by Xavier. Then, when Rowan tried to hill her in the woods, the Hyde protected her. The intention with these two events was likely to make Xavier look suspicious—but audiences now know that the Hyde was Tyler. This has led some to question whether this could mean that Tyler cared for Wednesday after all—but that's not the case.
Tyler Saved Wednesday In Season 1 Because Thornhill Needed Her
The fact that the Hyde saved the titular Wednesday character in the series' first episode doesn't fit with his malicious character at the end of season 1. However, when remembering that Tyler isn't the real villain of Wednesday, it becomes a lot clearer. Marilyn Thornhill (really Laurel Gates) had been waiting for her chance to resurrect Joseph Crackstone so that the Pilgrim zombie could smite all the outcasts at Nevermore. As a descendant of Goody Addams, Wednesday was precisely what Thornhill needed. Therefore, she couldn't have had the girl killed sooner than planned.
For this reason, Thornhill likely ordered Tyler to keep an eye on Wednesday so that she would remain safe. This would have been why the secret Hyde gave Nevermore's newest student so much attention in Wednesday. In a way, Rowan had been right. Crackstone would have never been brought back if he had successfully killed Wednesday, and Nevermore wouldn't have been in danger. Thornhill and Tyler couldn't allow this, so the monster played the hero.
Would Tyler Have Really Taken Wednesday To The Train Station?
The reveal that Tyler was the Hyde retrospectively made a good deal of his actions far more ominous. For example, before he transformed into a Hyde and saved Wednesday from Rowan, Tyler was supposed to be giving his new 'friend' a ride to the train station. Of course, if he had done this, Wednesday would have escaped Nevermore as she planned, so she wouldn't have been there for Thornhill to use to resurrect Crackstone. Tyler couldn't let this happen, so it's likely he never planned to follow through to begin with.
Since Rowan's attack caused Wednesday to change her mind about leaving, Tyler never had to follow through on any plan he had to keep her at Nevermore. So, audiences will likely never know how he would have handled it. It's possible he would have abducted her right there and then and that he and Thornhill would have kept her locked up alive until they finished harvesting the body parts they needed for the ritual. Or, it might just be that Thornhill knew Rowan planned to attack Wednesday and took advantage of (or manipulated) the situation to ensure it kept her new favorite student from leaving too soon.
Was Tyler All Bad In Wednesday Season 1?
The fact that the Hyde saved Wednesday's life in Wednesday season 1 made it seem like the monster had a good heart. This made Xavier, the tortured but kind soul, all the more suspicious. Then, when the truth about Tyler was revealed, his past actions made it seem as if he might not have been all bad. This went further than just his protecting Wednesday. The date night he planned for her was so sweet and perfect for her character that it seemed like way too much effort if he didn't care for her. However, Thornhill's monologue during her big villain reveal explained Tyler's motivations as well.
When Wednesday called Thornhill out on her true identity, the pretend teacher admitted that she had only been so kind to Wednesday to make her feel special. The more she connected with her student, the easier it would be to keep her close until she was ready to sacrifice her to bring back Crackstone. Therefore, this intention extended to Tyler. Thornhill had been mostly unsuccessful at fully building Wednesday's trust, but Tyler did the trick. The teenage boy manipulated Wednesday by making himself the perfect boy for her, and it makes Tyler even easier to hate going into Wednesday season 2.