Welcome to Tall Pines
Set in 2003 Vermont, Wayward centers on Tall Pines Academy, a so-called rehabilitation school for “troubled teens” that operates more like a cult than a treatment facility. Run with icy charisma by Evelyn Wade (Collette), the institution promises salvation while subjecting its students to psychological manipulation, bizarre rituals, and even the use of psychedelic toad venom in a process ominously called “the Leap.”
Parallel to the teens’ story, we follow Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin), a trans man and cop who relocates to town with his pregnant wife, Laura, herself a survivor of Tall Pines. Their arrival reopens old wounds, drawing Alex into the academy’s orbit just as the latest generation of students, including runaway Leila and newcomer Abbie, begin to see through Evelyn’s methods.
What Works
Toni Collette is magnetic. As Evelyn Wade, she’s terrifying without ever becoming cartoonish. She doesn’t play the villain as an outright monster; instead, she’s charming, calculating, and disturbingly maternal. Multiple reviewers singled her out as the show’s secret weapon.
The series also deserves credit for tackling heavy, relevant themes. The troubled-teen industry has a dark history, and Wayward shines a spotlight on how vulnerable kids have been exploited under the guise of rehabilitation. Time praised the show for contextualizing this industry without turning it into a preachy lecture.
Finally, the character work between the teens themselves stands out. The friendship between Leila and Abbie carries much of the emotional weight, offering a glimmer of hope inside an otherwise oppressive environment.
Where It Falters
The ambition of Wayward is also its weakness. The show attempts to be part mystery, part thriller, part cult drama, and part social critique, and in doing so, it doesn’t always land the punchline.
There’s also the issue of representation. With Alex Dempsey as the sole trans lead, The A.V. Club cautioned that the narrative sometimes places too much symbolic burden on him. His story is compelling, but it risks being weighed down by the responsibility of representation.
Will There Be a Season 2?
Officially, Wayward was billed as a limited series. However, given its unresolved threads and the buzz it has generated, speculation about a second season is already swirling. Elle magazine reported that Netflix hasn’t confirmed anything yet, but fans are clearly curious whether Evelyn Wade’s shadow still looms over Tall Pines.
Final Thoughts
Wayward isn’t perfect. It’s tonally uneven, its ending falters, and it sometimes struggles under the weight of its own ambition. But it’s also gripping, chilling, and at times brutally honest about the systems that fail vulnerable people.
At its heart, the show isn’t just about cult tactics or teenage rebellion. It’s about power, who holds it, how they keep it, and what happens when the powerless fight back.
If you go in expecting a neat resolution, you’ll likely be disappointed. But if you’re willing to embrace the unease, Wayward offers a haunting, thought-provoking ride, one that lingers long after the final credits.
