Wayward Review: In 2024, Netflix gave us The Program: Cons, Cults, and Kidnapping, a docuseries that peeled back the curtain on the horrifying “academies” where kids were sent under the guise of reform. Now, with WAYWARD, we get a fictionalized version of that same nightmare, one wrapped in mystery, small-town cult energy, and Toni Collette’s unnerving presence.
And let me tell you, this show is equal parts disturbing and frustrating.
My Rating: 2.5/5
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Wayward |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller, Mystery |
| Creator | Mae Martin |
| Cast | Mae Martin, Toni Collette, Sarah Gadon, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sydney Topliffe, Brandon Jay McLaren, Tattiawna Jones, Isolde Ardies, Joshua Close |
| Episodes | 8 (approximately 40–50 minutes each) |
| Language | English |
| Network | Netflix |
| Premiere Date | September 25, 2025 |
The Premise of WAYWARD
The story kicks off in Tall Pines, a picturesque town with a dark secret. The Tall Pines Academy claims to “help troubled kids,” but inside its walls, it’s less of a school and more of a prison camp. When two teens try to escape, they cross paths with a new police officer, Alex (Mae Martin), and together they start to unravel the academy’s ugly truths.
Oh, and Toni Collette? She’s the head of this so-called academy. And she makes every scene feel like you’re stuck in a room with a smiling snake.
The Small Town of Tall Pines
Tall Pines itself deserves its own character credit. On the surface, it’s friendly, polite, and community-driven. But scratch just a little deeper, and you get the unsettling vibes of The Lottery or Midsommar. Everyone is just a little too nice, a little too welcoming, and it makes your skin crawl.
It’s that classic “Stepford smile” horror: you don’t know whether to wave back… or run.
The Dual Perspectives
The series cleverly splits its narrative between two worlds:
- Inside Tall Pines Academy – where the teens live in constant fear and routine.
- Outside, with Alex, the cop – who sees the town through fresh eyes and begins to sense that something’s horribly wrong.
This structure works, but it also dilutes the impact. At times, I wished we had stayed longer in the academy, where the real terror was brewing.
Inside Tall Pines Academy
If you’ve ever read about the Stanford Prison Experiment, you’ll feel déjà vu watching these kids. They’re isolated, manipulated, and pushed to their breaking points. The place pretends to “fix” behavior, but it’s basically A Clockwork Orange with extra counseling sessions.
Some scenes are genuinely tough to watch, and that’s the point; it’s meant to make you root for these kids, no matter how rebellious they seem.
The Kids’ Struggle
The show wastes no time making you empathize with the teens. Their escape attempt fuels the main tension, but what really hits is the cruelty of their everyday lives inside. You find yourself cheering for them even when their plans seem doomed.
This is where WAYWARD shines: it knows how to get you emotionally invested in the underdogs.
Toni Collette as the Villain
Toni Collette is terrifying here. She plays the headmistress with this faux-spiritual, “I’m only here to help” granola energy that feels sinister the longer you watch her. She’s smarmy, opportunistic, and manipulative, like Dolores Umbridge, but without the pink cardigans.
What’s wild is that Collette even manages to wring out moments of sympathy, which makes you hate yourself a little for almost buying into her charm.
Mae Martin as Alex
Mae Martin’s Alex is not the squeaky-clean hero you might expect. They’ve got a checkered past in policing, which makes them vulnerable if the wrong people find out. But Alex is also compassionate, driven, and deeply uncomfortable with what’s going on in Tall Pines.
Their relationship with Laura (Sarah Gadon) adds another layer, strained but believable. It’s not melodrama, but it gives you a sense of how much being an outsider in this town can wear someone down.
Also, a side note: once I noticed Mae Martin looks a lot like Topher Grace, I couldn’t unsee it. Now you can’t either. You’re welcome.
The Uneasy Town Dynamics
What makes Tall Pines scary isn’t jump scares or gore, it’s the people. Everyone seems too eager to smile, too eager to help. And yet, that help comes with invisible strings.
It’s the perfect backdrop for a story about cultish secrecy, because the town itself feels complicit in everything happening at the academy.
Tone and Atmosphere
The show flirts with being a dark adult drama, but it leans heavily toward YA thriller territory. Think Spiderhead meets Prison Break, but without the same stakes or payoff.
There’s melancholy and unease throughout, but by the end, the show feels like it pulled its punches.
Strengths of the Show
- Performances: Toni Collette steals the show. Mae Martin holds their own.
- Atmosphere: The town and academy setting drip with unease.
- Themes: It does manage to shine a light on the abuse of “troubled teen” facilities.
Also Read: Chainsaw Man – The Movie: Reze Arc Just Redefined Anime Cinema Forever
Weaknesses of the Show
- Shallow Exploration: It scratches the surface but never digs deep.
- Unsatisfying Ending: Too much buildup, not enough payoff.
- Lack of Consequences: Villains don’t get the justice they deserve.
Good &Bad in WAYWARD
| The Good | The Bad |
|---|---|
| Toni Collette’s chilling performance | Unsatisfying ending |
| Strong atmosphere in Tall Pines | Shallow themes, no deep dive |
| Emotional investment in the kids | Minimal consequences for villains |
| Alex’s flawed but human character | More YA thriller than adult drama |
| Creepy cult-town vibes | Some tension fizzles out too quickly |
My Personal Viewing Experience
Watching WAYWARD was a rollercoaster. I was hooked in the first couple of episodes, unsettled by the town, and absolutely creeped out by Collette’s headmistress. But by the time the credits rolled on the finale, I felt a bit cheated.
There was so much buildup, so much potential for a devastating finale, but instead, it chose the safe route. Still, I couldn’t stop thinking about some of those academy scenes, and that says something.
Final Verdict
WAYWARD had everything going for it: a creepy town, a sinister academy, Toni Collette giving us nightmares. And yet, it never fully commits to its darkness. It ends up being a watered-down mix of cult horror and YA thriller.
I’m giving it 2.5 out of 5 couches. Watch it if you’re curious, but don’t expect it to leave you shaken the way The Program did.
FAQs
1. Is WAYWARD based on a true story?
Not directly, but it draws inspiration from real “troubled teen” academies, much like the ones shown in Netflix’s The Program.
2. How many episodes does WAYWARD have?
It’s a limited series with a single season, designed to be a contained story.
3. Is Toni Collette the main character?
Yes, she plays a central role as the headmistress of Tall Pines Academy, though Mae Martin’s character shares a lot of screen time.
4. Is the show disturbing to watch?
At times, yes. The academy sequences, especially, are psychologically unsettling, though it’s not extreme horror.
5. Who should watch this series?
Fans of cult dramas, small-town thrillers, and Toni Collette’s darker roles will likely find it intriguing, even if it doesn’t fully deliver.