You may have heard people talk about Wayward, a thriller/mystery TV series that’s now hit the No. 1 spot on Netflix with 8.2 million views.
The story follows multiple perspectives — one focuses on Leila and Abbie, two best friends who both end up at an institute for troubled teens called Tall Pines Academy. Another follows a couple, Alex and Laura, who move to Tall Pines to start a new chapter of their life, with a baby on the way. As the show progresses, Alex begins to suspect that something isn’t quite right at Tall Pines Academy…
Mae Martin, who plays Alex Dempsey and is the creator, writer and producer for the series, said most of the inspiration stems from their personal experiences. In an interview with Time Magazine, Martin expressed that their friend Nicole Simon and writer Misha Osherovich were sent to troubled teen institutes, and it was important to do thorough research while being sensitive to people’s different lived experiences.
After binging the show, I’d have to say I found it incredibly compelling. There was a lot of twists and turns, something that I look for in a well-written TV series. Watching the show sparked my curiosity about these troubled teen institutes in real life, which led me to a true documentary series called The Program on Netflix, a 2024 limited series that uncovers the dark truth behind the Academy at Ivy Ridge in Ogdensburg, New York. I’m sure other Netflix users were led to this series after watching Wayward and were surprised to learn more about what really goes on inside these institutions. Although the plot behind Wayward is fictional, it helps spread awareness about survivors of troubled teen schools and the lasting trauma many have had to endure.
Final thoughts
As a fan of thriller and mystery TV shows, Wayward has the following:
- Twist and turns (you’ll be looking for “The Ending Explained” videos after finishing the series…trust me).
- Great acting, especially from Toni Collette, who plays Evelyn Wade (she also played Annie Graham in Hereditary, another great horror film).
- An important message about the truth behind troubled teen institutes.
Out of 10, I’d rate this TV series a solid 8 stars.
