Editorial revision 11/06 – The original review used incorrect pronouns for one of the show’s main characters, which has been promptly corrected.
Netflix’s latest psychological thriller, “Wayward,” was released last month just in time for spooky season. The series, set in the eerie, fictional town of Tall Pines, stars Toni Collette, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sydney Topliffe and Mae Martin.
Leila and Abbie, respectively played by Lind and Topliffe, are best friends who get into trouble and end up in Tall Pines Academy, a “troubled teen institute.” The academy is run by a dominating yet comforting leader, Evelyn Wade. The lead youth counselor seems to have a strange hold over the town until police officer Alex Dempsey moves to Tall Pines with his partner, and starts digging into the institution’s secrets. As Leila and Abbie try to escape, they find themselves getting pulled further into the academy’s danger.
Collette’s performance as Evelyn is standout throughout the show. Though Collette appears less frequently in the first few episodes, when she’s on the screen, her acting is great. She brings depth to the character, making her scenes more compelling. The show’s overall acting is strong, if occasionally over the top, but still fitting for this type of drama. Cinematography is impressive, and there are several visually compelling moments throughout the series, which I can appreciate.
Unfortunately, most of “Wayward” ultimately falls flat. The lighting is very dark and grungy, making many scenes feel like they’re dragging along. The plot is predictable and frustrating. There are too many subplots and flashbacks that make it hard to follow. The story shifts between multiple points of view, and the large cast makes it difficult to stay invested. Some characters vanish without explanation, leaving plotlines dangling without a resolution.
Though the series is set in the early 2000s, it never clearly establishes its time period, which is immensely confusing. The premise of the show, centered around a mysterious institution and cult-like control, feels stale and overdone. This is just another institution/cult story, and it doesn’t add anything new to the narrative, making it flat-out boring. It’s confusing, yet dull — almost an accomplishment in itself.
The most disappointing part of “Wayward” is its ending. The show feels incomplete; we don’t get a genuine ending to a single character’s story. We’re left to assume what happened to everyone, and it feels like lazy writing. The open-ended conclusion was most likely designed purposefully to leave room for another season, something the writer has said is a possibility, but it doesn’t make the show more intriguing. Some viewers want another season, but that’s only because it doesn’t wrap up nicely like a miniseries is supposed to.
Overall, this show is not worth the watch. It’s predictable, confusing, boring and the ending is horrible. It feels like a show that could’ve been something really cool, but simply failed. There are many shows, movies and documentaries about institutions and cults that are better than this. If you have Netflix, there are several documentaries that could be watched instead. If you don’t have Netflix, “Wayward” is certainly not worth the subscription.
