Wayward: Netflix Series Review

"You are lying on your back, calling out to your mother."

From the mind of Canadian comedian, Mae Martin, Wayward is a tantalising thriller which will leave you gripped from the word "go" – or as soon as you hear the dulcet tones of Toni Collette as Evelyn Wade, the headteacher of a very unique – and hugely unregulated –school for troubled teens.

To briefly summarised the plot of Wayward without spoiling too much, we follow three main protagonists: Abby (a teenage girl who's been swept away to the mysterious yet acclaimed 'Tall Pines Academy'), Leila (Abby's best friend who goes after Abby to save her), and Alex (a police officer who's new in town – and has more than one troubling suspicion about the infamous academy, and their creepy headteacher – who seems to have an almost supernatural influence over the whole town, including the justice system). Wayward is a tale of adolescents coming together to fight their demons, and, consequently, adults manipulating them – and then getting the comeuppance they deserve.

The story's pacing is slow initially, but each episode finalises with a nail-biting moment of realisation, or a shocking reveal. The series does well to slowly unravel new information, while ramping up the stakes for both the teenagers and the adults, both of whom offer plenty of on-screen surprises, and leave you questioning their intentions and truths long after the final episode. Writer's are not afraid to kill off characters or throw in a new perspective just when we thought we had them nailed – this is one of those few cases where elements of the plot that are unresolved leave you interpreting characters from different angles, each with their own dark past and secrets set of skills, good or bad.

While Mae Martin's cop character, 'Alex Dempsey' oozes with familiarity in contrast with the rest of the somewhat distant and upside-down town from start to finish, I was much more invested in the teens that were fighting to escape Tall Pines Academy and what they would do accomplish their goals. And while I'm somebody who loathes flashbacks with a passion, the intertwining of past and present as Evelyn Wade hacks into Leila's memories, is both visually intriguing and thought-provoking as you question what is real and what is being planted into the teen's minds. Toni Collette's peformance is especially potent, from the whimsical expressions, to the shark-like smile she wears when she gets her own way. This is a character who has everyone wrapped around her little finger – and it's captivating.

Use of older tech of the earlier 2000s, psychedelic colour schemes in the title sequence, and eery voice overs throughout, fits in perfectly with this twisty story of a warped mental institution, not dissimilar to the 70s vibe taking place in Netflix's Cassandra – which you can find my review of here.

Overall, Wayward pulls you in and doesn't let go, and it's an absolute must watch for this autumn.

10/10 Toads

Masterfully Done