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Season 1 – Wayward

Play trailer 2:00 Poster for Season 1 – Wayward Sep 2025 Drama Mystery & Thriller Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
78% Tomatometer 54 Reviews 46% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
Nothing is what it seems in Tall Pines. After an escape attempt from an academy for “troubled teens", two students join forces with a newly local police officer, unearthing the town's dark and deeply rooted secrets.
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Wayward — Season 1

Wayward — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

An eerie mystery that eschews easy answers, Wayward can occasionally feel as listless as its title, but surprising twists and Toni Collette's committed performance keep this thriller intriguing.

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Critics Reviews

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Em Win Autostraddle Oct 28
An evocative, eerie reflection of the present. Go to Full Review
Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) Oct 1
Toni Collette has always been such a magnetic performer across every genre, but she’s always at her best when a role calls on her to be a little bit spiky and arch. It’s a mix of impeccable timing, instincts and oodles of charisma. Go to Full Review
Linda Holmes Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR Podcast) Sep 30
It's so perfect because it's so creepy, and yet, it's so dorky. Go to Full Review
Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post Oct 21
It plays like a combination of The Handmaid’s Tale and Schitt’s Creek, but as strange as that might sound, it works. Toni Collette is both charismatic and creepy as the head of the school. Go to Full Review
Álvaro Onieva Fotogramas Oct 6
3/5
This psychological thriller alone is worth watching (and the rest of the cast delivers as well), but the story's development is engaging enough to hold your attention the whole way through. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Bethan Ackerley New Scientist Oct 6
There are so many interesting ideas in Wayward, but it is often more stimulating to think about the show than watch it. Sadly, after some stellar first episodes, it falls apart, ending mundanely. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Charlie E @Charliecho Jul 17 Absolutely fantastic. Acting, concept, cinematography, humour, suspense, characters. This thoroughly impressed & surprised me. I really don’t know why it’s not scoring higher with audiences. I thought it was outstanding. Thought provoking gripping & VERY enjoyable. Time very well invested. See more diogo13 T @Tua_mera Jul 17 Acho que o filme tem um enredo muito interessante, mas a execução é cheia de furos no roteiro. Entendo que alguns filmes são assim mesmo, mas perto do final, eu não sabia o que sentir porque não sabia o que esperar. O elenco é ótimo e a atuação é surreal. Tinha muito potencial para ser impactante, e sinceramente, fico meio triste por isso. See more Al R @InsufferableFrenchcritic Jul 8 Its a interesting show at the start of the few episodes, however, it slowly became dull when they brought up magical powers around the ending episodes which I became disinterested. The actor Mae Martin (they/them) who played Alex Dempsey in the show didnt give a good performance because of how they gives off the vibe of being unsure and confusion most of the time. Making it unfit to play as Alex. See more Josh M @FishingHawk Jun 11 Wayward had all the ingredients for a great psychological thriller, but it never came together. Toni Collette was phenomenal, delivering a chilling, nuanced performance that elevated every scene despite the weak script. Unfortunately, Mae Martin's performance felt flat and unconvincing, lacking the presence needed to carry the series. Knowing Martin also created and co-wrote the show explains a lot—the writing is disjointed, the pacing uneven, and the story never seems to know what it wants to be. Instead of building suspense, it becomes frustratingly unfocused. I finished the series because of Toni Collette. Without her outstanding performance, I probably wouldn't have made it through. See more Lucas G @RT26538177 May 31 Terrible script ruining the characters. Making charcters dumb is the easiest way to form the story as you like :) See more Avindu G @RT86379654 May 2 No fear is greater than the fear of losing. And wayward is the story of those who are doomed for that. It's about the institutional entrapment of the youth. A system that monetizes the suffering and burdens teens carry all the way from their differently broken households. It's a show that achieves its purpose with thorough exploration and clever presentation. Brilliant work in portraying the complex characters by the cast. Cinematography and the great music could be seen as charming bonuses. Way to go !! See more Read all reviews
Wayward — Season 1

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Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Tall Pines After a student escapes, newly arrived local cop Alex Dempsey grows suspicious of the goings on at Tall Pines Academy, a school for troubled teens. Details Episode 2 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Burrow As a terrified Abbie takes stock of her new surroundings, Leila attempts a daring rescue; Alex discovers there's no privacy in a small town. Details Episode 3 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Break Abbie and Leila get a taste of Tall Pines' unconventional approach to rehabilitation; Alex gains new insight into the school's history and Laura's. Details Episode 4 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Mud Laura grows weary of Alex's suspicions; Leila endures a punishment; Rory and Abbie team up to find crucial evidence that could help them escape. Details Episode 5 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Build Alex connects with a blogger who's convinced the school is hiding something; Leila divulges a secret that spirals out of control. Details Episode 6 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Mirror A wilderness excursion grows vicious as the students vie for a chance at freedom; Evelyn forces Leila to revisit the night of her sister's death. Details Episode 7 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Ascend As Evelyn exploits the growing rift between Leila and Abbie, Laura finds an opening to drive a wedge of her own; Alex sees the true face of Tall Pines. Details Episode 8 Aired Sep 25, 2025 Leap Evelyn desperately tries to regain control; Abbie, Leila and Rory set their escape plan in motion; Alex discovers his purpose. Details
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Season Info

Creator
Mae Martin
Executive Producer
Mae Martin, Ben Farrell, Hannah MacKay, Bruno Dubé, Jennifer Kawaja, Euros Lyn
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-MA
Genre
Drama, Mystery & Thriller
Original Language
English
Release Date
Sep 25, 2025