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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
79% Tomatometer 56 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, 2025
An evocative, eerie reflection of the present. Go to Full Review
Wenlei Ma The Nightly (AU) Oct 1, 2025
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, 2025
It's so perfect because it's so creepy, and yet, it's so dorky. Go to Full Review
Michel Ghanem The Cut Oct 5, 2026
6/10
Wayward is as much a fun thriller as it is a gentle reminder of how much of our societal ideals are predicated on suppression and pathologization, and how much of our teen selves get splintered away when we emerge from that tender time into adulthood. Go to Full Review
Chelsea Hui Mamamia Sep 30, 2026
Wayward is the kind of series that will definitely have you thinking long after it's over. It's complex, unsettling, and absolutely worth your time. Go to Full Review
Hannah Brown Jerusalem Post Oct 21, 2025
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
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Audience Reviews

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Jay J @RT35155172 Sep 28, 2026 The ending was disappointing over all its good See more wonderment100 T @Wonderment Sep 20, 2026 Overall, it was okay. It began well and was decent throughout, but the ending was disappointing. That part really brought it down, feeling sad and depressing. The acting and plot felt somewhat cheesy. Still, it was enjoyable enough. See more Giulia R @GiuliaRomano Sep 17, 2026 Weird and a bit unsettling. Toni Colette is always good and Mae Martin is wonderfully quirky. Strange, unpredictable, and just offbeat enough to keep you hooked. See more Briana I @Anaire Sep 15, 2026 My high rating score is only for the kids in this film. All the teens in the show out preformed all of the adults so it kept me engaged. The concept was really interesting and the first 5 episodes kept me guessing but as it went on it because way too disjointed and busy. But overall I enjoyed the series also didn't really like the end, other than the leaper getting leaped(spoiler). But they should have just kept it as Alex leaving with the baby and Abby. But I guess he was really weak like Collete said he was when she tried to leap him. It was kinda funny as well with the cult vibe it just made me think about how weird and crazy white people are because it was definitely their kinda show. Interesting but not all they way successful with the full execution. See more Gregorio T @RT87562179 Aug 30, 2026 I appreciate what They have accomplished by getting this made. Toni Collette shows how brilliant she is by making her scenes watchable with such little to work with. They created an interesting world, but it appears no person had the courage to let Them know They do not have the acting ability to carry what They created. See more Tammy H @Tammyhill Aug 25, 2026 I was nearly put off by the reviews but I really enjoyed this show. I like the fact that it shines a light on the Troubled Teen industry and also the exploration of cults and what compels people to stay in them. I've watched some documentaries about the Troubled Teen industry and in some ways Tall Pines seems not that bad compared to some of them! I think the low reviews are partly due to people thinking it was 'woke' because of having a trans character/ actor but that wasn't made a big thing in the storyline. I thought the acting was great, See more Read all reviews
Wayward — Season 1

My Rating

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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
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