Rotten Tomatoes
Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

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.
Watch on Netflix Stream Now

Where to Watch

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.

Read Critics Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
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
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
Álvaro Onieva Fotogramas Oct 6, 2025
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, 2025
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
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Briana I @Anaire 14 hrs ago 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 jacob G @acesteel Aug 24, 2026 A wasted opportunity, the basic story is solid, the performance of the actors is good (with the exception of Mae Martin whose performance is flat). Where it falls very short indeed is it's direction and the unevenness of the story telling. Most of the character consistently make irrational and illogical decisions. I find myself not caring about the characters or their backstory. Too bad it could have been good. See more Charlie E @Charliecho Jul 17, 2026 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, 2026 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 Read all reviews
Wayward — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

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
A Murder at the End of the World 89% 87% A Murder at the End of the World Watchlist TRAILER for A Murder at the End of the World Sugar 89% 86% Sugar Watchlist TRAILER for Sugar Perpetual Grace LTD 88% 87% Perpetual Grace LTD Watchlist TRAILER for Perpetual Grace LTD The Testaments 88% 83% The Testaments Watchlist TRAILER for The Testaments The Queen's Gambit 96% 94% The Queen's Gambit Watchlist TRAILER for The Queen's Gambit Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

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
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings