Wayward (2025)

Toni Collette in *Wayward*. Credit: Netflix

Wayward is a series about a mysterious secluded academy for troubled teens ruled by principal Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette). The school appears to have an excellent track record habilitating wayward youths, but dark secrets abound inside its hallowed halls.

The series is set in Vermont in 2003. We’re far enough from the first decade of the 21st century that 2000s period pieces are starting to become common. Personally, I don’t have much nostalgia for this decade, but it’s interesting to look back on an era that was right before the dawn of social media.

Alex Dempsey, played by Mae Martin (who also created and produced the series) is a transgender man who works as a police officer. He and his pregnant wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) move to the small town of Tall Pines, where Laura grew up.

A desperate student runs away from the nearby Tall Pines Academy and breaks into Alex’s house, triggering a confrontation that climaxes with Alex fatally shooting the teen. Alex, aided by covert communications with two girls who are current students at the school, begins a harrowing investigation into the tragic truth behind Tall Pines Academy.

Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) is enrolled at Tall Pines by her parents. Her best friend, Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind) makes a bumbling attempt to break into the school and rescue her, only to end up as a student there herself.

Leila has a history of troublemaking and is struggling to grapple with the death of her older sister, Jess (Devin Cecchetto). The details of her sister’s demise are left ambiguous until a series of episode 6 flashbacks that conclude with the series’ most shocking and haunting scene.

Mae Martin and Sarah Gadon in *Wayward*. Credit: Netflix

The main strength of Wayward is the performances. Toni Collette seems to be savoring a rare villainous role. Her character is always a step ahead of everyone else. She’s a master manipulator who knows how to get into your head and stay there.

Alyvia Alyn Lind is a standout as Leila. The self-proclaimed “bisexual slut” is the series’ most charismatic character. She makes countless mistakes that land her and her friends in hot water, but her intentions are usually good. Leila is a great example of a common saying: the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

At one point, she leads a rebellion of sorts against the faculty, despite have only been enrolled at the school a short time. Normally it would seem odd that the students would follow the new girl’s lead, but Lind has enough offbeat charisma to make this believable. She even reminded me a bit of the protagonist in the novel and movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest.

Sydney Topliffe is also good as Leila’s straightlaced, even keeled best friend. Abbie has strict parents and an annoyingly successful sister. She feels like the outcast of her family and harbors feelings of resentment toward Leila for often getting her in trouble.

Martin is likeable as Alex, but their performance is a bit stiff. Alex only has like two facial expressions! He is a unique character, though, and his quest to find the truth is intriguing.

Wayward falters toward the end. The final episode mostly sets up a hoped for second season rather than resolving most of the major storylines. Also, the series could have used a more imaginative explanation for the school. I was hoping for something more eerie or supernatural.

I also didn’t like where Leila ends up at the end. She makes a choice that isn’t particularly believable. Martin better hope that their series gets renewed because, if not, this will be one hell of an unsatisfying conclusion.