Netflix’s new drama Wayward is both unsettling and compelling, and presiding over its creepy universe is Toni Collette with a performance that is absolutely magnificent.
The eight-part drama about a mystery involves the dark subject matter of America’s multibillion-dollar “troubled teen industry,” and the awful underbelly of institutions purporting to rehabilitate so-called wayward teenagers but actually living off control, coercion, and cruelty.
The embattled teen industry, for those new here, consists of private “therapeutic” camps throughout the United States, usually entered through “teen escort services.” These escorts pull kids out of their homes in the middle of the night, against the teens’ will but with permission from their parents, and bring them to secluded centers where they are subjected to rigorous, frequently abusive regimens. It is this unsettling tradition that forms the basis for Wayward, a show that takes a lean into psychological suspense as well as emotional melodrama.
Developed by comedian and showrunner Mae Martin, known for the highly praised Feel Good, Wayward takes place in 2003. The time period avoids the workarounds of contemporary technology as well as serves to give the narrative a hauntingly nostalgic tinge. Martin, who is non-binary and uses the they/them pronouns, plays the character of Alex Dempsey, a trans police officer who moves with his expecting wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) to her hometown of Tall Pines, Vermont. The relocation is supposed to be a clean slate for Alex following a shooting incident that ruined his career, but, you guessed it, life in this quaint town is far from serene.
Tall Pines houses the academy at the center of the series, directed by the mysterious and deeply unnerving Evelyn Wade. Toni Collette takes over the role with horribly restrained terror, combining chilling understatement with the occasional blast of theatrical menace. She’s so dominantly present that she makes the whole series as strong as it is, even when the script falters every now and then. Evelyn’s grip on the community, as well as her former students now working as staff, indicates an influence that is on the edge of cult-like devotion.
As Alex gets pulled into the case of an academy runaway, his suspicions continue to grow. Not only does he discover sinister truths regarding the school, but he also learns that his wife Laura attended the institution and still bears the psychological wounds of Evelyn’s dominance. This adds another layer of tension, intertwining historical background with immediate danger.
Parallel to Alex’s inquiry is the narrative of two Toronto teenagers: Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), a troubled, drug-testing teenager, and her protective best friend Abbie (Sydney Topliffe). Abbie’s parents, worried about her being friends with Leila, send her to the academy in the pretext of discipline. When Leila tries to save her, she too gets put away in the institution’s confines. Together, they get to see for themselves the academy’s abusive practices, from coerced rituals and manipulative group therapy sessions to blatant psychological and physical abuse. The suggestions of sexual exploitation that creep in throughout make the atmosphere even more repellent.
At times, Wayward is stylish, atmospheric, and unputdownable, but it doesn’t always manage to achieve its numerous ambitions. The show tries to address the exploitation behind the dysfunctional teen industry, the complicated relationship between children and parents, and the emotional landmines of adolescence. It also attempts to present a good mystery, keep a keen comic undertone, and pay tribute to the offbeat surrealism of programs like Twin Peaks. The end result is a series that feels stretched thin at times. But through Martin’s warmth, humor, and firm creative sense, Wayward never loses its soul.
What raises the series above its formal flaws is its capacity to involve the viewer at an emotional level. Toni Collette’s performance, joined by Mae Martin’s witty writing and presence, helps the drama resonate. As it is not perfect in every sense, its combination of suspense, dark humor, and emotional candor makes it a standout entry into Netflix’s expanding repertoire of original thrillers.
Ultimately, Wayward leaves audiences both disturbed and reflective, questioning the mechanisms that exploit vulnerability yet remaining addicted to the drama of its people. It is perhaps not perfect, but with the powerhouse performance of Collette and Martin’s distinctive narrative voice, it’s a show to watch.
Wayward is available to stream on Netflix now.
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