Wayward Review: Toni Collette’s Chilling Netflix Thriller [Verdict]

Great buildup for Season 2, so many questions unanswered—one cult ends, another begins, and countless dark secrets are yet to unfold. That’s exactly the feeling viewers are left with after watching Wayward. In this Netflix Wayward Review, we’ll dive into what made this limited series intriguing, frustrating, and at times even disturbing, while also looking at why fans are eagerly waiting for what might come next.

The Setting: A Town with a Dark Secret

The story kicks off after a failed escape attempt from the Tall Pines Academy, a residential facility for teens with “perceived issues.” The narrative unfolds through two main perspectives. The first is from inside the academy’s walls, where we follow the students. The place is less a school and more a grim asylum, a regimented and cruel environment that feels like a mix of the Stanford Prison Experiment and A Clockwork Orange. The psychological torment the kids endure is tough to watch, deliberately making them the characters we root for, no matter how rebellious they become.

The second perspective comes from Alex, a police officer new to Tall Pines, played by series creator Mae Martin. Alex moves to town with their wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), and immediately senses something is off. The town itself is a character—tight-knit, overly friendly, but with a suspicious, underlying unease that permeates everything. It’s reminiscent of cult classics like Midsommar or The Lottery, where the idyllic surface hides a rotten core. You keep waiting for the moment when the friendly smiles drop and the real horror begins.

The Characters: A Wonderfully Creepy Villain and a Flawed Hero

This Netflix Wayward would be nothing without talking about Toni Collette’s performance. As the head of the Academy, she is wonderfully creepy. She plays a granola, smarmy character who lays on the caring act so thick it’s strange anyone buys it. She’s no nurturing mother figure; she’s an opportunistic, deranged, and manipulative woman who wields her power forcibly. She is the undeniable villain, yet Collette somehow injects a sliver of sympathy into the role, creating a confusing but fascinating emotional response. Think Professor Umbridge, but without the pink cardigans and with less hands-on abuse.

On the other side is Mae Martin’s Alex. Alex isn’t a perfect saint; they have a spotty work record, which creates a vulnerability that could be exploited. They are a caring and devoted character, constantly trying to help, even when that help isn’t appreciated. I have to mention—and this is a personal observation that stuck with me throughout the series—Mae Martin bears a striking resemblance to Topher Grace! It was almost distracting, but it adds a unique flavor to the character.

The dynamic between Alex and Laura is complicated and strained, especially as Laura reconnects with old friends, making Alex feel like an outsider. However, the show sometimes shies away from creating too much conflict in their relationship, which could have better highlighted the town’s strangeness.

One odd detail that stood out to many viewers—including me—was Martin’s casting as a police officer. At times, Alex looks too young to convincingly pull off the role, and the visible age difference between Alex and Laura makes the dynamic feel slightly awkward. Still, Martin brings enough vulnerability to balance it out.

Toni Collette Steals the Spotlight

One of the biggest highlights of this Wayward Review has to be Toni Collette. She’s magnetic on screen. Her performance as the headmistress is manipulative, overbearing, and chilling to watch. Yet somehow, she sprinkles in just enough humanity to keep the audience conflicted. We hate her, but sometimes, against our better judgment, we almost understand her. That’s the mark of a great actor.

Where the Show Stumbles

Despite the strong cast and tense setup, Wayward struggles with consistency. It builds tension brilliantly but rarely follows through with satisfying payoffs.

• Surface-Level Social Critique: The show clearly wants to highlight the dangers of reform academies, but it never digs deep enough. Instead of powerful commentary, we get hints of critique that fade into the background.
• Safe Storytelling: While the first episodes promise a raw, disturbing thriller, the narrative plays it safe, leaning toward YA-thriller territory rather than fully embracing its dark themes.
• Unfulfilling Ending: The finale builds suspense and risk-taking but leaves viewers hanging. Not much is truly resolved, which can feel like a letdown after hours of emotional investment.

It’s not that the show is bad—it’s more that it stops just short of greatness.

Is Wayward Worth Watching?

If you’re a fan of psychological thrillers, cult dramas, or socially charged stories, Wayward is worth your time. It creates enough suspense to keep you hooked, even if the final punch isn’t as strong as it could be.

Think of it this way: if Shawshank Redemption and Prison Break had a YA spin-off sprinkled with the eerie vibes of Midsommar, you’d get something close to Wayward. It’s dark, frustrating, and flawed, but also strangely addictive.

The Verdict: A Promising Buildup with an Unsatisfying Payoff

So, what’s the final verdict in this Netflix Wayward series? The series creates a genuinely menacing and distressing atmosphere. It does an adequate job as a social critique, showcasing the real dangers and harm these types of academies inflict. It’s rewarding to see some baddies face consequences, and the acting is solid across the board.

However, Wayward ultimately feels like it pulls its punches. Despite the high stakes, scheming, and treachery, the ending is mostly unsatisfying. After all the buildup, not much is actually accomplished. The show promises a dark thriller but lands more on the side of a YA-themed drama. It minimizes character complications and eliminates significant consequences, choosing a safe and tame execution over the dark tone it began with.

The darkness the show promises only ever gets dim, allowing an overly optimistic view of human nature to dominate through convenient storytelling. I wanted it to commit to its grim premise fully.

The Final Season Rating and Hope for the Future

Overall, I rate this season 3.5 out of 5 stars.

It’s a solid watch that successfully builds a creepy world and features a standout, chilling performance from Toni Collette. While it doesn’t fully explore the depth of its themes, it lays a fascinating groundwork. And this is where the real excitement begins. The ending makes it clear this is just the beginning. One cult may have ended, but another seems to be starting. So many dark secrets are yet to unfold, and so many questions are left unanswered.

The buildup for a potential Season 2 is palpable. I sincerely hope a second season doesn’t disappoint like many web series sequels do. There’s a rich foundation here for a deeper, more consequential story that isn’t afraid to dive headfirst into the darkness. If you’re looking for a show that starts a compelling story, Wayward is worth your time. Just be prepared for a journey that feels more like a first chapter than a complete tale.

Have you watched WAYWARD on Netflix? What are some dark dramas or thrillers you’re watching right now? Share your recommendations in the comments below!