Toni Collette delivers a mesmerising performance as Evelyn Wade, the terrifying leader of an academy for troubled teenagers in Netflix's new mystery thriller, Wayward. Created by Mae Martin, the eight-part series explores the dark underbelly of America's troubled teen industry, where privately run institutions promise rehabilitation but often resort to abuse.
Set in 2003, the story follows Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin), a trans man and cop, who moves with his pregnant wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) to the bucolic town of Tall Pines, Vermont, for a fresh start after a traumatic shooting. The town is home to the Tall Pines Academy, run by the deeply sinister Evelyn Wade. When Alex investigates a runaway from the academy, he uncovers disturbing secrets, including Laura's past as a former pupil and Evelyn's unwholesome influence over her.
A parallel plotline follows two teenage best friends from Toronto: Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and Abbie (Sydney Topliffe). Abbie is forcibly taken to the academy by her strict parents, and Leila's rescue attempt lands her there too. The academy is rife with cultish rituals, psychological abuse, and hints of sexual abuse, all under Evelyn's malevolent control.
Wayward is stylish and hugely watchable, offering a satisfying dose of comeuppance for horrible adults. However, it tries to juggle too many themes—interrogating the troubled teen industry, parental complicity, and modern youth struggles—without fully succeeding in any. Collette's performance holds the show together, making it compelling despite its flaws.
