Wayward might not feel like a waste of time, but it does feel like a waste of potential.
Wayward is a difficult series to get through. There’s too much frustration that builds up. In addition, a series shrouded in mystery only works if the reveal is worth it. However, there’s too much left unresolved to fully understand what is real. Still, the performances are top-tier in this 8-episode limited series. Wayward might not feel like a waste of time, but it does feel like a waste of potential.
Created by Mae Martin (Feel Good, Baroness Von Sketch Show), who also stars in the series as a transgender man who returns to his pregnant wife’s hometown after a tragedy occurs when he was a Detroit cop. Set in the early aughts, before everyone had access to technology in their back pocket, Wayward is when hippie meets cult. Plus, it highlights the hypocrisy of wanting to help someone become a better person by stripping their autonomy.
Wayward Is a Blend of Odd Films
Within the series, the flower power cult vibe is reminiscent of the hippies in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It’s that with more off-putting smiles, invasion of personal space, and chants. Blended within that is a therapy center for teenagers that gives Disturbing Behavior vibes. There are even moments that give Midsommar, with the women sobbing together. It’s a collection of characters, including two teenage friends, Leile and Abbie, played by Alyvia Alyn Lind (Chucky, The Spiderwick Chronicles) and Sydney Topliffe (Ominous, Doin’ It), respectively. They find themselves in the crosshairs of the creepy center for teenagers.
The Cast Creates a Quirky, Disconcerting World
The oddness and discomfort are largely thanks to Toni Collette (Knives Out, Hereditary), as Leanne, the founder and head of the center, Tall Pines. This is Toni Collette playing the most suspicious, grating character. In fact, between her character and Stacy, played by Isolde Ardies (Murdoch Mysteries, Ruby and the Well), I’m not sure who I want to throttle more. At least Stacy has the excuse that she is a kid. They are both phenomenal.
Mae Martin also does well as Alex. They exhibit discomfort with suburban, tight-knit communities. Meanwhile, partner Laura, played by Sarah Gadon (Dracula Untold, Ferrari), feels unclear. Her seesawing feels like there wasn’t enough clarity regarding her character’s trajectory or motivations. The performances are not the issue overall, but the incompleteness can impact it. Which leads to the issue Wayward has: an unclear plot.
Too Many Gaping Holes
As it’s a limited series, there should be resolution for many of the series’ questions by the end. Unfortunately, far too much is left open. And, rather than feeling intentional, it feels like the series didn’t know what to do with those parts. So they shrugged and moved on. Too much, from characters to deaths, goes unresolved. Wayward decides to leave viewers as confused as their characters.
Wayward leans into quirky psychological thrills, but becomes a mixed bag due to how much goes unanswered. Toni Collette is phenomenal, and the rest of the cast captures devoted, obsessive, drunk-on-the-kool-aid stares. But this does not feel like horror. Plus, the overall enigma remains. So, although Wayward is an engaging show, by the end, it feels less rewarding for sticking with it.
