Netflix’s 8-Part Thriller Series Is One Of The Weirdest Shows You'll Ever Watch
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Published Apr 4, 2026, 10:18 PM EDT
Memory Ngulube joined Screen Rant in April 2024 as part of the Movies and TV team. Since then, she has written for the Perennials and Streaming team, covering a wide range of topics from new releases to old movies and TV shows. Memory is currently a Classic TV writer.
Before joining Screen Rant, Memory was a freelance copywriter who specialized in email marketing and social media management. While she enjoyed her job, her true passion was always movies and TV.
When she isn’t writing for Screen Rant, Memory can be found reading, baking (which is one of her passions), or watching her favorite K-drama.
Netflix's 8-part thriller starring Mae Martin cemented its place as one of the strangest TV shows on the streaming platform. For years, Netflix’s thriller offerings have often pushed the boundaries and immersed audiences in bizarre and thought-provoking themes. Even with the streamer’s reputation for investing in unconventional stories, Wayward defies everything that viewers have come to expect from the genre.
Wayward Is One Of Netflix’s Most Unsettling Thrillers
Set in an idyllic small town called Tall Pines, Wayward’s opening scenes construct a sense of unease that is apparent in every moment of the show. The Netflix thriller follows Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin) and a group of people who have graduated from or are currently attending Tall Pines Academy, a school for troubled teenagers.
At first glance, Tall Pines seems like a picture-perfect town with loving neighbors, but Alex soon discovers that there is something dark lurking under the flawless facade. Wayward thrives on its ambiguity. The show heavily leans on psychological discomfort as opposed to giving clear answers from the get-go.
Wayward excels in leaving viewers questioning whether what they are experiencing is real or not (...)
As the show progresses, it’s revealed that Tall Pines is actually a cult that is home to individuals who graduated from the town’s academy. The cult’s leader, Evelyn (Toni Collette), forbade the residents from having children so that she could continue controlling them. Wayward excels in leaving viewers questioning whether what they are experiencing is real or not, and that comes from how the show distorts its protagonists' version of the truth.
From its gruesome murders to the unconventional therapy methods featured in the show, there are many moments in Wayward that are quite unsettling. However, what truly remains with audiences isn’t just the weird moments: it's that at the end of Wayward, Alex stays in a town that is essentially a cult, and Leila decides to continue attending Tall Pines Academy despite how toxic the school is.
Why Wayward Is One of Netflix’s Best Limited Series
Courtesy of Netflix
Netflix is home to some of the best limited series, which span across different genres. Wayward, although not the most famous miniseries on the streaming platform, has shown that it's one of Netflix’s best. The show’s 8-episode structure allowed it to create a focused story that did not feature meandering storylines.
In its short runtime, Wayward delivers complex characters who are each given a chance to grow. Alex starts out as a fairly innocent character who is eager to leave the disturbing town, but ends up staying because of the community. Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who at first seemed inseparable, part ways and embark on different journeys. Even the supporting characters who don’t have a lot of screen time are given enough space to be core parts of the show.
What Critics Thought About Wayward
Like many TV shows, Wayward has its strengths and weaknesses. The show isn’t exactly perfect from start to finish, which critics and audiences pointed out. Wayward received mixed reviews from critics, with an 78% Rotten Tomatoes score. Viewers, on the other hand, were harsher, as the show’s 46% rating indicates.
Toni Collette revealed that she is willing to reprise her role as Evelyn in Wayward and has even discussed storylines for a potential season 2.
While the show’s shortcomings cannot be ignored, critics were fairly generous when it came to their reviews of Wayward. For instance, The Guardian’s Lucy Mangan called Wayward “Stylish and hugely watchable,” while Roger Ebert’s Cristina Escobar praised the thriller for having a strong cast. The Netflix show isn’t without its issues. Most critics were not happy about Wayward's lack of identity, nor about how it sometimes tried to do too much.
Courtesy of Netflix
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