Mae Martin and Toni Collette's characters looking at each other in Wayward
Wayward, the unsettling new Netflix thriller, is dividing audiences and critics. Consisting of eight episodes, with comedian Mae Martin as the star and creator, Wayward is now available to stream on Netflix.
The series begins by focusing on two teenage friends who finds themselves in a correctional facility in a small town, though it is quickly apparent that things are not what they seem. With a Wayward cast that includes Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sydney Topliffe, Sarah Gadon, and Toni Collette, the thriller ends on a complete note but leaves just enough room for further exploration in a potential second season. It has been dominating Netflix's streaming charts since its debut on September 25, though the response from audiences and critics has been mixed. Wayward currently sits at 74% on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 34 reviews, with nine of those reviews leaning negative. The audience score is flipped and comes in 47%, or 2.8 out of 5, with more than 100 ratings so far. What This Means For Wayward It should be said that Wayward features Alex Dempsey, who is a trans character. On social media, a portion of the audience has loudly commented that they will not be watching the series in protest against Alex, one of the main protagonists. That cannot be completely discounted when discussing some of the negative audience responses to the new thriller. But, without getting too deep into spoiler territory, saving the story for those who haven't seen it, Alex's identity doesn't make him a hero. Played by Martin, Alex wants to be seen as a good police officer. But by the ending of Wayward, it doesn't seem clear whether he deserves to be seen in that light. The characterization is interesting across the board, and the performances are great. What may bog down the thriller, even in some positive reviews of Wayward, is familiar issues related to streaming drama, such as pacing and a narrative that may not require as many episodes as it receives. But the thriller does start on an undeniably compelling note, with nostalgia to boot. Our Take On Wayward's Reception Set in the early 2000s, Wayward may drag a bit in the middle. That may account for some of the split response. But it starts off with such urgency and clear persuasion that it is at least worth trying out. Judging by the show's early performance, climbing the Top 10 with ease, it does seem like plenty of viewers are pulled in by Collette as a weird villain and pleasantly surprised by what they find. 5.7/10 7/10 Wayward 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like Follow Followed TV-MA Mystery Drama Thriller Release Date 2025 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Cast See All
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