Wayward is the most recent Netflix series that viewers are obsessed with, and there is good reason for that: it’s a wild, creepy ride. It was created by Canadian comedian Mae Martin, and no, it has no connection to 2015’s series Wayward Pines.
Martin says they were inspired by a real-life event to write Wayward. When they were 16, Martin’s best friend was sent to a facility for troubled teens after being handcuffed and dragged out of bed in the middle of the night.
Martin portrays a police officer named Alex, who moves to Tall Pines with their pregnant wife Laura. Though it is never really focused on heavily in the series, Alex is a transgender male. That’s important, because it likely plays into the insecurities Alex feels, and gives more credence to their desire for a “normal” family.
Laura lived in Tall Pines as a teenager, and spent time at the local facility for troubled teens, which is run by the very intense and controlling Evelyn (beautifully portrayed by Toni Collette). It’s easy to see that Evelyn still holds sway over Laura, as well as many other people in town…including the staff members who work for her, who appear to have been residents at the academy themselves at one time.
Almost immediately, the dark events start up, as a terrified young escapee from the academy shows up at Alex and Laura’s house. Unfortunately, Alex accidently kills Riley during their encounter, and before dying, he tells Alex some mysterious stuff about Tall Pines Academy.
Alex happens upon Leila in the woods, and catches on that she is headed to the academy to “rescue” her friend Abbie. Leila is later enrolled there by her mother, who takes out a mortgage on her house to afford the tuition.
A lot happens with the teen residents of the academy, especially after Leila and Abbie join them. And a lot more happens with Alex and Laura. By the final few episodes, we have fully caught on to the fact that Evelyn is essentially a cult leader, and that Laura is poised to take over for her.
Evelyn has been using a psychedelic drug made from the venom of poisonous toads to perform a ritual known as a “leap” on her students. The process of leaping severs past trauma from the psyche and deadens the feelings that connect leapers to their family member.
As a result, those who have been made to leap have no emotional connections, and Evelyn tells Alex that Laura will never truly love her baby.
When Laura gives birth, many of the townspeople/former residents of the academy are there, and they are fully on board with following Laura as they once did Evelyn. Meanwhile, Evelyn tries to forcefully “leap” Alex, only to be stopped by her formerly devoted employee Rabbit. Rabbit injects the leap drug into Evelyn, and Alex then injects her again, causing her to become catatonic.
Alex races home just in time to be with Laura as she gives birth, surrounded by her followers. She then tells Alex that the baby belongs to all of them. We can see the shock and hurt on Alex's face as the townspeople pass the baby around, embracing it.
Alex had promised Abbie that they would meet her outside of the academy, and we see Abbie make her way to the police car that Alex left when they were attacked by their LE partner Dwayne. Alex shows up with the baby, and the three drive off as Abbie tells Alex what a good person they are.
Then we go back to Alex and Laura’s house, as Alex looks back at Laura and the baby before closing the door. The escape with Abbie was only Alex’s fantasy, and they have chosen to stay with their “family”, allowing Abbie to escape on her own.
So, what will happen next? Will Abbie make good on her promise to return to get Leila? Does Evelyn really die? Will Laura become a full blown cult leader, and will Alex allow it to happen?
Will there be a second season of Wayward?
While a second season has not been announced, the series has become a huge hit for Netflix, and people are definitely loving it. With all of the hanging threads left behind, it would make sense for Netflix to greenlight a second season of Wayward.