Netflix‘s new mystery thriller series Wayward debuted on September 25, 2025, instantly becoming the #1 most-viewed show in the U.S. Despite being billed as a limited miniseries, its popularity makes a second season a possibility. As fans await Wayward‘s fate, one determining factor for Netflix might be the tepid response from its subscribers, who are far less enthusiastic than professional critics.
With all eight episodes available, Wayward follows the cult-like activity at Tall Pines Academy in Vermont, where a conniving woman named Evelyn (Toni Collette) runs a school for troubled teenagers in need of correctional rehabilitation. However, Wayward comes off as a lost and confused TV show that adds nothing new to the mystery-thriller sub-genre. While that’s never stopped Netflix from renewing a popular series, it’s worth wondering if Wayward has more story to tell.
‘Wayward’s Derivative Premise
Created by Canadian stand-up comedian, podcaster, singer-songwriter, screenwriter, and actor Mae Martin, Wayward is an 8-part Netflix mystery miniseries. Martin stars as Alex Dempsey, a police officer newly assigned to patrol Tall Pines in 2003, a sleepy town in the Vermont woods. Upon witnessing an escapee from Tall Pines Academy, a correctional school for troubled teenagers, Alex begins investigating suspicious activity that connects to the town’s sinister past.
Alex meets Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), a teenager who broke into Tall Pines to free her friend Abbie (Sydney Topliffe). Leila and Abbie assist Alex in the investigation of Tall Pines, eventually uncovering deep, dark secrets hidden by the tight-knit, cult-like community in the small town. Tall Pines Academy is run by the wicked Evelyn Wade (a criminally underutilized Toni Collette), a woman who was consigned to the cult as a child, perpetuating a cycle of abuse for reasons viewers need to discover for themselves.
Aside from the derivative premise that screams Twin Peaks for youngsters, Wayward is saddled by inferior acting, glaring plot holes, and a wholly disappointing, anticlimactic ending that induces more eye-rolling laughter than any sense of emotional catharsis. Yet, with its easy-to-watch pace and high viewership, Netflix could still potentially renew Wayward despite being conceived as a miniseries.
‘Wayward’s Popular Viewership vs. Its Middling Reception Could Determine Renewal
Netflix’s most-viewed scripted drama (as of September 30, 2025), Wayward has dominated the TV charts since its premiere on September 25. With some exceptions, when a show is that popular, Netflix typically renews it sooner rather than later. In Wayward‘s case, the show was designed as a limited miniseries. That means Martin has not been given the green light to begin work on the Season 2 storylines, at least not until Netflix commissions a second season.
Netflix must also consider the overall response to Wayward’s effectiveness as an enthralling mystery. Critics have been kind to Wayward, bestowing the series with a 78% Rotten Tomatoes Rating and 71 Metascore. RT’s critical consensus states:
“An eerie mystery that eschews easy answers, Wayward can occasionally feel as listless as its title, but surprising twists and Toni Collette’s committed performance keep this thriller intriguing.”
On the flip side, general audiences are less impressed. Wayward boasts a 5.9 IMDb rating, a 47% RT Audience Score, and a 53 Metascore. The overwhelming sentiment among the detractors rightly lambastes the derivative story, subpar performances, underuse of the great Toni Collette, unconvincing plot twists, and profoundly unsatisfying ending. The series finale has the lowest-rated episode on IMDb (6.2).
As Netflix weighs the public response to Wayward against the show’s immense popularity, it must determine where to go from here. Fortunately for fans of the show, Martin has expressed a desire to return and believes the story isn’t through.
Will There Be a ‘Wayward’ Season 2?
At this time, Netflix has not renewed Wayward for a second season. However, that isn’t stopping series creator Mae Martin from expressing optimism about the show’s return. According to Martin via TV Insider:
“I was told it was a miniseries, but there’s definitely more story to tell, I think. We left all those characters in crisis, basically. Hopefully, it’s tied up enough that it’s satisfying to watch as a series.”
Martin went on to express a desire to “dig deeper” into the supporting character arcs, should Netflix renew Wayward for a second season. Martin also told Variety:
“It seems like people have an appetite for more, but it’s also funny people are like, ‘Well, it’s really ambiguous with Alex.’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know if it’s ambiguous, maybe he just didn’t make the choice that you wanted him to make.’ Some of the characters make disappointing and very human decisions. I think, hopefully, it works as a miniseries, but then, it’s also obviously fun to imagine what would happen.”
Meanwhile, Hereditary star Toni Collette has expressed enthusiasm for a return and the vast potential for where the story could go, adding, “It’s endlessly intriguing. Endlessly. So many places it could go, for sure.”
Collette also stated that the cast members often “talk about” returning for Season 2, with young standout stars Lind and Topliffe. Topliffe told TV Insider that she “would love to come back” as Abbie, while Lind urged Martin to write a sequel ASAP, saying, “Mae, if you’re listening, we’re here. We’re ready.”
As for potential Season 2 plot points, the character of Laura (Sarah Gadon), Alex’s wife, emerged as the next potential cult leader at Tall Pines Academy. Martin noted the potential to expand Laura’s arc in the future, telling Netflix TUDUM:
“Laura is really in danger of going the same route as Evelyn, drunk on power. But, like all cult leaders, Laura truly believes she would do it differently. That she has empathy and wants the best for this community that she loves so much.”
Whether Netflix renews Wayward or not, Martin is happy with the way the mystery wrapped up, adding:
“I like the moral ambiguity and gray area of the finale. I hope people feel satisfied that they watched a really messed-up kind of fairy tale. Ultimately, I just hope it stays with people.”
Wayward is available to stream on Netflix.
- Release Date
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2025 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
