All the Signs That Wayward Was Heading Toward That Wild Conclusion

"The central hub of Tall Pines is the radical teen-rehab facility (read cult-coded prison) for which the town is named, run by the enigmatic and intense Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette), who has an ironclad hold on the denizens of both the town and the facility. Even though we can all agree that we'd probably follow Collette and her expressive eyebrows anywhere, she cuts a menacing figure as the controlling maternal figure who looms over the town, monitoring every move for signs of dissent."

"From the unwilling denizens of Evelyn's facility to the quirky residents of the town, the cast of unique characters built by Wayward creator Mae Martin is easy to spend time with. Martin not only writes and directs episodes of the series but also stars as Alex Dempsey, a transplant to Tall Pines whose pregnant wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), fell under Evelyn's spell 15 years prior and has now returned with her husband to start a new life."

Tall Pines presents as a superficially idyllic town anchored by a radical teen-rehab facility that functions like a cult. Evelyn Wade, authoritative and menacing, exerts absolute control over the town and the institution. Alex Dempsey, played by series creator Mae Martin, returns with his pregnant wife Laura, who had been under Evelyn’s influence years earlier. The town practices a conditional radical acceptance that embraces identity only within strict norms. Alex allies with teen charges Abbie and Leila to investigate abusive practices and the town’s complicity, leading to a surprising and intense conclusion across eight episodes.

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