Will Netflix Book a Return to ‘Wayward’ for Season 2?

by

Netflix‘s latest mystery thriller, Wayward, premiered on September 25, 2025, and quickly became the most popular show in the U.S. Although it was originally planned as a one-time limited series, its success could lead to a second season. While fans are eager to find out what happens with Wayward, Netflix may base its decision on how much its viewers enjoyed it – as subscriber reactions have been less positive compared to reviews from critics.

All eight episodes of Wayward are now available, and the series centers on the strange happenings at Tall Pines Academy in Vermont. This school, run by a manipulative woman named Evelyn (Toni Collette), is meant to help troubled teens get back on track. However, Wayward feels directionless and doesn’t bring anything fresh to the mystery-thriller genre. Though that hasn’t prevented Netflix from continuing popular shows in the past, it’s reasonable to question whether Wayward has enough story left to justify another season.

‘Wayward’s Derivative Premise


Netflix

I’m so excited about Wayward! It’s a really gripping 8-part mystery miniseries on Netflix created by the incredibly talented Mae Martin – you might know them as a Canadian comedian, podcaster, and all-around performer. Mae also *stars* as Alex Dempsey, a police officer who starts working in the quiet town of Tall Pines, Vermont, back in 2003. Things get interesting when Alex sees someone escaping from Tall Pines Academy, a school for troubled teens, and starts digging into what’s really going on – it turns out the town has a pretty dark history!

Alex encounters Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), a teen who broke into Tall Pines to rescue her friend Abbie (Sydney Topliffe). Leila and Abbie then help Alex investigate what’s happening at Tall Pines, ultimately revealing unsettling and hidden truths about the close-knit, almost cult-like, people living in the small town. The Tall Pines Academy is controlled by the sinister Evelyn Wade (played by a fantastic Toni Collette, who doesn’t get enough screen time), a woman forced into the cult as a child who continues the pattern of mistreatment – and the reasons behind it are something viewers will have to uncover for themselves.

Beyond its story idea which heavily resembles Twin Peaks but aimed at a younger audience, Wayward suffers from weak acting, noticeable gaps in the plot, and a truly unsatisfying ending that’s more likely to make you laugh than feel any emotional release. However, because it’s easy to watch and has attracted a lot of viewers, Netflix might still decide to continue Wayward even though it was originally planned as a limited series.

‘Wayward’s Popular Viewership vs. Its Middling Reception Could Determine Renewal


Netflix

As of September 30, 2025, Wayward is Netflix’s most popular scripted drama. It has been at the top of the TV charts ever since it first aired on September 25. Generally, Netflix quickly renews shows that are this successful. However, Wayward was originally created as a short, self-contained series. Therefore, Martin hasn’t started developing ideas for a second season yet, and won’t until Netflix officially orders one.

Netflix also needs to evaluate how well Wayward has captivated audiences as a mystery. Reviews for Wayward have been generally positive, with a 78% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and a Metascore of 71. Rotten Tomatoes’ consensus reads:

Wayward is a puzzling mystery that doesn’t offer simple solutions. While it sometimes feels slow-paced, like its name suggests, unexpected turns and a strong performance by Toni Collette make it a compelling thriller.

However, most viewers haven’t been as enthusiastic. Wayward has a 5.9 rating on IMDb, a 47% Audience Score on Rotten Tomatoes, and a Metascore of 53. Critics and viewers who didn’t enjoy the show often point out that the story feels unoriginal, the acting isn’t great, Toni Collette isn’t used to her full potential, the plot twists don’t feel believable, and the ending is deeply disappointing. In fact, the series finale is the lowest-rated episode on IMDb (6.2).

I’m really hoping Netflix is paying attention to how people are reacting to Wayward, especially considering how popular it is! They’ve got a big decision to make about the future of the show. But honestly, I’m feeling a little more optimistic because Martin has said he *wants* to come back and feels like there’s still more story to tell. That’s a huge relief for us fans!

Will There Be a ‘Wayward’ Season 2?


Netflix

Currently, Netflix hasn’t ordered another season of Wayward. Despite this, the show’s creator, Mae Martin, remains hopeful about its potential comeback. As Martin shared with TV Insider:

I originally thought it would be a limited series, but there’s clearly room for the story to continue. We ended with all the characters facing major challenges. I hope the current ending provides enough closure to be enjoyable as a standalone series.

As a huge fan of Wayward, I was really excited to hear Martin say he’d love to “dig deeper” into the stories of the supporting characters if Netflix gives the show a second season. He actually told Variety:

People seem to be enjoying it and wanting more, but it’s amusing how some viewers find Alex’s actions unclear. I think it’s not necessarily ambiguity, but rather that he didn’t do what they were hoping for. The characters often make flawed and realistic choices. I hope it works well as a limited series, and it’s also fun to consider what might happen next.

Toni Collette, known for her role in Hereditary, has said she’d love to reprise her role and feels the story has a lot of possibilities, explaining, “It’s endlessly intriguing. Endlessly. There are so many directions the story could take, definitely.”

Collette also mentioned that the actors frequently discuss the possibility of appearing in Season 2, especially the young stars Lind and Topliffe. Topliffe shared with TV Insider that she “would love to come back” as Abbie, and Lind passionately encouraged Martin to write a sequel quickly, playfully saying,

Regarding possible storylines for Season 2, the character of Laura (Sarah Gadon), Alex’s wife, appeared as a likely candidate to become the next leader of the cult at Tall Pines Academy. Martin mentioned the possibility of developing Laura’s story further, as he told Netflix TUDUM:

Laura is facing a similar fate to Evelyn, becoming consumed by her own authority. However, as with all manipulative leaders, Laura genuinely thinks she’d approach things differently. She believes she’s compassionate and truly wants what’s best for the community she cares about deeply.

Whether Netflix renews Wayward or not, Martin is happy with the way the mystery wrapped up, adding:

I enjoyed how the ending wasn’t simple, with characters and situations existing in a complex, uncertain space. I’m hoping viewers will feel a sense of fulfillment, even though it was a twisted and unconventional story. More than anything, I want the show to leave a lasting impression on them.”

Wayward is available to stream on Netflix.

Read More

2025-10-04 00:35