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Wayward (miniseries)

Updated: 12/10/2025, 6:03:10 PM Wikipedia source

Wayward is a Canadian mystery thriller limited series created by Mae Martin for Netflix. The series stars Martin, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sydney Topliffe, Toni Collette, Sarah Gadon, and John Daniel. The story is set in 2003 in the fictional town of Tall Pines, Vermont, and follows a pair of teenagers and a local police officer uncovering the town's dark secrets. It was released on Netflix on 25 September 2025.

Infobox

Genre
mw- Mystery Thriller
Created by
Mae Martin
Showrunners
Mae MartinRyan Scott
Starring
Mae Martin Alyvia Alyn Lind Sydney Topliffe Toni Collette Sarah Gadon John Daniel Elizabeth Adams Milton Torres Lara Joshua Close Tattiawna Jones Isolde Ardies
Music by
Marie-Hélène L. Delorme
Country of origin
Canada
Original language
English
No. of episodes
8
Executive producers
Mae Martin Ryan Scott Ben Farrell Hannah Mackay Jennifer Kawaja Bruno Dubé Euros Lyn
Producer
Anna Beben
Cinematography
Catherine Lutes Craig Wrobleski
Editors
Dev Singh D. Gillian Truster Hugh Elchuk
Running time
40-50 minutes
Production companies
Objective Fiction Sphere Media Bick & Drum Productions Springtime Yeti Entertainment
Network
Netflix
Release
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)

Tables

· Episodes
1
1
No.
1
Title
"Tall Pines"
Directed by
Euros Lyn
Written by
Mae Martin
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila and Abbie are best friends, spending time together skipping classes and getting high. Having enough of this behaviour and after having a fight with her father and mother when there were guests amongst them, Abbie's parents (when Abbie is asleep after getting back from strolling around with Leila) send her to Tall Pines Academy, in Vermont. Across the town, Alex and Laura move in to Tall Pines to begin their upcoming family life. They find a strange hidden room with a painted door. While on duty, Alex comes across Riley, a student who fled the academy, who follows Alex home. In the ensuing confrontation, Riley is fatally wounded, and tells Alex of written evidence of strange occurrences at the academy before dying.
Leila and Abbie are best friends, spending time together skipping classes and getting high. Having enough of this behaviour and after having a fight with her father and mother when there were guests amongst them, Abbie's parents (when Abbie is asleep after getting back from strolling around with Leila) send her to Tall Pines Academy, in Vermont. Across the town, Alex and Laura move in to Tall Pines to begin their upcoming family life. They find a strange hidden room with a painted door. While on duty, Alex comes across Riley, a student who fled the academy, who follows Alex home. In the ensuing confrontation, Riley is fatally wounded, and tells Alex of written evidence of strange occurrences at the academy before dying.
No.
Leila and Abbie are best friends, spending time together skipping classes and getting high. Having enough of this behaviour and after having a fight with her father and mother when there were guests amongst them, Abbie's parents (when Abbie is asleep after getting back from strolling around with Leila) send her to Tall Pines Academy, in Vermont. Across the town, Alex and Laura move in to Tall Pines to begin their upcoming family life. They find a strange hidden room with a painted door. While on duty, Alex comes across Riley, a student who fled the academy, who follows Alex home. In the ensuing confrontation, Riley is fatally wounded, and tells Alex of written evidence of strange occurrences at the academy before dying.
2
2
No.
2
Title
"Burrow"
Directed by
Euros Lyn
Written by
Ryan Scott
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Abbie meets the residents and staff of Tall Pines Academy, including head teacher Evelyn, head staff Rabbit and Duck, her roommate Stacey, and Riley's alleged best friend Rory, and is introduced to the school's strict rules. Leila, learning of Abbie's location, travels to Tall Pine with her older boyfriend, Kyle, who abandons her once she reveals her intents. At Tall Pines, she meets Alex. She infiltrates the academy and briefly reunites with Abbie before being taken. At a grocery store, Alex notices odd behaviours from the townspeople. Evelyn dines with Alex and Laura, where she makes strange and cold comments about Laura's dead parents. In the room with the painted door, Alex discovers multiple blood stains on the ceiling, presumably from the floor above. Later that night, he finds Laura sleepwalking, trying to leave the house.
Abbie meets the residents and staff of Tall Pines Academy, including head teacher Evelyn, head staff Rabbit and Duck, her roommate Stacey, and Riley's alleged best friend Rory, and is introduced to the school's strict rules. Leila, learning of Abbie's location, travels to Tall Pine with her older boyfriend, Kyle, who abandons her once she reveals her intents. At Tall Pines, she meets Alex. She infiltrates the academy and briefly reunites with Abbie before being taken. At a grocery store, Alex notices odd behaviours from the townspeople. Evelyn dines with Alex and Laura, where she makes strange and cold comments about Laura's dead parents. In the room with the painted door, Alex discovers multiple blood stains on the ceiling, presumably from the floor above. Later that night, he finds Laura sleepwalking, trying to leave the house.
No.
Abbie meets the residents and staff of Tall Pines Academy, including head teacher Evelyn, head staff Rabbit and Duck, her roommate Stacey, and Riley's alleged best friend Rory, and is introduced to the school's strict rules. Leila, learning of Abbie's location, travels to Tall Pine with her older boyfriend, Kyle, who abandons her once she reveals her intents. At Tall Pines, she meets Alex. She infiltrates the academy and briefly reunites with Abbie before being taken. At a grocery store, Alex notices odd behaviours from the townspeople. Evelyn dines with Alex and Laura, where she makes strange and cold comments about Laura's dead parents. In the room with the painted door, Alex discovers multiple blood stains on the ceiling, presumably from the floor above. Later that night, he finds Laura sleepwalking, trying to leave the house.
3
3
No.
3
Title
"Break"
Directed by
Renuka Jeyapalan
Written by
Evangeline Ordaz
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila and Abbie decide to escape the facility through a meticulous plan. They participate in "Hot Chair," a supposed therapy exercise in which the students criticize each other in hopes of self-improvement. Rory, deemed a pathological liar, is scolded off by the students until he suffers an emotional breakdown and is then comforted by the others. Terrified by the experience, Leila and Abbie speed up their plan, ending up locked in a flooded room with a door containing a fingernail after Oatmeal Beth tricks them. Alex discovers that the police station was previously a school. He visits the school to pick up Riley's possessions in hope of finding the written evidence he had mentioned. He encounters Abbie and Leila, who ask for help escaping. As they are discovered, Alex has Leila hit him, allowing him to secretly give Abbie a walkie-talkie so they can communicate. As punishment for hitting a police officer, Leila is subjected to the "Mirror Room", where she is psychologically tortured for the night. Abbie and Alex talk, after Abbie sneaks into the bathroom after lights out.
Leila and Abbie decide to escape the facility through a meticulous plan. They participate in "Hot Chair," a supposed therapy exercise in which the students criticize each other in hopes of self-improvement. Rory, deemed a pathological liar, is scolded off by the students until he suffers an emotional breakdown and is then comforted by the others. Terrified by the experience, Leila and Abbie speed up their plan, ending up locked in a flooded room with a door containing a fingernail after Oatmeal Beth tricks them. Alex discovers that the police station was previously a school. He visits the school to pick up Riley's possessions in hope of finding the written evidence he had mentioned. He encounters Abbie and Leila, who ask for help escaping. As they are discovered, Alex has Leila hit him, allowing him to secretly give Abbie a walkie-talkie so they can communicate. As punishment for hitting a police officer, Leila is subjected to the "Mirror Room", where she is psychologically tortured for the night. Abbie and Alex talk, after Abbie sneaks into the bathroom after lights out.
No.
Leila and Abbie decide to escape the facility through a meticulous plan. They participate in "Hot Chair," a supposed therapy exercise in which the students criticize each other in hopes of self-improvement. Rory, deemed a pathological liar, is scolded off by the students until he suffers an emotional breakdown and is then comforted by the others. Terrified by the experience, Leila and Abbie speed up their plan, ending up locked in a flooded room with a door containing a fingernail after Oatmeal Beth tricks them. Alex discovers that the police station was previously a school. He visits the school to pick up Riley's possessions in hope of finding the written evidence he had mentioned. He encounters Abbie and Leila, who ask for help escaping. As they are discovered, Alex has Leila hit him, allowing him to secretly give Abbie a walkie-talkie so they can communicate. As punishment for hitting a police officer, Leila is subjected to the "Mirror Room", where she is psychologically tortured for the night. Abbie and Alex talk, after Abbie sneaks into the bathroom after lights out.
4
4
No.
4
Title
"Mud"
Directed by
Renuka Jeyapalan
Written by
Mohamad El Masri
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila, alongside her roommate Ello, are made to carry rocks across a field as further punishment. She befriends her, learning she was a drug addict on her death bed before, and Ello warns her to start following the system to get out. Meanwhile, Abbie meets Rory, Riley's roommate, to find the journal. Their search in the kitchen is unsuccessful when Daniel reveals both that the journal was found earlier by Duck, who later burns it, and that Rory lied about his friendship with Riley, leaving Abbie disgusted. Alex helps Laura open a market, where he realizes the town has no children besides the ones from the academy, and that the graduates are assigned to people, not adopted. Stacey reveals she was rewarded with something called a "Leap", which will grant her "total health", something she believes will help her finally get adopted. After telling the truth about his non-relationship to Riley and apologizing, Rory helps Abbie follow Stacey, where she discovers the "Leap" is a drug-induced torturous ritual in the flooded room, and learns Riley is dead. After Alex and Laura fight over the latter not telling him about the lack of children in town, Evelyn visits Laura, expressing her disappointment in the idea of the two leaving the town. Later that night, Alex finds Laura sleepwalking into the local pond.
Leila, alongside her roommate Ello, are made to carry rocks across a field as further punishment. She befriends her, learning she was a drug addict on her death bed before, and Ello warns her to start following the system to get out. Meanwhile, Abbie meets Rory, Riley's roommate, to find the journal. Their search in the kitchen is unsuccessful when Daniel reveals both that the journal was found earlier by Duck, who later burns it, and that Rory lied about his friendship with Riley, leaving Abbie disgusted. Alex helps Laura open a market, where he realizes the town has no children besides the ones from the academy, and that the graduates are assigned to people, not adopted. Stacey reveals she was rewarded with something called a "Leap", which will grant her "total health", something she believes will help her finally get adopted. After telling the truth about his non-relationship to Riley and apologizing, Rory helps Abbie follow Stacey, where she discovers the "Leap" is a drug-induced torturous ritual in the flooded room, and learns Riley is dead. After Alex and Laura fight over the latter not telling him about the lack of children in town, Evelyn visits Laura, expressing her disappointment in the idea of the two leaving the town. Later that night, Alex finds Laura sleepwalking into the local pond.
No.
Leila, alongside her roommate Ello, are made to carry rocks across a field as further punishment. She befriends her, learning she was a drug addict on her death bed before, and Ello warns her to start following the system to get out. Meanwhile, Abbie meets Rory, Riley's roommate, to find the journal. Their search in the kitchen is unsuccessful when Daniel reveals both that the journal was found earlier by Duck, who later burns it, and that Rory lied about his friendship with Riley, leaving Abbie disgusted. Alex helps Laura open a market, where he realizes the town has no children besides the ones from the academy, and that the graduates are assigned to people, not adopted. Stacey reveals she was rewarded with something called a "Leap", which will grant her "total health", something she believes will help her finally get adopted. After telling the truth about his non-relationship to Riley and apologizing, Rory helps Abbie follow Stacey, where she discovers the "Leap" is a drug-induced torturous ritual in the flooded room, and learns Riley is dead. After Alex and Laura fight over the latter not telling him about the lack of children in town, Evelyn visits Laura, expressing her disappointment in the idea of the two leaving the town. Later that night, Alex finds Laura sleepwalking into the local pond.
5
5
No.
5
Title
"Build"
Directed by
John Fawcett
Written by
Kim Steele
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
During the "Hot Chair," the students scold off Abbie and Leila; their relationship takes a hit when Rabbit exposes Leila's use of cocaine. As revenge Leila reveals Riley's death and Rabbit's lies. An enraged Rory attacks Rabbit, and Daniel helps him by sedating her and then Stacey. It soon turns into a revolt, leaving the staff incapacitated as they are all sedated one by one with "booty juice". Daniel tortures Rabbit. Leila and Ello begin a relationship, but Ello relapses and begins to overdose. To rescue her, Abbie stops the revolt. Alex finds a website about local missing children, written by Maurice Iverson, and interrogates him under the guise of a freelance journalist. Maurice reveals that the school's staff has created misleading clues about the missing children, including Maurice's daughter Hannah. Alex finds a photograph of Laura and is attacked by Maurice, who believes Alex to be a spy. The fight ends with Alex overpowering Maurice and fleeing. Laura kills a toad in hope of ending her hallucinations. She then holds a baby shower, where she requests to Evelyn to cut ties.
During the "Hot Chair," the students scold off Abbie and Leila; their relationship takes a hit when Rabbit exposes Leila's use of cocaine. As revenge Leila reveals Riley's death and Rabbit's lies. An enraged Rory attacks Rabbit, and Daniel helps him by sedating her and then Stacey. It soon turns into a revolt, leaving the staff incapacitated as they are all sedated one by one with "booty juice". Daniel tortures Rabbit. Leila and Ello begin a relationship, but Ello relapses and begins to overdose. To rescue her, Abbie stops the revolt. Alex finds a website about local missing children, written by Maurice Iverson, and interrogates him under the guise of a freelance journalist. Maurice reveals that the school's staff has created misleading clues about the missing children, including Maurice's daughter Hannah. Alex finds a photograph of Laura and is attacked by Maurice, who believes Alex to be a spy. The fight ends with Alex overpowering Maurice and fleeing. Laura kills a toad in hope of ending her hallucinations. She then holds a baby shower, where she requests to Evelyn to cut ties.
No.
During the "Hot Chair," the students scold off Abbie and Leila; their relationship takes a hit when Rabbit exposes Leila's use of cocaine. As revenge Leila reveals Riley's death and Rabbit's lies. An enraged Rory attacks Rabbit, and Daniel helps him by sedating her and then Stacey. It soon turns into a revolt, leaving the staff incapacitated as they are all sedated one by one with "booty juice". Daniel tortures Rabbit. Leila and Ello begin a relationship, but Ello relapses and begins to overdose. To rescue her, Abbie stops the revolt. Alex finds a website about local missing children, written by Maurice Iverson, and interrogates him under the guise of a freelance journalist. Maurice reveals that the school's staff has created misleading clues about the missing children, including Maurice's daughter Hannah. Alex finds a photograph of Laura and is attacked by Maurice, who believes Alex to be a spy. The fight ends with Alex overpowering Maurice and fleeing. Laura kills a toad in hope of ending her hallucinations. She then holds a baby shower, where she requests to Evelyn to cut ties.
6
6
No.
6
Title
"Mirror"
Directed by
John Fawcett
Written by
Kayla Lorette
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
As punishment for their revolt, the students are forced to fight for freedom by reaching the summit of the local mount. Soon after beginning, Abbie and Rory are stripped of their resources, including Rory's inhaler. They meet Daniel and Marty, who assist each other in climbing. Abbie, prioritizing her freedom over the well-beings of her fellow students, scolds Rory, but rescues him as he suffers an asthma attack. Stacey, supported by Rabbit, stabs Daniel, whose death is disguised as an escape attempt. Marty wins the competition, but his tricked reward causes him to join the others. Abbie and Rory embrace. Evelyn uses her techniques to help Leila fight her trauma; after a party gone awry, Leila and Jess went by a pool. Realizing Jess' manipulative actions and insulting comments, Leila pushed Jess into a pool and watches her drown, admitting having never liked Jess. Alex discovers his house once belonged to a serial-killing cult. Alex is threatened by Dwayne, who killed Maurice and disguised it as suicide, in the cost of his silence. Laura returns to the pond and suffers another hallucination of her past.
As punishment for their revolt, the students are forced to fight for freedom by reaching the summit of the local mount. Soon after beginning, Abbie and Rory are stripped of their resources, including Rory's inhaler. They meet Daniel and Marty, who assist each other in climbing. Abbie, prioritizing her freedom over the well-beings of her fellow students, scolds Rory, but rescues him as he suffers an asthma attack. Stacey, supported by Rabbit, stabs Daniel, whose death is disguised as an escape attempt. Marty wins the competition, but his tricked reward causes him to join the others. Abbie and Rory embrace. Evelyn uses her techniques to help Leila fight her trauma; after a party gone awry, Leila and Jess went by a pool. Realizing Jess' manipulative actions and insulting comments, Leila pushed Jess into a pool and watches her drown, admitting having never liked Jess. Alex discovers his house once belonged to a serial-killing cult. Alex is threatened by Dwayne, who killed Maurice and disguised it as suicide, in the cost of his silence. Laura returns to the pond and suffers another hallucination of her past.
No.
As punishment for their revolt, the students are forced to fight for freedom by reaching the summit of the local mount. Soon after beginning, Abbie and Rory are stripped of their resources, including Rory's inhaler. They meet Daniel and Marty, who assist each other in climbing. Abbie, prioritizing her freedom over the well-beings of her fellow students, scolds Rory, but rescues him as he suffers an asthma attack. Stacey, supported by Rabbit, stabs Daniel, whose death is disguised as an escape attempt. Marty wins the competition, but his tricked reward causes him to join the others. Abbie and Rory embrace. Evelyn uses her techniques to help Leila fight her trauma; after a party gone awry, Leila and Jess went by a pool. Realizing Jess' manipulative actions and insulting comments, Leila pushed Jess into a pool and watches her drown, admitting having never liked Jess. Alex discovers his house once belonged to a serial-killing cult. Alex is threatened by Dwayne, who killed Maurice and disguised it as suicide, in the cost of his silence. Laura returns to the pond and suffers another hallucination of her past.
7
7
No.
7
Title
"Ascend"
Directed by
Euros Lyn
Written by
Alex Eldridge & Ryan Scott
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
In 1974, a young Evelyn is a member of a cult after being abandoned by her parents, later getting pregnant. To accomplish her Leap, she kills her leader and takes her place. In the present, it's revealed Ello was transferred to another school after her overdose and Rabbit is interested in adopting Stacey. Leila begins to appreciate the academy as she takes parts in enjoyable activities. Later, she discovers her mother has remortgaged the house and began a relationship, uncaring about the prospect of Leila returning home. Evelyn offers her the Leap ritual the next day. In a one-to-one "Hot Chair", Leila and Abbie exchange criticism, further straining their relationship. Dwayne watches over Alex and Laura on his birthday, the partners seemingly mend their relationship. After meeting Abbie to escape, Alex is attacked by Dwayne once he discovers Daniel's body. Laura begins a therapy group to overcome their common trauma caused by Evelyn, promising them to never leave.
In 1974, a young Evelyn is a member of a cult after being abandoned by her parents, later getting pregnant. To accomplish her Leap, she kills her leader and takes her place. In the present, it's revealed Ello was transferred to another school after her overdose and Rabbit is interested in adopting Stacey. Leila begins to appreciate the academy as she takes parts in enjoyable activities. Later, she discovers her mother has remortgaged the house and began a relationship, uncaring about the prospect of Leila returning home. Evelyn offers her the Leap ritual the next day. In a one-to-one "Hot Chair", Leila and Abbie exchange criticism, further straining their relationship. Dwayne watches over Alex and Laura on his birthday, the partners seemingly mend their relationship. After meeting Abbie to escape, Alex is attacked by Dwayne once he discovers Daniel's body. Laura begins a therapy group to overcome their common trauma caused by Evelyn, promising them to never leave.
No.
In 1974, a young Evelyn is a member of a cult after being abandoned by her parents, later getting pregnant. To accomplish her Leap, she kills her leader and takes her place. In the present, it's revealed Ello was transferred to another school after her overdose and Rabbit is interested in adopting Stacey. Leila begins to appreciate the academy as she takes parts in enjoyable activities. Later, she discovers her mother has remortgaged the house and began a relationship, uncaring about the prospect of Leila returning home. Evelyn offers her the Leap ritual the next day. In a one-to-one "Hot Chair", Leila and Abbie exchange criticism, further straining their relationship. Dwayne watches over Alex and Laura on his birthday, the partners seemingly mend their relationship. After meeting Abbie to escape, Alex is attacked by Dwayne once he discovers Daniel's body. Laura begins a therapy group to overcome their common trauma caused by Evelyn, promising them to never leave.
8
8
No.
8
Title
"Leap"
Directed by
Euros Lyn
Written by
Mae Martin & Misha Osherovich
Original release date
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Evelyn confronts Laura for her new therapy group, in which she reveals Alex is having the Leap. Stacey is given to an adoptive family, which Rabbit witnesses. The Leap goes wrong when Rabbit, feeling betrayed, uses the drug on Evelyn, causing the chain of events leading her to hallucinate the psychological torture she employed, and subsequently overdose. Before dying, Evelyn reveals Laura murdered her parents. Alex flees to Laura, killing Dwayne along the way, and arrives as she gives birth. The baby is then passed around the townsfolk, leaving Alex visibly disturbed and upset while Laura is cold. Later that night, he contemplates leaving with the baby and Abbie as planned. Leila and Abbie rekindle their relationship after Leila confesses her feelings about Jess, to which Abbie reassures her on their friendship regardless. Later on, the students help Abbie, Leila, and Rory escape. Realizing her mother abandoned her, having no future, as well as having proper care, Leila decides to go back. Abbie promises to return to her one day and the two separate. Cornered by the townspeople, Rory kisses Abbie and surrenders as a distraction, allowing Abbie to find Alex's car and flee Tall Pines. At the last moment, it seems as if Alex joins Abbie with the baby, but is soon revealed to be only his fantasy, as he stayed behind with his child.
Evelyn confronts Laura for her new therapy group, in which she reveals Alex is having the Leap. Stacey is given to an adoptive family, which Rabbit witnesses. The Leap goes wrong when Rabbit, feeling betrayed, uses the drug on Evelyn, causing the chain of events leading her to hallucinate the psychological torture she employed, and subsequently overdose. Before dying, Evelyn reveals Laura murdered her parents. Alex flees to Laura, killing Dwayne along the way, and arrives as she gives birth. The baby is then passed around the townsfolk, leaving Alex visibly disturbed and upset while Laura is cold. Later that night, he contemplates leaving with the baby and Abbie as planned. Leila and Abbie rekindle their relationship after Leila confesses her feelings about Jess, to which Abbie reassures her on their friendship regardless. Later on, the students help Abbie, Leila, and Rory escape. Realizing her mother abandoned her, having no future, as well as having proper care, Leila decides to go back. Abbie promises to return to her one day and the two separate. Cornered by the townspeople, Rory kisses Abbie and surrenders as a distraction, allowing Abbie to find Alex's car and flee Tall Pines. At the last moment, it seems as if Alex joins Abbie with the baby, but is soon revealed to be only his fantasy, as he stayed behind with his child.
No.
Evelyn confronts Laura for her new therapy group, in which she reveals Alex is having the Leap. Stacey is given to an adoptive family, which Rabbit witnesses. The Leap goes wrong when Rabbit, feeling betrayed, uses the drug on Evelyn, causing the chain of events leading her to hallucinate the psychological torture she employed, and subsequently overdose. Before dying, Evelyn reveals Laura murdered her parents. Alex flees to Laura, killing Dwayne along the way, and arrives as she gives birth. The baby is then passed around the townsfolk, leaving Alex visibly disturbed and upset while Laura is cold. Later that night, he contemplates leaving with the baby and Abbie as planned. Leila and Abbie rekindle their relationship after Leila confesses her feelings about Jess, to which Abbie reassures her on their friendship regardless. Later on, the students help Abbie, Leila, and Rory escape. Realizing her mother abandoned her, having no future, as well as having proper care, Leila decides to go back. Abbie promises to return to her one day and the two separate. Cornered by the townspeople, Rory kisses Abbie and surrenders as a distraction, allowing Abbie to find Alex's car and flee Tall Pines. At the last moment, it seems as if Alex joins Abbie with the baby, but is soon revealed to be only his fantasy, as he stayed behind with his child.
No.
Title
Directed by
Written by
Original release date
1
"Tall Pines"
Euros Lyn
Mae Martin
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila and Abbie are best friends, spending time together skipping classes and getting high. Having enough of this behaviour and after having a fight with her father and mother when there were guests amongst them, Abbie's parents (when Abbie is asleep after getting back from strolling around with Leila) send her to Tall Pines Academy, in Vermont. Across the town, Alex and Laura move in to Tall Pines to begin their upcoming family life. They find a strange hidden room with a painted door. While on duty, Alex comes across Riley, a student who fled the academy, who follows Alex home. In the ensuing confrontation, Riley is fatally wounded, and tells Alex of written evidence of strange occurrences at the academy before dying.
2
"Burrow"
Euros Lyn
Ryan Scott
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Abbie meets the residents and staff of Tall Pines Academy, including head teacher Evelyn, head staff Rabbit and Duck, her roommate Stacey, and Riley's alleged best friend Rory, and is introduced to the school's strict rules. Leila, learning of Abbie's location, travels to Tall Pine with her older boyfriend, Kyle, who abandons her once she reveals her intents. At Tall Pines, she meets Alex. She infiltrates the academy and briefly reunites with Abbie before being taken. At a grocery store, Alex notices odd behaviours from the townspeople. Evelyn dines with Alex and Laura, where she makes strange and cold comments about Laura's dead parents. In the room with the painted door, Alex discovers multiple blood stains on the ceiling, presumably from the floor above. Later that night, he finds Laura sleepwalking, trying to leave the house.
3
"Break"
Renuka Jeyapalan
Evangeline Ordaz
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila and Abbie decide to escape the facility through a meticulous plan. They participate in "Hot Chair," a supposed therapy exercise in which the students criticize each other in hopes of self-improvement. Rory, deemed a pathological liar, is scolded off by the students until he suffers an emotional breakdown and is then comforted by the others. Terrified by the experience, Leila and Abbie speed up their plan, ending up locked in a flooded room with a door containing a fingernail after Oatmeal Beth tricks them. Alex discovers that the police station was previously a school. He visits the school to pick up Riley's possessions in hope of finding the written evidence he had mentioned. He encounters Abbie and Leila, who ask for help escaping. As they are discovered, Alex has Leila hit him, allowing him to secretly give Abbie a walkie-talkie so they can communicate. As punishment for hitting a police officer, Leila is subjected to the "Mirror Room", where she is psychologically tortured for the night. Abbie and Alex talk, after Abbie sneaks into the bathroom after lights out.
4
"Mud"
Renuka Jeyapalan
Mohamad El Masri
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Leila, alongside her roommate Ello, are made to carry rocks across a field as further punishment. She befriends her, learning she was a drug addict on her death bed before, and Ello warns her to start following the system to get out. Meanwhile, Abbie meets Rory, Riley's roommate, to find the journal. Their search in the kitchen is unsuccessful when Daniel reveals both that the journal was found earlier by Duck, who later burns it, and that Rory lied about his friendship with Riley, leaving Abbie disgusted. Alex helps Laura open a market, where he realizes the town has no children besides the ones from the academy, and that the graduates are assigned to people, not adopted. Stacey reveals she was rewarded with something called a "Leap", which will grant her "total health", something she believes will help her finally get adopted. After telling the truth about his non-relationship to Riley and apologizing, Rory helps Abbie follow Stacey, where she discovers the "Leap" is a drug-induced torturous ritual in the flooded room, and learns Riley is dead. After Alex and Laura fight over the latter not telling him about the lack of children in town, Evelyn visits Laura, expressing her disappointment in the idea of the two leaving the town. Later that night, Alex finds Laura sleepwalking into the local pond.
5
"Build"
John Fawcett
Kim Steele
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
During the "Hot Chair," the students scold off Abbie and Leila; their relationship takes a hit when Rabbit exposes Leila's use of cocaine. As revenge Leila reveals Riley's death and Rabbit's lies. An enraged Rory attacks Rabbit, and Daniel helps him by sedating her and then Stacey. It soon turns into a revolt, leaving the staff incapacitated as they are all sedated one by one with "booty juice". Daniel tortures Rabbit. Leila and Ello begin a relationship, but Ello relapses and begins to overdose. To rescue her, Abbie stops the revolt. Alex finds a website about local missing children, written by Maurice Iverson, and interrogates him under the guise of a freelance journalist. Maurice reveals that the school's staff has created misleading clues about the missing children, including Maurice's daughter Hannah. Alex finds a photograph of Laura and is attacked by Maurice, who believes Alex to be a spy. The fight ends with Alex overpowering Maurice and fleeing. Laura kills a toad in hope of ending her hallucinations. She then holds a baby shower, where she requests to Evelyn to cut ties.
6
"Mirror"
John Fawcett
Kayla Lorette
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
As punishment for their revolt, the students are forced to fight for freedom by reaching the summit of the local mount. Soon after beginning, Abbie and Rory are stripped of their resources, including Rory's inhaler. They meet Daniel and Marty, who assist each other in climbing. Abbie, prioritizing her freedom over the well-beings of her fellow students, scolds Rory, but rescues him as he suffers an asthma attack. Stacey, supported by Rabbit, stabs Daniel, whose death is disguised as an escape attempt. Marty wins the competition, but his tricked reward causes him to join the others. Abbie and Rory embrace. Evelyn uses her techniques to help Leila fight her trauma; after a party gone awry, Leila and Jess went by a pool. Realizing Jess' manipulative actions and insulting comments, Leila pushed Jess into a pool and watches her drown, admitting having never liked Jess. Alex discovers his house once belonged to a serial-killing cult. Alex is threatened by Dwayne, who killed Maurice and disguised it as suicide, in the cost of his silence. Laura returns to the pond and suffers another hallucination of her past.
7
"Ascend"
Euros Lyn
Alex Eldridge & Ryan Scott
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
In 1974, a young Evelyn is a member of a cult after being abandoned by her parents, later getting pregnant. To accomplish her Leap, she kills her leader and takes her place. In the present, it's revealed Ello was transferred to another school after her overdose and Rabbit is interested in adopting Stacey. Leila begins to appreciate the academy as she takes parts in enjoyable activities. Later, she discovers her mother has remortgaged the house and began a relationship, uncaring about the prospect of Leila returning home. Evelyn offers her the Leap ritual the next day. In a one-to-one "Hot Chair", Leila and Abbie exchange criticism, further straining their relationship. Dwayne watches over Alex and Laura on his birthday, the partners seemingly mend their relationship. After meeting Abbie to escape, Alex is attacked by Dwayne once he discovers Daniel's body. Laura begins a therapy group to overcome their common trauma caused by Evelyn, promising them to never leave.
8
"Leap"
Euros Lyn
Mae Martin & Misha Osherovich
September 25, 2025 (2025-09-25)
Evelyn confronts Laura for her new therapy group, in which she reveals Alex is having the Leap. Stacey is given to an adoptive family, which Rabbit witnesses. The Leap goes wrong when Rabbit, feeling betrayed, uses the drug on Evelyn, causing the chain of events leading her to hallucinate the psychological torture she employed, and subsequently overdose. Before dying, Evelyn reveals Laura murdered her parents. Alex flees to Laura, killing Dwayne along the way, and arrives as she gives birth. The baby is then passed around the townsfolk, leaving Alex visibly disturbed and upset while Laura is cold. Later that night, he contemplates leaving with the baby and Abbie as planned. Leila and Abbie rekindle their relationship after Leila confesses her feelings about Jess, to which Abbie reassures her on their friendship regardless. Later on, the students help Abbie, Leila, and Rory escape. Realizing her mother abandoned her, having no future, as well as having proper care, Leila decides to go back. Abbie promises to return to her one day and the two separate. Cornered by the townspeople, Rory kisses Abbie and surrenders as a distraction, allowing Abbie to find Alex's car and flee Tall Pines. At the last moment, it seems as if Alex joins Abbie with the baby, but is soon revealed to be only his fantasy, as he stayed behind with his child.

References

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    https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/mae-martin-netflix-tall-pines-1235366776/
  2. Variety
    https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/mae-martin-tall-pines-series-netflix-canada-1235572755/
  3. Deadline Hollywood
    https://deadline.com/2023/04/netflix-orders-tall-pines-limited-series-mae-martin-objective-fiction-ryan-scott-1235317056/
  4. Deadline Hollywood
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  12. Pink News
    https://www.thepinknews.com/2023/04/06/mae-martin-netflix-series-tall-pines/
  13. Wayward
    https://deadline.com/2025/09/wayward-mae-martin-juicy-trans-character-hypermasculinity-1236555341/
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  15. Marie Claire
    https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/tv-shows/who-is-mae-martin/
  16. Jamie Casemore, "Netflix’s Wayward to world premiere in TIFF Primetime". Playback, 7 August 2025.
    https://playbackonline.ca/2025/08/07/netflixs-wayward-to-world-premiere-in-tiff-primetime/
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    https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/mae-martin-wayward-plot-release-date-news
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  19. Wayward
    https://www.metacritic.com/tv/wayward/season-1
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