Wayward, the latest mystery-thriller limited series from Mae Martin featuring Toni Collette and Alyvia Alyn Lind, has become a hit on Netflix since its debut last month. Yet, I hesitated to watch it for weeks. Why? I have an intense fear of everything—especially mystery thrillers, and particularly those taking place amidst the shadows of New England woods.
However, my cowardly streak ended today. Below, I’ve compiled every thought that crossed my mind while watching Season 1, Episode 1 of Wayward.
- The sound of toads croaking in the background is utterly captivating.
- 2003—it truly feels like the scariest year ever!
- Even though I know the glass shattering occurred on-screen, I’m still on edge.
- What could possibly be chasing this individual?
- Is that a tornado siren I hear?
- Are we looking at some kind of Esalen-infused cult?
- How on earth are they surviving underwater?
- I really miss my beloved rom-coms.
- Alright, here we go: it’s the present day!
- The idea that money isn’t a necessity to live in Vancouver fascinates me.
- Do teenage girls really have a fixation on the Beatles nowadays?
- Why do all these popular girls look like they stepped out of Clueless?
- Seriously, what year is it?
- This series is making me nostalgic for my teenage years as an awkward girl with a single friend who skipped classes frequently (unlike Leila and Abbie, I had no clue where to score any weed in high school).
- It’s TONI COLLETTE TIME!
- She’s apparently running a “therapeutic school” in the Vermont woods.
- Danger lurks in that direction, Leila!
- I hadn’t realized how much I missed Toni Collette’s spooky vibe since Hereditary (and United States of Tara too).
- Mae Martin rocking out to Weezer in the car? Total dream date!
- Oh dear, adorable queer pregnant couple, don’t move into that eerie abandoned house in the countryside. Haven’t you seen enough horror films?
- I hope this series takes a Hard Candy twist, culminating in Leila and Abbie taking down some dodgy creep they found online.
- Mae is… a state trooper?
- Or is she a park ranger? Or something similar?
- What happened to Mae in Detroit??
- If a cop states their “response was not ideal,” does that imply someone definitely died?
- By the way, is Mae supposed to be he/him here? Or is this other cop just adorably clueless when he calls them a “good dude”?
- I think it’s the latter.
- Yikes, it’s the person sprinting from the opening scene!
- A potential escapee from Tall Pines?
- He looks around 15 or 16 and seems to be in some kind of danger, and naturally, the cops are indifferent.
- Clearly, Toni’s word holds significant weight around here.
- I’m already anxious about the fate of Mae’s sweet, innocent pregnant wife.
- I’m addicted to the sight of Toni biking through town with a backpack filled with kale.
- What’s this that Toni is giving Mae? She made something from scratch—Soap? Muffins?
- Adults are truly such dorks, aren’t they?
- I’m 32 now, and just watching teens battle it out with their parents on TV still gives me anxiety hives.
- Absolutely yes to T discourse!
- “You never picture the father of your kid looking like Macaulay Culkin in Home Alone.” LOL.
- It’s great to see kids still getting into trouble with drugs and making illicit photocopies of their faces. Some things never change.
- Oh no, Abbie is being sent to Tall Pines!
- With full consent from her dysfunctional family!
- Make sure to contact your congressperson about the abhorrent TTI-industrial complex, folks.
- Now, the runaway kid from earlier has found his way into Mae’s house??
- Well, that’s… not a lovely knife wound.
- Nothing is scarier than Toni Collette saying, “Welcome to Tall Pines.”
- Fantastic choice of Blue Oyster Cult for the outro, show!
