Comedian Mae Martin’s new show, Wayward, is a big shift from their previous work, Feel Good. This eight-episode Netflix series focuses on Tall Pines Academy, a school that claims to help teenagers with behavioral issues.
Soon after police officer Alex Dempsey, portrayed by Martin, arrives in the quiet Vermont town where the school is located, he quickly realizes the school isn’t being honest in its advertising. The school is run by the intimidating Evelyn Wade, played by Toni Collette, and Dempsey suspects there’s more to the story than what’s being presented.
I really dove deep into my teenage years when writing this series. I remember everything so vividly, almost like I’m analyzing each moment. What really fueled me, though, was this strong feeling of unfairness I felt about the world back then.
I was interested in understanding how young people develop a sense of self and strong values, and how that often changes as we grow older – how we sometimes have to set aside our own judgment to fit into society. That led me to create a thriller focusing on the troubled teen industry, a topic that’s personal to me because a close friend of mine was sent to one of those programs.
Martin told Dazed magazine about a friend who was sent from Canada to a behavioral correction program in the US. When the friend returned, they shared disturbing accounts of the program’s lack of oversight and the therapies used.
They explained that they’ve spent two decades studying this topic. It all started with groups in the 1970s, like Synanon, which pioneered techniques to change people’s behavior. It’s a strange history, and the story almost tells itself!
Collette told Gayety the film was surprisingly complex, balancing genuinely funny moments with shocking and unsettling behavior.
Beyond a gripping story and fantastic acting, Wayward also has a fantastic soundtrack. It includes many popular, well-known songs, and introduces you to some new ones too.
The song “In the Pines,” originally by Lead Belly and famously covered by Nirvana in 1993, is a recurring theme in the series. It’s become something of an unofficial anthem for Tall Pines Academy and appears in multiple versions, including a performance by Collette.
For a full rundown of the show’s tracklist, read on.
Wayward soundtrack
Episode 1
- Time – Pink Floyd
- Say It Ain’t So – Weezer
- Get Free – The Vines
- Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd
- (Don’t Fear) The Reaper – Blue Öyster Cult
Episode 2
- Dear Prudence – The Leslie West Band
- Is Anybody Home? – Our Lady Peace
- North Dakota – Thrush Hermit
- Hurdy Gurdy Man – Donovan
- Riot – Hugh Masekela
- Perfect Day – Al Green
Episode 3
- Just Dropped in (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) – Kenny Rogers and the First Edition
- Tiger the Lion – The Tragically Hip
Episode 4
- Bad ‘N’ Ruin – Faces
- Origin: Orphan – The Hidden Cameras
Episode 5
- No Surprises – Radiohead
- Fragile Bird – Jim Wold
- Highway Star – Deep Purple
- Happiness/The Gondola Man – Elliott Smith
- I Only Have Eyes For You – The Flamingos
- Graduate – Third Eye Blind
Episode 6
- What You Do to Me – Teenage Fanclub
- Butterfly – Crazy Town
- Zorba’s Dance – Mikis Theodorakis
- Someone Who’s Cool – Odds
- I’m In The Mood For Love – Julie London
- Life’s A Gas – T-Rex
Episode 7
- The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – The Band
Episode 8
- Help I’m Alive – Metric
- Time – Pink Floyd
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2025-09-25 10:39