Netflix’s latest limited series, Wayward, dives headfirst into the mysterious underbelly of America’s troubled teen industry – and it does so with Toni Collette commanding the screen as Evelyn Wade, the eerily magnetic head of Tall Pines Academy. Collette’s involvement in the project has brought critical acclaim as well as a chilling authenticity to a story that is both timely and unsettling, making Wayward one of the most talked-about series of September 2025.
A sinister institution: The concept at the heart of Wayward
Set in 2003 in the New England town of Tall Pines, Wayward follows Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin), a transgender police officer who moves with his pregnant wife, Laura, in search of a quiet life. Instead, he uncovers disturbing secrets haunting the local academy for troubled teens – an institution hiding its true intent beneath glossy brochures and therapeutic promises. At the helm of this academy is Evelyn, Collette’s deeply complex character, whose blend of charisma and cruelty shapes the destinies of the vulnerable youth under her care. The show is inspired by real-world controversies surrounding treatment centres like Synanon and Ivy Ridge, known for manipulating and dividing students through psychological control and coercive therapy.
The creator, Mae Martin, admits the story is rooted in personal experience; a close friend was sent to such a facility as a teen, returning with harrowing tales that ultimately inspired Wayward. Martin researched notorious cults and therapeutic boarding schools, infusing the show with details that ensure its drama feels chillingly authentic and all too plausible.
Toni Collette: Breathing life into Evelyn Wade
For Australian viewers – especially those familiar with Collette’s iconic performances in Muriel’s Wedding and The Sixth Sense – her role in Wayward is both a departure and a showcase of her signature intensity. Collette herself described Evelyn as “incredibly complex, with numerous aspects of her personality that clash. While she appears controlled, her mood is quite fluid,” in interviews following the Toronto International Film Festival premiere.
Collette has spoken about the process of shaping Evelyn’s chilling presence. In one interview, she revealed that a small costume choice, namely a pair of glasses, became the linchpin for Evelyn’s “serial killer vibe” – an accessory she found “weird and appropriate,” helping her oscillate between threat and benevolence in a single glance. “I want her to, at times, feel threatening, and I think the glasses bring on a kind of serial killer vibe,” Collette laughed, pointing to how subtle physical choices can create a truly unnerving character.
In another interview, Collette reflected on the darkness and vulnerability the role demanded, remarking, “She is a character with a lot of emotional shifts, and a sense of almost cult-like influence, but also genuine yearning to help – at least in her own mind. That tension drives everything Evelyn does.” Starts at 60 readers will recognise Collette’s ability to tap into layered, conflicted women, continuing a career-long exploration of what happens when empathy turns oppressive.
Industry impact and Collette’s future with Wayward
Although Wayward is officially billed as a miniseries, both Martin and Collette have expressed interest in continuing the story if there’s appetite and narrative scope to do so. For now, however, the first season ends on a note that is both ambiguous and thought-provoking – just as Martin intended, leaving audiences to grapple with the disturbing questions raised about care, control, and generational trauma.
Wayward offers much more than psychological thrills – it is a chance to see one of Australia’s most world-renowned acting talents at the peak of her powers, at the centre of a series that is making waves not just for entertainment, but for its raw commentary on an industry in crisis. Toni Collette’s Evelyn Wade is a reminder of how one performer can turn familiar settings and stories inside out, leaving us unsettled, but always coming back for more.
Wayward is available to be streamed now on Netflix.
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