Mae Martin's 'Wayward' Tops Netflix Charts with 8.2 Million Views

Netflix's new thriller series "Wayward," created by and starring Mae Martin, has quickly become the platform's most-watched English-language TV series, garnering 8.2 million views over its opening weekend. Set in 2003 in the fictional town of Tall Pines, Vermont, the show centers on Alex Dempsey, a police officer navigating personal identity and family life while uncovering sinister activities at Tall Pines Academy, a therapeutic boarding school run by Toni Collette's character, Evelyn Wade. The series explores themes of manipulation, systemic abuse, and cult-like rituals within the school, drawing inspiration from Martin's own adolescence and personal experiences with similar institutions. Critics and fans have praised Collette's chilling performance and the show's engaging storytelling, with an 88% Rotten Tomatoes rating and strong viewer acclaim. "Wayward" combines psychological thriller elements with nuanced character development, highlighting the darker undercurrents beneath seemingly idyllic settings. Meanwhile, the crime drama "Dark Winds," set in the 1970s and starring Zahn McClarnon, is expanding its audience by releasing its third season on Netflix, continuing to follow Navajo police investigations and featuring Robert Redford's final onscreen role.