Tall Pines, from the outside, looks like a perfect community idyllic, serene, and unbothered. Nothing seems out of place. Yet from the moment we step inside, there’s an undeniable sense that something is off.
Alex Dempsey (Mae Martin), a cop searching for a fresh start, moves with his pregnant wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) to remote Vermont. Their arrival sparks the beginning of this eight-episode thriller that blends dark humour, a cult-like atmosphere, and an eerie slow burn that never quite lets you settle.
The unsettling heart of the series lies with Evelyn (Toni Collette), the founder of Tall Pines Academy. The school is meant to rehabilitate troubled kids, but what it really does is blur the line between discipline and psychological warfare. Evelyn radiates charm, warmth, and a playful façade, but beneath that veneer is something far more dangerous. Her presence makes every interaction feel like a trap you can’t quite see until it snaps shut.
Adding to the strangeness are best friends Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind) and Abby (Sydney Topcliffe), shipped across the border from Canada after their parents tire of their truancy. They fit into the narrative like puzzle pieces that don’t quite belong awkward, sharp, and impossible to ignore.
The young ensemble cast is stellar, but Stacey (Isolde Ardies) in particular stands out. She steals nearly every scene she’s in, offering a rawness and unpredictability that raises the stakes of every moment.
Mae Martin’s new series Wayward is especially exciting because not only did they create the show, but they also served as the showrunner and took on one of the leading roles. It’s rare to see someone wear so many hats in a project of this scale, and it speaks to Mae’s creativity, vision, and range as an artist. Having such a strong voice guiding the series both behind the scenes and on screen makes Wayward feel like a deeply personal and unique project one that’s even cooler knowing Mae was at the heart of it all.
What makes Tall Pines compelling isn’t just the story it’s the unease it plants in you. The show isn’t so much entertaining as it is unnerving, with tension that never breaks. It’s creepy, strange, and sometimes frustrating, but it has that rare quality of sticking in your mind long after the credits roll.
For me, it was less about being thrilled and more about being unsettled. It’s not an easy watch, but it is one that lingers. Give it a chance you may not love it, but you won’t forget it.