Netflix’s Wayward stirs real trauma as viewers call out its depiction of the Troubled Teen Industry

Netflix’s Wayward is a lightning rod for one of America’s darkest open secrets: the Troubled Teen Industry (TTI). The TTI refers to a web of so-called “therapeutic” boarding schools, boot camps, and behavior modification centers that claim to reform struggling teens but have long been accused of emotional and physical abuse. Survivors have spent decades fighting to expose these facilities, many of which still operate today under new names and loopholes.

These real institutions inspire Wayward (created by Mae Martin and Sarah Gadon), which follows a group of teens trapped inside a deceptive “rehabilitation” program that promises healing but thrives on control.

Martin and Gadon wanted to find out how care can be weaponized. However, many viewers who watched the series found it too personal, leading to an argument about trauma representation and liability on screen.

Reddit reactions say it’s triggering, not thoughtful

On Reddit, the response was deeply personal.

In one viral thread, a user wrote, “Wayward is god awful, and if someone wants to argue, let’s hash it out.”

Their post opened a floodgate of responses.

"This show left me feeling very off," one user shared. "What was the point the showrunners were trying to make? Do they think the 'academy' has merit? It sure seemed like they were suggesting that." Another added, "A kid (...) won’t know how to say they’re abused, that (...) thread went nowhere."

Some viewers saw value in its discomfort, though. Yet for survivors, that wasn’t enough. A viewer countered that the series "started off as decent."

Others described the show as evoking déjà vu. "I understand the criticisms, but as sensationalized as it was, it made things that happened to me make way more sense," wrote one commenter. The discussion evolved into a reflection on what healing looks like after institutional abuse.

How could Wayward have better portrayed the Troubled Teen Industry?

According to Tudum, Martin and Gadon intended Wayward to mirror the fog of manipulation and how institutions can masquerade as sanctuaries. The ambiguous ending meant that survival doesn’t always bring closure.

Still, many viewers felt the show fell short in grounding its fiction within the movement survivors built. Redditors pointed out that Wayward avoided naming real institutions or linking to survivor advocacy groups like Breaking Code Silence, which was a missed opportunity to connect art with activism.

"It’s been 24 years since I got out, but I still have nightmares that I’m being taken by my parents and put back in the school at the age I am now as an adult," one user opened up. Others noted that the show framed trauma through aesthetic horror rather than survivor voices. "They really tried to paint the woman leading the school as doing good," wrote another.

According to critics, the show glamorized the practices it condemned. For example, prolonged, surreal "therapy" sessions and eerily smiling employees created fascinating visuals but blurred moral boundaries. "I don't like our trauma being turned into entertainment," one survivor summed up.

As suggested by many commenters, a more genuine portrayal would include survivor-led accounts, long-term recovery follow-up, and awareness of ongoing efforts to reform in the real TTI.

Trending

Wayward is now on Netflix.

NEXT UP: Wayward Season 2 needs to answer these questions

×

Was this article helpful?

Thank You for feedback