What happened to Leila in Wayward? Character’s fate explored

Wayward is a limited series on Netflix that aired in September 2025. Even though it has only eight episodes, this show has soon become a hot topic among psychological thriller enthusiasts. As far as the narrative is concerned, it revolves around a mysterious academy called 'Tall Pines Academy.'

This is not a regular institution. In fact, it is a special school for 'troubled' youngsters who are yet to learn discipline. Leila and Abbie are two such teenagers who are enrolled in this academy, but of course, against their will. They soon learn that the school has some extreme measures of operation, and, rather, it is no less than a cult run by Evelyn Wade.

Leila is sharp, cautious, and clearly tired of being told what is “best” for her. Unlike Abbie, Leila does not come from a place of safety or support outside the school, and that aspect does not shape almost every choice she makes later in the series. The duo bond over time and try to escape. But happens to Leila at the end of Wayward. She decides to stay back even after they managed to escape.

Leila in Wayward and the escape plan

In Wayward, Leila is a strong but skeptical character. She has faced harsh realities, but the line between the outside world and the academy is blurred for her. She has a general sense of distrust not only about the cult-like academy but about the world as well. Hence, she starts questioning Evelyn's ways more than Abbie does.

Soon, they developed a friendship, being the victims of the same wrath. Meanwhile, a police officer called Alex begins helping them, but Leila stays skeptical again. She listens, but she does not fully believe that escape guarantees freedom.

The actual plan

So here's what the plan looked like:

Abbie uses the postage stamps Alex secretly gave her earlier in the series. She writes a fake love letter to one of the guards, pretending it is from a long-distance admirer. The guard believes it and leaves his post to meet the supposed sender, and that small gap in security is all Abbie needs. While the guard is gone, Abbie sneaks out with Leila and Morty.

Abbie then cuts the power to the school at the right moment, and the blackout creates panic and confusion among the staff. Guards rush outside to find Abbie, thinking she escaped alone. Inside the school, the other students put on identical hoodies.

This makes it impossible to tell who actually escaped and who stayed behind, and Abbie blends into the group outside while the guards scramble.

Abbie and Leila make it out of the school, thinking there is no looking back, but then in a moment, something changes. Leila stops and looks back. She says that she does not want to escape and returns to the academy in Wayward.

Leila's decision

Leila's decision at the end of Wayward might strike as surprising or confusing, as she wanted to escape the place. But if we look deeper and consider her backstory and struggles, the outside world hasn't been gentle with her either. She realizes that control is better than chaos.

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Abbie has a safety net to catch her if she falls, but it is not the same for her. She can escape the academy, but that means she has to continue running. Additionally, the showrunners portrayed how captivity can feel like home if the outside world is scarier for you.

This is how overtly controlling institutions work anyway. They feed on the helpless and vulnerable ones. So, Leila's choice in Wayward might have disappointed fans, but reality is often disheartening.

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