theguardian.com
Wayward: A Review of Mae Martin's Mystery Drama
Mae Martin's "Wayward" is an eight-part mystery drama set in 2003, exploring a troubled teen industry in Vermont, where a police officer investigates a seemingly idyllic academy with dark secrets, uncovering connections to his wife's past.
- What is the central theme explored in "Wayward", and what are its immediate implications?
- Wayward" centers on the exploitative "troubled teen industry", showcasing how privately run institutions abuse vulnerable teenagers. The show immediately highlights the industry's manipulative practices and the devastating impact on victims and their families.
- How does the show connect the personal struggles of the characters to the broader systemic issues?
- The show links the protagonist's investigation into Tall Pines Academy to his wife's past trauma as a student there, illustrating how the academy's manipulative practices create long-lasting damage. This connects the personal to the systemic issues within the troubled teen industry.
- What are the long-term implications and potential future impact of the themes presented in "Wayward"?
- Wayward" suggests that the troubled teen industry's lasting effects extend beyond individual trauma, impacting future generations. By exposing these practices, the show aims to raise awareness and encourage reform within the system, potentially impacting policy and regulation.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The review presents a generally positive view of the show, highlighting its strengths while acknowledging its flaws. The framing focuses on the compelling aspects of the plot and performances, particularly Toni Collette's portrayal of Evelyn Wade. While the critique mentions the show's attempts to tackle multiple themes, it doesn't frame these attempts as failures but rather as ambitious efforts that don't fully succeed. The positive tone and emphasis on the show's watchability might overshadow some of its shortcomings, but this doesn't necessarily constitute a severe framing bias.
Language Bias
The language used is largely descriptive and evaluative, using terms like "utterly magnificently played", "excellently eerie vibe", and "horrible grownups." While these terms are subjective, they don't appear overtly biased or manipulative. The use of "kidnapped" to describe the teens' transport to the academy is strong, but reflects the show's plot and the reviewer's interpretation. The reviewer also uses "cultish argot" and "struggle sessions" which are more evaluative terms but are used to describe the setting. Neutral alternatives might be 'specialized jargon' or 'group therapy sessions'.
Bias by Omission
The review focuses primarily on the plot, characters, and performances, offering limited analysis of the show's exploration of the troubled teen industry. While it mentions the show's attempt to interrogate the industry, parents, and profiteers, it doesn't delve deeply into the accuracy or effectiveness of this portrayal. This omission might prevent a comprehensive assessment of the show's social commentary. There is also no discussion of the ethical considerations of portraying sensitive topics such as child abuse.
Sustainable Development Goals
The show highlights the negative impacts of the troubled teen industry, exposing abusive practices within institutions that are supposed to provide education and rehabilitation. These institutions fail to offer quality education and instead inflict harm on vulnerable youth, hindering their development and well-being. The depiction of abusive practices, including physical and psychological abuse and hints of sexual abuse, directly contradicts the principles of safe and nurturing learning environments promoted by SDG 4.