Saagar Kote
Netflix’s ‘Wayward’ is a tale of deception, secrecy, teenage fragility, and family. Created by Mae Martin, the mystery thriller drama series explores the life of Alex Dempsey, a new cop in the town of Tall Pines who gets dangerously obsessed with the happenings in and around the Tall Pines Academy, a school for troubled teenagers. The academy is run by Evelyn Wade, who is one of the most important characters in the narrative. Her ability to control others and influence their opinions makes her a dangerous presence in the school. She is able to run the school through propaganda, gaslighting, and carefully constructed behavioral patterns. Her book “Breaking the Pattern” is a significant part of her character arc, as it reflects her views on society, trauma, and morality. Both Evelyn and her book play a major role in determining the fates of the students who are forced to become part of the academy. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Evelyn Wade is a Cult Leader Masquerading as a Headmistress
Despite being a fictional character, Evelyn Wade’s presence on screen leads to fear, violence, and death. The creator, Mae Martin, who also serves as the writer, along with Ryan Scott, Alex Eldridge, Kayla Lorette, and others, developed the character to make her an antagonist with complex emotional layers. Evelyn seems to be in control of every room she enters, and she is also the de facto leader of the town. Using the institution as a mask, she actually runs a cult in the academy and the town, cementing her influence and control over every student and resident. Thus, the town of Tall Pines and the academy are run under her watchful eye. She controls the behaviors of others and also makes them feel shame and guilt if they break the patterns she sets.
In an interview with Collider, Toni Collette, who plays Evelyn in the show, opined that she was going for a specific vibe when approaching the character. When asked about how she found the core of Evelyn’s character, the actress said, “I actually think it was in a costume fitting when I tried on the glasses that I wear. It just did something really weird and appropriate. I mean, my character is not evil, but I want her to, at times, feel threatening, and I think the glasses bring on a kind of serial killer vibe.” The character feels genuinely terrifying when she is in a room with vulnerable teenagers, who are already consumed by insecurity.
Many real-life serial killers in the past have been known to wear glasses, and Evelyn’s look in the show is presumably inspired by them. The most prominent examples include Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Kemper, Harold Shipman, and even the Zodiac killer, who were known to wear glasses. Evelyn’s presence induces fear and insecurity, and her glasses are more than just an accessory, because they establish a disturbingly spiritual connection between her and real-life killers.
Evelyn’s position as the head of a youth program allows her to exert influence over the minds of vulnerable teenagers. The troubled teen industry in real life is known to be one where adults in positions of power are able to take control of the lives of at-risk teenagers and then shape their behavior as they see fit. Evelyn’s character reflects this shocking reality, where she is able to establish deep mental connections with her students by exploiting her authority as the person leading a cult, by calling it an initiative for youth empowerment.
Evelyn’s aura is that of dictators who present themselves as benevolent individuals. The way Evelyn preys on the emotional vulnerabilities of teenagers makes her a formidable threat to the people around her. Not only does she head a cult, but she has an army of young people at her disposal, whose behaviors she can construct in ways she sees fit. Though the character is fictional, her methods, her views, and her insatiable need to be in control reflect a terrifying sociopolitical reality.
Breaking the Pattern is a Propaganda Book Meant to Influence Vulnerable Students
One of the most important tools at Evelyn’s disposal is her book “Breaking the Pattern,” which serves as both a source of propaganda and a reflection of the headmistress’s views on human morality. She quotes from the book to begin “Hot Seat” proceedings, wherein students are supposed to be brutally honest and vent out their feelings. Though the book is a fictional creation, it reflects a terrifying reality of brainwashing young minds. The book’s title suggests that one is supposed to break the patterns of life that cause sadness. However, Evelyn uses it to justify harsher things. In an important hot seat sequence in the show, she quotes from her book and says that students are supposed to break the patterns. The book also says that birth is not anyone’s fault, and that people are supposed to lead their lives with ruthless clarity.
However, Evelyn uses these phrases to justify things like stopping the birth of children in her cult. The town of Tall Pines is unique since it has only cultists who migrated there and not a single naturally born child. The book has a major role to play in this context as it serves as a justification for Evelyn’s dangerous views. Though there are no exact real-life counterparts or examples that are similar to “Breaking the Pattern,” it reflects a terrifying social reality wherein vulnerable individuals are easily manipulated by books that cleverly hide their real goals.
Read More: Wayward Episode 1 and 2 Recap: Does Leila Save Abbie?
