Wayward Pines (2015) | Series Review

Mythology is a popular phenomenon in today’s television. Where we as a society were once consumed with the brand of TV that would conveniently wrap up the week’s events with a tidy bow at the end of each episode, we now demand a deeper introspection into the worlds we choose to live in. Whether it stems from two government agents investigating the paranormal, or a magical island that harbors smoke demons and polar bears – we need MORE. This demand for mythology has created some great and some awful TV series in the past few years. What makes a mythology click is almost as much of a mystery as whatever story their creators are telling.

Now comes celebrated (both positively and negatively) filmmaker M. Knight Shyamalan and creator Chad Hodge with their latest rock to toss into the river of mythology: Wayward Pines. Based on Blake Crouch’s series of books, FOX’s new series is being sold as a 10-episode limited event run, which means this story has an end game, a factor necessary for a great mythology. Judging from the first half of this initial season, I can confidently say this is also one worth investing in.

Matt Dillon stars as Ethan Burke, a Secret Service agent who suddenly wakes up after a car crash (in what appears to be a subtle nod to genre-favorite, LOST) in the small, cozy town of Wayward Pines, Idaho. Of course, this town is NOT like every other small town. The first person Burke comes in contact with is Nurse Pam (Melissa Leo), apparently the town’s only medical resource and also the owner of the show’s initial quirky dialogue. I say initial because many critics will equate this show to Twin Peaks for its odd and dreamy tone in the pilot, but that tone clearly exits by the end of that first episode, with the series developing its own solid voice by the conclusion of the third. To explain how it evolves would be to spoil the events of the series, so rest assured you will soon find out for yourself.

We come to find out that Burke was investigating the disappearance of two fellow agents, including Kate (Carla Gugino), whom he recently had an affair with. After a car crash, Wayward Pines is where he ends up, and ironically is also exactly where he needs to be. As he wanders throughout the seemingly normal small town, encountering more and more unique characters -such as Sheriff Pope (Terrence Howard), Dr. Jenkins (Toby Jones), and Beverly (Juliette Lewis) – he begins to realize that this is no ordinary town. In fact, this town is quite extraordinary. I mean, where are all the damn crickets?

Back home in Seattle, Burke’s wife, Theresa (Shannyn Sossamon) and their son, Ben, begin their determined search for where Ethan has disappeared to. This is a subplot that that is introduced in the pilot going seemingly nowhere, only to become extremely prominent as the series continues. This happens quite a bit in Wayward Pines. Characters and situations that seem trivial in one episode, become focal plot points in the next.

The best part about a truncated event series such as this, is the creators can play with the characters however they wish because it won’t matter as much who is still standing by the series finale. This is a one-way trip (unless the ratings are stellar, of course). Wayward Pines is very much a series where no character is safe, including your favorites, and that is what makes it so intriguing. There are so many quality actors here, established and versatile, that we already have an immediate connection to them as soon as they hit the screen. This helps afford the creators the opportunity to quickly move along to the next story point without missing a beat, and when the story is served better by a character’s exit, we are hit that much harder.

By the end of the fifth episode, you will understand exactly what kind of series this is, and especially what is really going on in Wayward Pines. Sure, there are still a few mysteries to uncover, but the series does an admirable job with letting the audience in on the town’s true mythology without dragging it on unnaturally until the final episode. Whether you remain a fan of the series after this will depend solely on how you feel about the town’s ultimate secret. For me, it works. Not only does it work, it fired me up to see how everything will come to its rollicking conclusion.

That is as much as I want to explain about Wayward Pines. As with all heavily mythological shows, the discovery is the most exciting part of the journey. Dillon does a fine job at creating yet another TV anti-hero, a good man with some bad history, in Ethan Burke. As we follow him on his journey, we are also treated to more than a few entertaining twists, an eerie atmosphere, and performances from actors we already love. This is a town that already feels lived in.

As summer heats up, and we are all looking for something new or unique to watch, Wayward Pines is a nice detour from the typical seasonal drought.

Wayward Pines begins airing May 14^th on FOX at 9PM EST /8PM C

Aaron Peterson
The Hollywood Outsider