Wayward Pines

:

Season 1
  • Network: FOX
  • Series Premiere Date: May 14, 2015
Season #: 2, 1
User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 246 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 175 out of 246
  2. Mixed: 44 out of 246
  3. Negative: 27 out of 246
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User Reviews

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  1. romanontherun
    Jul 26, 2015
    4
    I'm gonna divide the show for three parts:
    1) First 4 episodes - there a thriller, plot keep you moving and mystery does not loose grip in your head: what behind the fence? who is on the phone? what about time shifts? why this people are even following the rules? and why this rules? aliens, corporations, supernatural beings, afterlife, hallucinations - all is possible and it's awesome.    I'm gonna divide the show for three parts:
    1) First 4 episodes - there a thriller, plot keep you moving and mystery does not loose grip in your head: what behind the fence? who is on the phone? what about time shifts? why this people are even following the rules? and why this rules? aliens, corporations, supernatural beings, afterlife, hallucinations - all is possible and it's awesome.
    Strong 9 out of 10.

    2) The last of the season - okay...now the mystery is gone, we know the truth. And everything falling apart, all previous suspense is gone. You can not help but to notice faults in very core of this show. Characters behaviour which was odd and mysterious before - is just plain dumb now. Plot holes becomes not mysteries and atmosphere - they become just this: plot holes. And the moment you stop believing in logic of this show - you can not take it seriously:

    - we expect to believe that people just okay with surveillance, phone calls and the rules. No one ask about it, everyone just follows like nothing happens. for YEARS. But everyone knows about the chip, how to pass the surveillance and it's not even hard.

    - we expect to believe that people are afraid but there is no guards, no automatic turrets, no punishment aside of...sherif killing people on the street with a knife. Like no one ever think of uprising? with you know - bats, hatchets and stuff? About beating the truth out of sherif? He is obviously knows something and he is the only guy with the gun...

    - we expect to believe what escaping is impossible, yet sherif is holding...KEYS TO THE FENCE in his pocket and main character actually just, well, escaped.

    - there is very creepy hospital (and - suddenly! - just normal hospital in second half), fence, fake money (how do they have the economy if food is free, and there is no actual production of anything?) - but nobody talks about it, like meh. There is even an REAL ESTATE AGENCY which whole purpose is giving houses for free.

    - they entrust the truth to CHILDREN, and not just truth - but with proof (coins) and we expect to believe that the truth have not leaked out? for YEARS?

    - the truth is not that scary. We told that adults can't handle it, yet every single character in the show is actually handling it very well. No one even cried or weeped, or even blinked.

    - we don't get any explanation - why BOTHER WITH TOWN AT ALL. I mean - if the focus is the children - why adults? and there are clearly adults who can handle the truth (LOTS of them actually) - why bother building town, surveillance for whose who don't - and maintaining it?

    episodes 5-10 is just 2 out of 10.

    3) Ending is just...well it just ruined any plot, idea and characters which was left (which was not much). In last 2 minutes everything characters was fighting for was just reverted with no explanation at all. It's plain 0 out of 10.

    this is actually Under the Dome bad, my advice - stop at episode 4, or even episode 3.    … Expand
  2. Bo33y
    May 31, 2015
    4
    Insheeption add wickerman add a dome, Ehhh Darma?

    Dystopia requiring the funding it would take to run a small country if indeed it is not somekind of virtual hook up Everything feels strained, I give it a season. The plot is developing quickly, not quite horrorific or mysterious enough, rather convenient, becoming, what will be thrown in their next. They might as well add in some    Insheeption add wickerman add a dome, Ehhh Darma?

    Dystopia requiring the funding it would take to run a small country if indeed it is not somekind of virtual hook up

    Everything feels strained, I give it a season. The plot is developing quickly, not quite horrorific or mysterious enough, rather convenient, becoming, what will be thrown in their next. They might as well add in some dinosaurs, aliens and transformers before we get to any ending. All because he is a top agent's secret in wonderland.    … Expand
  3. Nikola
    Jun 24, 2015
    5
    When show start I find that is "Twin Peaks meet Twilight Zone",
    but story turn in some other direction.
    I have the impression that creators of the series did not have a clear idea of the direction in which to develop series.
    Good acting, but as I said after 3-4 episodes seems like producers run new one tv show.
  4. Knighthawk81
    May 14, 2015
    5
    There is a reason that this project was first announced by FOX at its Upfronts presentation in May 2013 and is just now airing. It's been in the can for a long while, but it's never made it to air. It could have been good. It's a wild, weird story with a great cast. But the first episode, while moody, doesn't really do enough to build these characters and the world. Some have compared thisThere is a reason that this project was first announced by FOX at its Upfronts presentation in May 2013 and is just now airing. It's been in the can for a long while, but it's never made it to air. It could have been good. It's a wild, weird story with a great cast. But the first episode, while moody, doesn't really do enough to build these characters and the world. Some have compared this to "Twin Peaks," but to me the pilot doesn't rise to that level. It's a fascinating idea, and it could certainly improve, but the first episode was only so-so.… Expand
  5. killercorgi
    May 14, 2015
    4
    Shyamalan blew his load so quick that I don't know what else Wayward Pines has to offer. It seems like it would've been a better plot for one of his mediocre movies than it is for a full television series.
  6. DMH
    May 20, 2015
    6
    Since I am a fan of Matt Dillon, I decided to watch. I am not a fan of Shamaylan's work, since he cannot deliver the goods, but, I took a look. OK, so all 'overly observant' Secret Service agents and probably other similar kind are sent to the American version of a "Pleasantville", "Truman Show" bucolic town as punishment for seeing past their nose. Why Shamaylan blew that cover in theSince I am a fan of Matt Dillon, I decided to watch. I am not a fan of Shamaylan's work, since he cannot deliver the goods, but, I took a look. OK, so all 'overly observant' Secret Service agents and probably other similar kind are sent to the American version of a "Pleasantville", "Truman Show" bucolic town as punishment for seeing past their nose. Why Shamaylan blew that cover in the first episode is confusing to me, so we will have to see where it goes from there. I think it might keep my interest if is becomes less predictable.… Expand
  7. ronbc
    Jun 22, 2015
    5
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Don't read this if you haven't watched Episode 6 yet.

    At the very heart of the otherwise suspenseful and readable Wayward Pines trilogy is a plausible scientific event that occurs in an impossible time frame. It's such an outrageous anomaly that I couldn't get past it when reading the trilogy, and I don't see how the TV series can avoid the same problem.

    No, it's not a little technical mistake, like those so popular with fans of any of the old Star Trek TV series. This is a biological doozie, one that makes the entire series too unbelievable, even after one suspends one's disbelief.

    Too bad, because the TV series so far is otherwise quite good!    … Expand
  8. Willy928
    Jun 11, 2015
    6
    Nice diversion with a lot of plot twist. The premise is the standard big government, evil corporation gone wild for some sinister reason. However as stated Wayward pines is a great way to spend an hour with my wife.
  9. JudeObscura
    Oct 30, 2016
    5
    My main problem with the show is the lack of a proper B story-line. We're always with the Matt Dillon character; the rare times we're not, we're with his wife, who's worried about Matt, and wants to find him (*boring*! You know you're dealing with male writers when they can't think of anything else a woman might be doing with her time). Even 24-minute sitcoms can't pull it off with only anMy main problem with the show is the lack of a proper B story-line. We're always with the Matt Dillon character; the rare times we're not, we're with his wife, who's worried about Matt, and wants to find him (*boring*! You know you're dealing with male writers when they can't think of anything else a woman might be doing with her time). Even 24-minute sitcoms can't pull it off with only an A story-line. I really don't know how Shylaman managed to make 2 decent movies - I highly suspect Bruce Willis has something to do with those movies being very good.… Expand
  10. akila1
    Jun 25, 2016
    4
    I'm not sure why people like this show, maybe because I've been watching Season Two which is very different than the first season. I've never heard a show repeat it's own name so much in it's dialogue. It's as if they think there viewers are mentally challenged and need to be reminded that they are watching "Wayward Pines" every two minutes. I stopped watching after 3 shows.
  11. AxeT
    Jul 20, 2015
    6
    The scenario is really nothing new here, but features the signature M. Night Shyamalan (even though he didn't write the source material) rug pull (and he certainly in no way came up with that, but helped bring it back into vogue). And this is to mixed effect. On the one hand high marks for the mystery, on the other low for all its many contrivances that add up to a slightly less thanThe scenario is really nothing new here, but features the signature M. Night Shyamalan (even though he didn't write the source material) rug pull (and he certainly in no way came up with that, but helped bring it back into vogue). And this is to mixed effect. On the one hand high marks for the mystery, on the other low for all its many contrivances that add up to a slightly less than satisfying experience. Matt Dillon is reliably solid as usual.… Expand
  12. bnm
    Jul 24, 2015
    4
    Not sure about this series. Its like "The Prisoner" meets "Lost". I'm waiting for Patrick Mcgoohan and a big white bubble to show up and eat people. I guess referencing the Prisoner dates me too much... most viewers of this series wouldn't know this is a bit of a repeat. Although, its looking very walking deadish of late.

Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Most Discussed TV Season of 2015
53
#53 Most Shared TV Season of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 34 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 34
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 34
  3. Negative: 1 out of 34
  1. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    Reviewed by: Matt Zoller Seitz
    May 15, 2015
    70
    It's TV designed for people who watch a lot of TV and know a lot of TV, and aren't necessarily coming into Wayward Pines to be stunned by its novelty but to see if a group of talented actors, writers, and filmmakers can stitch a crazy quilt of influences into something coherent and pleasurable. They do. But it takes a while.
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  2. The Detroit News
    Reviewed by: Tom Long
    May 14, 2015
    75
    It’s not going anywhere you’d likely suspect, and the big reveal episodes have a lot of explaining to do, but this hyper-paranoid, time-twisting and addictive show is actually laying a foundation for something. How that something eventually plays out remains a question, but the ride there is an undeniable kick.
    Read full review
  3. Boston Herald
    Reviewed by: Mark A. Perigard
    May 14, 2015
    75
    Come for the mystery, stay for the performances.
    Read full review
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