‘The Wilds’ Season 2 Review: The Boys Have Arrived

“So if we’re talking about what happened out there…then yeah, there was trauma. But being a teenage girl in normal-ass America? That was the real living hell.” 

– Leah

It’s hard to believe the first season of Amazon Prime’s riveting YA drama The Wilds dropped all the way back in late 2020. The psychological thriller from Sarah Streicher follows the plight of eight teenage girls after their plane “crashes” on a remote island (we’re talking serious “Lost” vibes, conspiracies and all).

Season one goes beyond simply sheltering beneath palm fronds and foraging expeditions, exploring notions of survival both on and off the island. Because at the end of the day, the reality is, being a teenage girl is hard. From body image issues to newfound sexuality to mental health – the first season of The Wilds seeks to tackle real issues teens grapple with every day.

Looming over it all? A carefully orchestrated ruse. A social experiment engineered by Gretchen Klein (Rachel Griffiths) to prove the efficacy of a matriarchal-led society. What are we doing? Taking down the patriarchy! How are we doing it? By empowering…weaponizing science and using unethical practices! So, yeah, you see the issue here. 

Season one concludes with a cliffhanger, as Leah (Sarah Pidgeon) discovers surveillance footage of another unwitting group of kids – only this time, it’s all boys. 

Here Come the Boys

The sophomore season kicks off with a montage of videos introducing the new soon-to-be-stranded “control” group. Like the girls, the boys journey through the physical and emotional turmoil of surviving the (staged) plane crash, expecting a quick rescue. As one of the boys points out, there’s no such thing as an undiscovered island in today’s world, so surely help is on its way (Hint: it’s not).

With such a large ensemble this season, the new character arcs aren’t given the room to fully blossom and develop. Their backstories fail to shed light on who they really are as individuals nor highlight experiences unique to growing up as a teenage boy. While each of the new narratives are woven together in an engaging way, the male characters lack nuance. They all fall into wildly oversimplified stereotypes – the jock, the nerd, the emo kid. 

Each of the girls was given the space to peel back their layers, face their demons, come together, and grow from their experiences on the island. The boys, on the other hand, felt heavily caricatured; and pressing issues that deserved the spotlight were only given surface-level attention. Despite contrasting coping mechanisms – i.e. the girls turning inward vs. the boys reacting outwardly – it doesn’t prove Gretchen’s hypothesis (even though she believes it does). It’s clear that both approaches are destructive in their own ways. 

All of this takes place as we jump back into the girls’ storyline, with hope unraveling into despair despite small moments punctuated by slivers of joy. From Toni (Erana James) and Shelby’s (Mia Healey) budding relationship to Leah and Rachel (Reign Edwards) navigating their respective traumas, the actresses bring even more depth to each character’s journey this season. 

Final Thoughts

The show certainly has a lot to say and succeeds at keeping viewers on the edge of their seats. The sophomore season of The Wilds plants new seeds of mystery and confronts many of the themes explored in its maiden run – domestic violence, racism, sexuality. And in true “Maze Runner” fashion, we’re left wondering how far people are willing to go in the name of “the greater good.”

Overall, season two felt rushed, causing it to lose its beautiful and brutally honest exploration of adolescence that was such a treat in season one. However, I felt the girls’ storylines continued to deliver in a satisfying way. And hey, the show kept me planted on the couch for an entire day, so the entertainment factor can’t be denied.

Rating: 4/5

Season 2 of The Wilds premieres Friday, May 6, on Amazon Prime Video.

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