Critic Reviews

The benefit of The Wilds treading so much of the same glittering narrative water this season as it did in the first is familiarity, one that gives viewers a rock-steady structure to hold onto as they work to make sense of what are (now that Leah’s in on at least some of Gretchen’s sociopathic secrets in the post-island timeline) even twistier games of cat-and-mouse. ... I’m telling you now: it’s magic.

This is one strange and compelling and provocative and deeply involving impromptu sleepover.

That it lands so directly is credit to the performances of the nine actors at the center of the show: Sarah Pidgeon, Sophia Ali, Jenna Clause, Erana James, Mia Healey, Helena Howard, Reign Edwards, Shannon Berry, and Chi Nguyen.

Of course, the girls aren't there by accident — and each episode of The Wilds balances this mystery with woman-vs.-nature drama and flashbacks to the castaways' pre-crash life. Remarkably, both story tracks remain consistently engrossing throughout all 10 episodes, as the writers skillfully weave urgent island dilemmas with each character's personal challenges.

Come for the mysteries, stay for the raw emotional catharsis of watching these girls scream. The Wilds is a hell of a ride, and the only downside is that in these uncertain times of production, a second season isn't necessarily guaranteed. And that would be quite a shame, because not only does the final episode of this season leave us with plenty of questions to be answered, but by that point, we've gotten to know these girls so well, we genuinely care what happens to them next.

It’s not quite in that league [“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Veronica Mars”] yet, but it’s much closer than I expected it to be when it started or when I heard the premise. In many ways, it’s the most surprising show of the season. It's wild.

The show’s earnest charge is a nice change of pace from the bleak, empty cynicism and snark that so often infuse contemporary young adult-aimed TV series. The Wilds has slyer elements as well, particularly a canny critique of hashtag-girlboss corporate feminism that unfolds throughout the season’s second half. It helps, too, that the show looks great. ... Even better, The Wilds is the rare streaming series that earns its length.

The Wilds is a show that could have been a kitschy disaster, or one that’s so grim that it turns viewers off. But the girls who have to fend for themselves on this remote island are so well-defined that we’re finding ourselves intrigued by how they’ll change during their time together.

Of the many peeking over Damon Lindelof's shoulder to copy from Lost's bible, only one has shown the competence to come close to the masterwork of Lost's early seasons. It just took 16 years, and it's about teenage girls.

While adding boys into the mix takes away some of the singular magic of the first season, The Wilds remains an extremely entertaining and beautifully performed series.