THE WILDS is an eleven-episode Amazon Prime Video TV series about a group of young women who are stranded on an island after an apparent plane crash. I’ll have to admit, I enjoyed watching the show. However, if you’re not into YA, dystopian, survival genre, you may not be interested. Also, don’t judge the show by the first episode, which is relatively cheesy  as it showcases the girls, each of whom is one more irritating than the other.

Someone described the series as MEAN GIRLS meets LORD OF THE FLIES, but that characterization is reductionistic and inaccurate. It’s more complex than that. After the first episode, the remaining ten delve into the life of each girl via compelling flashbacks. In most cases, this backstory helps the viewer feel empathy for the character. The episodes also portray the present-day happenings on the island, which enables us to see how the girls interact with one another and how they face the escalating challenges to survive.

Overall, I thought the acting was good. The actress who portrayed Leah did a nice job of showing us what it looks like when someone slowly becomes unhinged. However, some of the portrayals felt stereotypical. For example, the depiction of a Christian, Southern belle (Shelby), felt over the top, sounding more like a broad brush political statement than a rendering of a flesh and blood person. The actress who played Shelby gave a good performance despite the writing.

The story twists held my attention from episode to episode. At the same time, the plot contained holes the size of the Grand Canyon. Don’t think too hard about the details or  you will be frustrated. Perhaps Season 2 will resolve these plot issues, if there is a Season 2. So far, covid restrictions have held up filming. By the time it comes out, it might be billed, THE WILDS, GRANDMOMS STRIVE TO SURVIVE ON DESERT ISLAND.

My biggest criticism of the show is the ending. Not a lot is resolved by Episode 11. Clearly, they expected to produce Season 2 in short order. I understand the need to have include a hook in the last episode to draw you into the next season, but I also needed some resolution. The final scene of Season 1 found me yelling, “Aaaarrrrgggghhh!” at my screen.

Regardless, I’m glad I watched this. I found the backstories fascinating. Overall, I liked how the past and present stories were woven together. Would I recommend it? Maybe, especially if you write YA literature or are interested the genre.