Wilderness
By Melissa Camacho,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Uneven revenge thriller has infidelity, drinking, cursing.
Add your rating
A Lot or a Little?
What you will—and won't—find in this TV show.
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Wilderness
Community Reviews
Based on 1 parent review
To many words like Dick and the language did not mention that!
What's the Story?
Based on the book by B.E. Jones of the same name, WILDERNESS is a thriller about infidelity, anger, and revenge. Liv Taylor (Jenna Coleman) gave up her life in London when her husband Will (Oliver-Jackson Cohen) accepted a job in New York City. They seem to be living an idyllic life in the U.S., but when Liv discovers that her husband is cheating on her with his co-worker, Cara (Ashley Benson), her world is turned upside down. In an attempt to make amends for what he claims was a drunken mistake, Will convinces her that they should go on the cross-country road trip she's always wanted to take as a way of repairing their marriage. Even on vacation, Liv has a hard time forgiving him, and when she learns that Will is still cheating on her with the same woman, she's committed to using the trip to end his life in a way that looks like an accident.
Is It Any Good?
This crime drama is entertaining but pretty uneven. Wilderness uses flashbacks and first-person narration to tell the story of a woman consumed by revenge, and the complicated events that transpire as a result. Will's semi-blatant infidelity makes it easy to despise him, and makes his wife's desire to kill him seem forgivable. Meanwhile, Liv transitions from a wronged wife to a predator, but sometimes in ways that don't always make her a sympathetic character. As the plot unfolds, it's hard to side with either of them, or Cara, who's portrayed as someone who we should feel both angry at and sorry for.
Instead, viewers have to accept that no one is guided by a sense of morality, and watch as they destroy each other and themselves. It's strangely intriguing, but there are some gaps in the story that raise questions that never get answered. That said, Wilderness still offers an overall viewing experience filled with foreboding and suspense that makes it worth checking out.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about shows and movies that feature unlikeable characters. Do you think they're always unlikable on purpose? Or can it be a result of bad writing or acting?
Does Wilderness explain Liv's relationship with Cara? How? Are you surprised by it?
TV Details
- Premiere date: September 15, 2023
- Cast: Jenna Coleman , Oliver Jackson-Cohen , Ashley Benson
- Network: Amazon Prime Video
- Genre: Drama
- TV rating: TV-MA
- Last updated: October 19, 2023
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.
Suggest an Update
Where to Watch
Our Editors Recommend
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate