I was not expecting the trailer for The Wayfinders to delight me as much as it did. So, call me tickled.
This is especially true since content for kids of a certain age (for youth from 12-17, which typically fits into the Parental Guidelines Rating System calls TV-PG and TV-14) is such an underserved market. I don't mean that there's not much content for this demographic– only that much of it is not appropriate. If it's not bad storytelling, it's straight up bad content.
But this, being a show that appears to be inspired by CS Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia, I think it strikes a chord. Because his stories are so great for kids of this age.
Watch this and see what I mean.
It's a tale of three high schoolers brought together by strange circumstances to travel to a medieval-style fantasy world and fulfill a prophesy to save a kingdom from destruction– and hopefully get out alive!
Having released on May 1st for Guild members I got to see the first episode, but it doesn't appear that it will reach the public until about December 2025. That's a big incentive to join the Guild because this appears to be a pretty fun series for kids of that teenage demographic.
There's popular music, references to make the kid heroes relatable, and some fun moments, but much of it does appear to be derivative of Narnia or other fun "kid-out-of-water stories." This time it's misunderstood high school kids that just need that little extra bit of support for "them being them." It also has an element of The Breakfast Club in which different types of kids have to learn to understand each other, when they themselves need understanding. And don't forget that element of Stranger Things in which high school kids gotta deal with altogether weird situations where nobody else "gets it," all under a backdrop of synthwave and 80's-tinged rock.
There's a lot for the older teenagers to like here, while nothing is too traumatic or horrific.
So, I'd recommend, if you are not a Guild member and cannot see it, watch The Wayfinders trailers at least, then go watch the Walden Media live action Chronicles of Narnia films if you want to scratch that CS Lewis fantasy itch!
Really aptly directed by Andrew Adamson and later, Michael Apted, these films always remind us of these simple joys of bravery, family, accepting yourself, and being willing to sacrifice for others.
The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005), Prince Caspian (2008) and The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (2010) were all an example of the great fantasy work that Hollywood used to be able to produce, in defense of the original source material they were based upon. This defense of source material is something that we do not now appear to be able to accomplish, since some sort of political agenda always seems to win sway over the story, just as we are now seeing with Netflix' 'Narnia' series that is now being directed by Hollywood's uber-feminist Greta Gerwig.
Read the story on this here.
Jon Croft
If you have not already signed the petition to stop Netflix from the continued feminization of great stories such as The Chronicles of Narnia (by transing the God of Narnia, Aslan into a woman), please visit that article and sign up now. And in the meantime, enjoy the old Narnia that ticks all those boxes– not of politics, but of real authentic storytelling that has meaning!
Then, maybe consider watching The Wayfinders, which is a surprisingly fun and enjoyable ride!
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Did you enjoy learning about 'The Wayfinders' and the authentic storytelling of CS Lewis that serves as apparent inspiration for this story? Let us know your thoughts down below (with sub) or on our social media!
