Category: The Bangkok Post

Agricultural innovation and sustainable growth took centre stage at Farm Expo 2025, where CLP Group led the way in presenting new technologies, knowledge and partnerships under the theme ‘Empowering A Better Life.’ The event at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani highlighted how the company is moving beyond machinery to create a platform of opportunity that drives real transformation for Thai farmers and entrepreneurs.

This year, CLP Group went beyond displaying machinery and technology, creating a true ‘platform of opportunity’ for farmers, entrepreneurs and value chain partners to see how agricultural transformation can begin today.

Highlight Zones Driving Real Impact

Empowering Income – Visitors explored innovations such as the TEC Biomass Dryer, which reduces energy costs by more than 30%, and the CBR350 Rice Mill, which increases product value by up to 20% compared with traditional methods. These solutions reaffirm that CLP’s technology is not merely machinery but a tool to enhance farmers’ income and long-term security.

Empowering Knowledge – Expert-led forums covered strategies across the value chain, from seed selection and processing innovation to premium market positioning. Participants-including entrepreneurs, farmer groups, students and the public-confirmed they left with practical insights for application in their own fields.

Empowering Network – CLP also created spaces for farmers and local entrepreneurs to connect with business partners, leading to pilot orders and promising future collaborations.

Building a Foundation for the Future

A key milestone of this year’s expo was the signing of an MoU with Rajamangala University of Technology Srivijaya to advance research and development in agricultural technologies. The partnership aims to foster innovation that can be practically applied in farming communities while supporting sustainable business models.

In addition, CLP’s Chief Executive Officer, Vachara Leegomonchai, engaged with teachers and students on the theme ‘The Future of Agriculture and Innovation.’ These discussions will feed into the upcoming Green Academy Leaders initiative, designed to nurture a new generation of youth leaders with the vision to drive sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship.

Honouring Agricultural Innovators

Another highlight was the presentation of the CLP Agricultural Innovator Awards 2025, which recognised outstanding farmers who have pioneered innovations across multiple categories. The awards underscore CLP’s commitment to celebrating farmers not only as producers but also as true developers and changemakers within the agricultural sector.

Miss Vachara Leegomonchai, Chief Executive Officer of CLP Group, remarked: ‘For us, ‘Empowering A Better Life’ is not just a slogan-it is a promise. This event proves that farmers and entrepreneurs can return home with the knowledge, tools and networks needed to build secure and sustainable livelihoods.’

The success of Farm Expo 2025 confirms that CLP Group is not only a leader in agricultural machinery but is also stepping forward as a partner for growth for Thai farmers. By building a connected value chain from farm to global markets, CLP continues to advance its vision of ‘Empowering A Better Life’ at every level of society.

The Board of Directors of Thai Oil Public Company Limited has approved the Asset Monetization plan, which will raise over THB 18 billion to strengthen the Company’s financial position and reduce debt, while continuing to utilise the leased assets through a leaseback arrangement without interrupting ongoing operations. The company plans to propose the project for shareholders approval on 9 December 2025.

Thai Oil Public Company Limited (TOP) led by Mr Bandhit Thamprajamchit, Chief Executive Officer and President of Thai Oil Plc, stated that on 25 September 2025, the Board approved the establishment of a new subsidiary, with PTT Tank holding a 49% stake. This subsidiary will invest in a 21-year long-term lease of selected infrastructure assets, located in Si Racha District, Chonburi Province, including crude oil storage tanks, Single Buoy Mooring (SBM), lorry loading station, and associated land.

TOP is entering a leaseback arrangement of the assets back to the company for ongoing oil refinery business. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company will realise additional cash inflows, thereby reinforcing its financial position, improving key financial ratios, and enhancing its capital recycling.

‘This Asset Monetization initiative is aligned with the Company’s strategic direction to strengthen its financial position. This transaction will provide stable long-term cash inflows from leased assets while allowing TOP to continue utilising them in its operations. It also creates additional value from existing infrastructure assets and helps reduce long-term financial risks amid dynamic economic and industrial environments,’ added Bandhit.

The collaboration with PTT Tank, the flagship infrastructure and logistics company of PTT Group’s refining and petrochemical businesses, will create synergies and enhance efficiency in integrated asset management operations.

Bandhit further stated that upon the establishment of the transaction, the Company has reviewed and considered the impacts on all stakeholders with primary emphasis on the interests of the Company and its shareholders. To ensure the transparency, the Board of Directors has appointed Capital Advantage Company Limited as the Independent Financial Advisor to assess the appropriateness of the transaction and prepare a report for shareholders’ consideration. The Company will convene the Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders on 9 December 2025 via electronic platform. The record date to determine shareholders eligible to attend the meeting is set for 9 October 2025.

The asset management company (AMC) planned to address the bad debts of retail borrowers will cover 3.8 million eligible debtors with a total debt value of 120 billion baht, according to the Finance Ministry.

Finance permanent secretary Lavaron Sangsnit said the new AMC will be established as a joint venture between the public and private sectors. The company will take over debts of up to 100,000 baht per debtor from financial institutions, then restructure these debts to make monthly repayments more manageable.

This should ease the burden on small borrowers, allowing them more disposable income for consumption, which in turn will help stimulate the economy, said Mr Lavaron.

There are 1.4 million small borrowers with commercial banks that owe a total of 35 billion baht, and another 2.4 million small borrowers with non-bank institutions that owe 85 billion baht.

He said the funding for the AMC to purchase debts from financial institutions will come from allocations by the Bank of Thailand. These funds originate from contributions commercial banks are required to make to tackle the Financial Institutions Development Fund’s debt problem.

During the pandemic, part of this money was used to support entrepreneurs under the “Khun Soo Rao Chuey” (You Fight, We Help) programme. Of the 36 billion baht allocated, 26 billion remains and will be earmarked to establish the AMC, said Mr Lavaron.

New Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated in parliament during the government’s recent policy announcement the new AMC for household debt restructuring will increase liquidity for Thais.

For example, he said borrowers previously making instalment payments of 2,000-3,000 baht per month to financial institutions may, after restructuring, pay only 500 baht.

The household debt resolution policy was dubbed one of the government’s five key pillars to be implemented within four months. Other policies include:

Stimulating the economy and tourism through the “Khon La Khrueng Plus” co-payment scheme, expected to launch at the end of October.

Providing liquidity support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by having the Thai Credit Guarantee Corporation provide guarantees totalling 50 billion baht for businesses in the supply chains of large companies. If large businesses support SMEs under the “Big Brother Helps Little Brother” scheme, the Revenue Department will allow these expenses to be deducted from taxes.

Increasing personal savings for retirement by having the Government Lottery Office allocate part of its marketing budget to savings accounts for those who purchase online lottery tickets. Each buyer receives an individual savings account that can be withdrawn at age 55. This programme is separate from the “retirement lottery” scheme.

Developing workforce skills for future industries, including bio-agriculture, smart farming, artificial intelligence and digital technology, data centres and electric vehicles. The Board of Investment has a Competitiveness Enhancement Fund worth 10 billion baht that can be allocated in collaboration with the private sector to select workers for reskilling and upskilling.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s (BMA) new waste separation initiative, “This House Doesn’t Mix”, has drawn an enthusiastic response from city residents, with more than 700,000 households registering since its launch on Wednesday, according to Pornprom Vikitsreth, the governor’s sustainability adviser.

Mr Pornprom, together with representatives from the National Housing Authority (NHA), visited the Kheha Huai Khwang housing community yesterday to observe operations at the local waste sorting facility and encourage proper waste management practices.

To drive household participation, the BMA introduced a new waste collection ordinance effective Oct 1. Under the rules, general households are charged 60 baht per month for waste collection. However, those who register with the programme pay only 20 baht per month.

Since the policy took effect, the programme has already exceeded expectations, doubling its initial target, he said. Of the 700,000 registrants, about 300,000 were individual households, while 400,000 represented groups such as apartments and housing estates.

Mr Pornprom said participation is expected to grow by 30% next year.

In recognition of local support, deputy governor Jakkapan Phiewngam presented awards to district offices with the highest participation rates.

Six districts were highlighted: Lat Phrao (14.57%), Samphanthawong (20.91%), Phra Khanong (14.52%), Bueng Kum (19.96%), Bangkok Yai (17.35%), and Phasicharoen (13.38%).

Khlong Sam Wa district was recognised for having the highest number of individual participants (14,487).

Guru By Bangkok Post’s pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in. Capella Bangkok’s Côte by Mauro Colagreco marks its fifth anniversary with a culinary celebration, uniting three chefs. For two nights only, Côte’s executive chef Davide Garavaglia will be joined by Mauro Colagreco and Himanshu Saini, executive chef of Dubai’s Trèsind Studio. The menu will blends culture, tradition and innovation.

Culinary collab / Mia / Oct 9

For one night only, on Oct 9, chef Sam Aisbett of Akuna, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, will be joining chefs Pongcharn “Top” Russell and Michelle Goh in the Mia kitchen. Chef Aisbett will present an eight-course tasting menu that fuses his bold, modern Australian roots with Mia’s contemporary European flair. Expect a vibrant celebration of Vietnam’s produce, indigenous herbs and Bangkok’s dynamic culinary spirit.

Wine tour / Le Meridien Bangkok / Oct 8

Le Méridien Bangkok will host an evening of discovery with “El Arte del Vino – The Art of Spanish Wine”, a curated celebration of Spain’s most prestigious wine regions paired with contemporary European cuisine. The dinner will be staged at Tempo on Oct 8. Diners will be transported from the Mediterranean shores of Catalonia to the highlands of Ribera del Duero and the distinctive vineyards of Bierzo.

Four-hands dinner / Pullman Bangkok King Power / Oct 9-12

From Oct 9-12, Pullman Bangkok King Power will offer the elegance of French cuisine and the warmth of Mexican flavours. Chefs Charles Coulombeau from La Maison dans le Parc, Nancy, France, and Enrique Casarrubias from Oxte, Paris, France, will offer a six-course set menu blending refined techniques. On Oct 11-12, there will be a brunch offering at Deja Vu and Dusk, where a 10-course menu will be complemented by a welcome caviar trolley and an unlimited charcuterie trolley.

One night only / Jampa x Maison Brotte / Oct 9

Jampa, Phuket will host a one-night-only culinary journey with Maison Brotte, which will pair wine with seasonal creations on Oct 9. Maison Brotte is a historic ChSteauneuf-du-Pape estate from France.

Four-hands dinner / Blue by Alain Ducasse x Baan Tepa / Oct 8

Blue by Alain Ducasse will join hands with Baan Tepa to offer a four-hands collab between chefs Evens Lopez and Chudaree “Tam” Debhakam. The dinner will be six-courses.

Wellness Festival / The Peninsula Bangkok / Oct 3-5

The Wellness Festival returns to The Peninsula Bangkok from Oct 3-5. The festival brings together wellness experts to lead a diverse programme of activities, including mindful movement, yoga, sound healing, ice bath therapy and nutrition workshops, each designed to nurture body, mind and spirit. There will be hybrid training with Coach Coke Kajohnsin; ice bath therapy with Suthida Krishnapala; sound healing and ayurveda wellness with Ornphicha Mahasintuan; SUP and Soul Aqua Yoga with Kru Aom; and cooking classes with chefs Antonio Bitetto, Ying Monnipa Rungthong and Hans Zahner hands-on sessions exploring fitness, nutrition and health-focused gastronomy designed to inspire wellness through food.

Pet care / Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre / Oct 9-12

The International Pet Variety Exhibition 2025 returns for its 15th edition under the theme, ‘Annyeong: BFF In Korea’. Organised by Impact Exhibition Management, in collaboration with the Thai Pet Product Industries Association and Perfect Companion Group, the event will be held at Halls 7-8, Impact Exhibition and Convention Centre. More than 10,000m² will be transformed to an immersive Korean village made for pets and their humans. The 15th anniversary edition will host more than 250 booths, showcasing a wide variety of pet products and services from Thailand and around the world. From grooming essentials to pet wellness, food, fashion and technology, the event brings together manufacturers, exporters, distributors and retailers across the entire pet care ecosystem.

EAT

Eleven dishes / Asiatique Ancient Tea House / Until Nov 30

Asiatique Ancient Tea House is offering a curated collection of 11 signature dishes. The restaurant’s talented chefs have crafted a selection of delectable dim sum, including Charcoal shrimp har gao with truffle and boiled pork and shrimp dumplings; Fish maw in red gravy; Crispy noodles with chicken gravy; Black grouper with black bean sauce on rice noodles; and Sichuan-style mala beef noodles.

Timeless classic / Le Méridien Chiang Rai

Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort is offering its signature Beef khao soi at Latest Recipe. The narrative of this signature dish begins with the careful selection of premium beef shank, chosen for its delicate marbling and rich flavour. The beef is meticulously slow-simmered for three to four hours to achieve a remarkably tender, melt-in-the-mouth texture. It is served with Yunnan pickled mustard greens, pickled rakkyo and house-made pork crackling. The dish is presented with both soft-boiled and crispy fried noodles, finished with a touch of chilli oil and a wedge of lime.

Maguro omakase / Kisara

Embark on an extraordinary culinary journey at Kisara at Conrad Bangkok, with the launch of the exclusive “Maguro Omakase” experience. Curated by executive chef Ryan Dadufalza, the 10-course dinner showcases the finest cuts of premium maguro, flown in fresh from Japan and prepared with masterful precision and artistry. Available only on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Afternoon tea / Tea and Tipple

As seasons change city, Tea and Tipple at Centara Grand at CentralWorld is offering the autumn afternoon tea delight with sweeping skyline views with handcrafted delights. The menu features scones with jam and clotted cream, smoked salmon mille-feuille with avocado, pan-seared foie gras on brioche, lobster rolls and smoked turkey with Gruyère and cranberry. Sweet creations include pistachio choux, orange cake, chocolate mille-feuille, macarons and silky pralines. Tea and Tipple tempts with gourmet Pascucci coffee, Mariage Frères teas, curated whisky flights and a considered selection of cocktails and fine spirits.

Bold flavours / Viu

Viu at The St. Regis Bangkok is offering a tailor-made lunch set where diners can choose between two or three courses. The Epic Dinner begins with a seafood tower, fresh sushi and sashimi, and the pizza of the day, all served family-style at the table. The October highlights include Le fritture all’Italiana; Tagliatelle with black mussels sauce; Wagyu beef cheeks with polenta; alongside premium grilles, including Australian Wagyu beef striploin, Australian lamb rack and a special serving of Boston lobster tail per guest. The Signature Sunday Brunch will offer game meat specialties. Guests can savour Stir-fried wild boar with thai herbs; Venison carpaccio with Grana Padano and arugula; Homemade wild rabbit ravioli; Handmade tagliatelle with duck ragout; and Crocodile skewers.

New venue / Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort and Spa

Khao Lak Marriott Beach Resort and Spa recently unveiled Panasia Grill, a new dining destination where fire, flavour and creativity converge. Panasia Grill offers guests a ‘grill-it-yourself’ experience featuring premium cuts of meat, fresh seafood, seasonal vegetables and curated beverage pairings. The interior reflects the grilling concept with charred wood textures, rock-clad walls inspired by charcoal, and artistic features that evoke the heat and vibrance of the flames. The bar serves as a lively prelude to the evening, with a wide selection of craft beers, wines and select sakes. Panasia Grill also integrates art as a central element of its identity. Playful and thought-provoking artworks reinterpret Asian heritage with a modern twist, offering visual surprises throughout the space. Think a Qing-era noblewoman whimsically blowing bubblegum.

TRAVEL

Kids programme / Melia Pattaya

Meliá Pattaya Hotel is helping to enhance the family-friendly credentials with an array of kid-focused draws. The Kidsdom is a dedicated space where children can unleash their creativity and energy. The schedule features plaster doll-painting, whale headband craft, balloon art, paper mosaics and keychain workshops.

New regional route / AirAsia / Until Oct 31

In time for year-end celebration, AirAsia has introduced a new cross-region route between Chiang Mai and Udon Thani, operating four times per week. To celebrate the new flight, passengers can book promotional rates until Oct 31 while flights operate from Dec 1 to March 28, 2026.

STUFF

Plump look / Gucci Beauty

Achieve a healthy-looking glow and a plumped, even complexion in an instant with Gucci Beauty’s new effortless natural face duo: Gucci Glow Skin Tint and Gucci Matte Powder. Designed to care, even and blur, the products make it easy to create a fresh, natural makeup look that lasts all day. Gucci Glow Skin Tint is a lightweight foundation with the benefits of a hydrating cream. It is available in 20 shades. The Gucci Matte Powder can be used alone or paired with the Gucci Glow Skin Tint and is available in 10 shades.

New collection / Cos

Cos has unveiled its Autumn/Winter 2025 campaign, presenting a modern wardrobe where elegance meets ease. The collection is defined by fine materials, precise tailoring and subtle yet striking details. Womenswear offers a wardrobe designed to transition from day to evening. Structured 1950’s-inspired silhouettes emphasise the waist with feminine cuts and open necklines, while a wool coat is shaped by rounded, meticulously constructed lines. Menswear explores sartorial design through the lens of modern utility. Heritage references emerge through outerwear, heavy knitwear and relaxed tailoring, with traditional forms reinterpreted – inside-out lapels, oversized proportions and sharp shoulders bring an edge to classic designs.

New change / Disney+

Disney+ Hotstar will be rebranded as Disney+ in Thailand on Oct 9 while Hulu becomes the global general entertainment brand on Disney+, replacing Star. Thai fans can look forward to an exciting slate of US, Korean and Japanese originals arriving soon on the Hulu tile. Among the highly anticipated titles are Ryan Murphy’s legal drama All’s Fair, featuring Glenn Close, Kim Kardashian and Niecy Nash; the Korean romantic comedy Would You Marry Me, starring Choi Woo-shik and Jung So-min; the Korean thriller The Manipulated with Ji Changwook and Doh Kyungsoo; and the coming-of-age Japanese anime Wandance.

The body of a young Chinese man who went missing after drowning off Nai Harn beach on Wednesday was found floating near Koh Moo, off Ya Nui beach in Muang district on Friday morning.

The tourist went missing while swimming at Nai Harn beach at around 2.48pm on Oct 1, the Maritime Enforcement Command Centre Region 3 said on Friday. The centre identified the Chinese tourist as Yuan Wenyi, 21.

This prompted VAdm Weerudom Muangjeen, commander of the Third Naval area and director of the Maritime Enforcement Command Centre (MECC), to order a full-scale search operation, involving naval units, the tambon Rawai municipality, lifeguards and rescue teams.

Search efforts covered the area from Nai Harn beach to Ao Sen, extending to Ya Nui beach and Koh Kaeo, including coastal and rocky zones. Despite extensive efforts, the missing tourist had not been located.

On Friday morning, rescuers resumed the search along the rocky coastline from Ya Nui beach to Promthep Cape.

The body was later found floating in the sea near Koh Moo, off Ya Nui beach, at about 10am. Rescuers brought the body to shore at the search centre in front of Nai Harn beach. It was later handed over to authorities for autopsy and legal procedures, said the MECC Region 3.

Thailand’s new minister of tourism and sports has vowed to start collecting a 300-baht tourism tax during his four-month term and instructed the relevant parties to communicate the benefits of the scheme to visitors.

Artthakorn Sirilatthayakorn said on Friday that the tax is important because the proceeds go to fund insurance coverage for visitors as well as tourism infrastructure development.

He acknowledged the additional cost could affect sentiment, as foreign travellers have voiced concerns about it in social media discussions in the past.

The idea is far from new. It was first mooted in 2020 and finally received cabinet approval in February 2023. But the previous four tourism ministers were unable or unwilling to initiate collection.

Though a study was completed on the benefits of the tax, it still has not been adopted because of concerns about the potential impact on tourism sentiment.

The rate approved in 2003 was 300 baht per person for arrivals by air and 150 baht for land or sea entries.

Former minister Sorawong Thienthong vowed earlier this year to start collecting the tax by the end of 2025, but he later changed his mind.

‘If we impose this tax, we must communicate how much tourists could benefit from it,’ said Mr Artthakorn.

Speaking during a visit to the ministry on Friday, he said new campaigns were planned in the fourth quarter to lift spending and arrivals. By the end of October, the ministry also aims to finalise the budget that was left over from a 1.76-billion-baht domestic subsidy scheme.

The new administration has also emphasised the importance of ensuring tourism safety and finding a way to bring foreign arrivals back to the pre-pandemic level of nearly 40 million, the minister said.

Thailand is currently on course to welcome about 33.4 million foreign arrivals in 2025, down from 35.5 million last year.

Mr Artthakorn said he had set targets for the fourth quarter this year and the first quarter next year, but was not ready to disclose these figures yet.

Former foreign affairs minister Noppadon Pattama has urged the government to study the pros and cons of two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) signed with Cambodia governing disputed border areas before putting any such agreements up for a referendum.

He said the National Security Council (NSC) should conduct the study with the findings to be made public so voters are fully informed of what the 2000 and 2001 MoUs truly entail, before the government asks them in a referendum whether those pacts should now be nullified, Mr Noppadon said.

Mr Noppadon was responding to the government’s earlier announcement during its parliamentary policy address that a referendum on the two MoUs, which critics say could place Thailand in a tight spot in territorial disputes, would be held alongside the next general election.

Another referendum on whether to rewrite the charter is also due to take place around that time.

“All-round information should be available to the public before they make decisions, based on the facts,” Mr Noppadon said.

“I call on all sides, including the media, to bring out as much truth and factual information as possible.”

Mr Noppadon asked why no government had attempted to revoke the MoUs over the past quarter of a century if there was a legitimate problem with either of them.

Citing the previously stated opinion of the Department of Treaties and Legal Affairs, Mr Noppadon, who served as foreign minister under the Samak Sundaravej government, said the benefits of both MoUs outweigh any potential drawbacks.

The 2000 pact, for instance, requires Cambodia to continue bilateral talks with Thailand on the border issue without involving third parties such as the United Nations or the International Court of Justice.

The same MoU also prohibits either side from unilaterally changing the state of disputed border areas, such as by building a community, setting up a market, or digging a military trench, Mr Noppadon added.

Meanwhile, Thirachai Phuvanatnaranubala, a former finance minister and now deputy leader of the Palang Pracharath Party, said that since little progress has been achieved over the past 25 years under the two MoUs, and with Cambodia continuing to breach them, Thailand has a sound reason to annul them.

The Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties (1969) allows nations to suspend or cancel treaties over significant violations, he said.

Former Democrat Party MP Thepthai Senpong offered a different perspective, saying the government has the authority to decide on its own after consulting relevant state agencies, without shifting the burden of decision-making to the public.

Remember that Netflix documentary last year called The Program: Cons, Cults, And Kidnapping? It exposed the horrors young people endure through parent-sanctioned abductions to so-called academies designed to “fix” wayward kids. That documentary left many of us shaken with its raw look into an industry that preys on fear and promises false solutions.

While Netflix’s latest limited series isn’t directly based on that story, Wayward is loosely inspired by the broader troubled-teen industry — an industry that is itself steeped in cruelty and exploitation. What unfolds behind closed doors of this fictional academy might churn your stomach just as much as any real-world documentary.

This project marks a significant shift for actor and filmmaker Mae Martin, previously known for their sharp comedy and the semi-autobiographical Netflix drama Feel Good (2020). With Wayward, Martin moves into the realm of psychological thriller, writing and creating the entire series. The result is ominous, suspenseful and at times deeply unsettling. While the show’s premise is undeniably absorbing, the execution is not without flaws. Still, it demonstrates Martin’s ability to flex a different side of creative talent.

The series is set in the picture-perfect town of Tall Pines, Vermont, where sinister secrets linger beneath the town’s postcard exterior. Shortly after LGBTI couple Alex Dempsey (played by Martin), a police officer and their pregnant wife Laura Redman (Sarah Gadon) move into their new home, Alex crosses paths with two desperate students from the local Tall Pines Academy — Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind).

Their yearning to escape hints at something rotten at the core of both the school and the town. As Alex investigates a string of troubling incidents, suspicion naturally turns towards Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette), the school’s enigmatic leader.

Alex is the classic outsider figure — a cop new to town, trying to establish roots in a community that appears wholesome yet radiates an unnerving energy. Tall Pines itself is never fully fleshed out, but from the outset we sense that this is a place bound by shared secrets, where everyone’s smiles conceal something unsettling.

The residents are overly warm, bordering on invasive, their friendliness ringing false to the point of menace. The show uses this atmosphere effectively, conjuring echoes of cult dramas or stories where idyllic communities conceal monstrous truths.

I personally would have loved to see the town’s history and lore explored more deeply, but I understand why Martin keeps the focus tight on the academy itself. To wander too far into world-building might have distracted from the claustrophobic terror of the school.

The narrative is split between two main perspectives. On one side, we follow Alex and Laura as they settle into Tall Pines and slowly confront the town’s strangeness. On the other, we witness the daily lives of the academy’s students. Inside, the academy is portrayed less as a school and more as a regimented asylum or prison. The discipline is suffocating, the routines cruel and the supposed lessons serve only to break down the kids’ sense of self.

The so-called “circle therapy” sessions are particularly chilling, recalling elements of One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) crossed with A Clockwork Orange (1971). The emphasis is on psychological torment and manipulation, masquerading as treatment. These sequences are disturbing but crucial — they force us to reckon with the irreparable damage such places inflict.

At times, Wayward becomes genuinely difficult to watch, but that discomfort underscores why we root for the kids. Even when they lash out with aggression or defiance, they are victims first, fighting for survival in a system designed to crush them.

I was especially drawn to the dynamic between Alex and Laura. Their marriage is not presented as flawless or simplistic. As Alex struggles with her outsider status in Tall Pines, Laura reconnects with old acquaintances — and with her own past as a former academy student. This creates fissures in their relationship, moments of strength tested by lingering shadows of trauma. I appreciated how the show avoided painting their partnership as either idealised or doomed; instead, it felt lived-in and layered.

Then there’s Toni Collette, who delivers yet another commanding performance as Evelyn Wade. Collette is at once magnetic and chilling — her charm barely disguising the manipulative, opportunistic leader beneath. She plays Evelyn as less of a maternal figure and more of a cult leader wielding both soft persuasion and brute force. Her presence electrifies every scene and she’s a major reason why the show remains compelling even when the narrative falters. Unfortunately, for all its tension and intrigue, the series stumbles towards its conclusion. As the final episodes unfold, Wayward begins to resemble a teen adventure story more than an adult psychological thriller. The ending is especially unsatisfying. While one storyline finds clear resolution, most others are left hanging. Ambiguity can work when it deepens a narrative’s themes, but here it feels more like the writers abandoned threads they didn’t know how to resolve. Given that Wayward is intended as a self-contained limited series, this lack of closure is frustrating.

The buildup — schemes, betrayals and escalating risks — promises payoff that never fully arrives. When the credits roll on the final episode, I felt that little had actually been accomplished. I don’t demand a neat bow on every storyline, but I do want the sense that the journey meant something. Here, too much is left floating unresolved, leaving me more annoyed than haunted.

Still, for all its missteps, Wayward remains both provocative and thought-provoking. As a filmmaker, Martin explores the tension between critical thinking and the societal pressures to conform, especially in how authority preys on vulnerability. When the show works, it is unsettling, gripping and deeply resonant. The problem is that it doesn’t sustain that momentum consistently.

In the end, it’s watchable, often intriguing series with flashes of brilliance, but one that never quite coheres into something essential.

Authorities are hunting down the culprits behind the theft of a sword from Petchabun’s Pho Khun Pha Mueang Memorial.

Lomsak district chief Praiya Phakaratakul sought police assistance on Friday after reports that the metal sword held by the Pho Khun Pha Muang Memorial was removed from the revered statue.

Thieves apparently cut the sword from the right hand of the smaller of two statues honouring Petchabun’s prominent Pho Khun Pha Mueang. Sacred clothes wrapped around the waists of both the larger and smaller statues were also taken.

Officials said the sword was cleanly cut, leaving the handle in the statue’s hand.

The vandalism was reported by a memorial caretaker and citizens paying respects on Friday morning. It is believed the perpetrators carried out the act at night to avoid detection.

While no motive has been proposed, the district chief suggested the culprits may have been under the influence of drugs and could be seeking to sell the relics.

Authorities will investigate potential buyers.

The Lomsak district head called the act highly offensive to Petchabun citizens, emphasising that the memorial is a significant emotional and cultural landmark for the province.

Pho Khun Pha Mueang was a Thai nobleman and general from the late 12th to mid-13th century. He played a key role in the founding of the Sukhothai Kingdom.