Although the "rules" of Wayward Pines are emphasised far more clearly in Crouch's novels, their presence continues to drive the narrative of the TV show. They are mysterious and genuinely quite creepy, and make their first clear appearance in the second episode: 1. Do not try to leave. 2. Do not discuss the past. 3. Do not discuss your life before. 4. Always answer the phone if it rings. Given that Ethan has already tried to leave at the conclusion of the season opener, only to find his route blocked by a huge electrified wall circling the town, the first rule is fairly self-explanatory. Rules two and three are those that drive the plot most prominently, with characters refusing to discuss their lives prior to their appearance in Wayward Pines. The fourth rule initially seems to just be weird for the sake of it, until events at the episode's conclusion unfold (outlined later). The rules are enforced by the violent Sheriff Pope and the genuinely creepy Nurse Pam (who is reminiscent of Nurse Ratched in "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest"), and drive the plot for the next few episodes. Anyone that talks about the past is punished severely, which makes it incredibly easy for the show to hide information from its viewers. This is one reason why its mysterious plot remains interesting despite competition from numerous similar shows.
