Mae Martin's Wayward Reveals Cult-Like Abuses

Wayward, a Netflix limited series created, written, produced by and starring Mae Martin, has become a streaming hit, peaking at No. 2. The show follows trans man police officer Alex Dempsey as he probes sinister practices at Tall Pines Academy, run by the cult-like Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette), while teens Abbie and Leila are trapped inside. The season finale “Leap” reveals Laura’s hidden past—Evelyn accuses her of murdering her parents—and culminates in Evelyn attempting to “Leap” Alex in a flooded basement before her aide Rabbit betrays and drugs her. Alex escapes and fatally confronts corrupt officer Dwayne, and Abbie and Leila execute an escape that ends with Leila choosing to stay, leaving an ambiguous but glimmering resolution. Critics and features note the series draws on documented abuses in the troubled-teen industry, uses an early-2000s setting and cult-horror framing to interrogate control and trauma, and has been praised for its queer representation and Toni Collette’s commanding performance.