Mae Martin’s Netflix Series ‘Wayward’ Explores Dark Reality of Troubled Teen Industry

Mae Martin, a Canadian comedian and actor known for their semi-autobiographical series "Feel Good," has created and stars in the new Netflix limited series "Wayward," which blends comedy, thriller, and horror elements. The show centers on Alex Dempsey, a transgender police officer who moves with his pregnant wife to a seemingly idyllic town with a troubled teen academy, uncovering dark secrets tied to the institution's leader Evelyn Wade, played by Toni Collette. "Wayward" explores themes of adolescence, identity, intergenerational conflict, and the controversial "troubled teen" industry, inspired in part by Martin's best friend's experience in a similar program. Despite the genre shift, Martin emphasizes that the show's introspective and vulnerable themes align with their previous work, focusing on raw human experiences rather than fitting neatly into one category. The series reflects Martin's long-standing interest in telling stories about resilience and the complex realities faced by teens in unregulated behavioral therapy programs. Martin also highlights the importance of authentic vulnerability in their work, both in "Wayward" and their comedy.