Mae Martin has always thrived in the spaces in between.
As a teenager in Toronto, they cut their teeth in the city鈥檚 comedy clubs with a mix of biting and vulnerable jokes. Five years ago, they gained international attention with 鈥淔eel Good,鈥 a semi-autobiographical Netflix dramedy that won them critical acclaim and a loyal following.
Now, with the Toronto-shot project 鈥淲ayward,鈥 Martin steps into their most ambitious role yet: creator, star and co-showrunner of a limited series that can鈥檛 be categorized. Part family drama, psychological thriller and dark comedy, the series brings it all together by focusing on intergenerational conflict and the resilience of teen friendships.
It鈥檚 a blend of themes that demonstrates exactly how messy and dangerous this fictional world can be for its characters.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think anyone lives their life in one genre,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 just experience tragedy or just comedy. Usually it鈥檚 both at once. That鈥檚 what I wanted to capture with 鈥榃ayward.鈥欌
The limited series revolves around a school for troubled teens at the centre of a small American town named Tall Pines. Police officer Alex Dempsey (Martin) and his wife, Laura (Sarah Gadon), relocate there for a fresh start following professional troubles in Chicago.
Mae Martin as Alex and Sarah Gadon as Laura in “Wayward.”聽
Michael Gibson/NetflixLaura, now pregnant, grew up in Tall Pines and has disturbing connections with its history and residents, including school leader Evelyn (Toni Collette). Alex, meanwhile, connects with two of the school鈥檚 residents, Torontonians Abbie (Sydney Topliffe) and Leila (Alyvia Alyn Lind), who are desperate to escape. From there, the wild tale unfolds.
Martin is now based in the U.K., but is quick to point out how much their Canadian roots shaped the show鈥檚 DNA.
鈥淲ayward鈥 had been in Martin鈥檚 mind for about 20 years, but they only pitched it in 2019 after establishing a relationship with Netflix.
The series is partially inspired by Martin鈥檚 best friend, who attended a troubled teen institution in 2003, escaped and hitchhiked back with several dramatic stories in tow. That institute was later shut down for neglect and abuse. Although the series isn鈥檛 based on those particular stories, the friend worked as one of the show鈥檚 consultants.
鈥淪ome of the things she was describing about the therapies and the treatment were so theatrical,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淚 became really interested in that industry and the way we pathologize teens, and how unregulated the troubled teen institute industry is. There鈥檚 more of an awareness now with these documentaries and Paris Hilton talking about her school but, at the time, really, even for parents, there was no transparency.鈥
All of 鈥淲ayward鈥 was filmed in and around 海角社区官网and Millbrook, Ont., where the crew used real streets, forests and campuses to create Tall Pines. For Martin, the location grounded the project and connected it back to where they first learned their craft.
鈥淐anada gave me this freedom to experiment without the pressure of having to 鈥榤ake it鈥 right away,鈥 Martin reflected. 鈥淏ut at the same time, Canadian creators often struggle to break through globally. Without streaming, a show like this might never have happened.鈥
One of the first people to recognize the potential of the series was Australian star Toni Collette. An Oscar nominee and Emmy winner, Collette has built a career portraying complicated women in everything from 鈥淢uriel鈥檚 Wedding鈥 to 鈥淗ereditary.鈥
鈥淢ae鈥檚 writing was alive,鈥 Collette said. 鈥淚t was honest, witty, disarming 鈥 like nothing I鈥檇 read before. I knew immediately I wanted to be part of it.鈥
Onscreen, Collette plays a character whose life intersects unpredictably with Martin鈥檚 protagonist. Off-screen, the pair built a rapport that shaped the series.
From left, Sarah Gadon, Mae Martin and Toni Collette on the red carpet for the world premiere of “Wayward” at the 海角社区官网International Film Festival.
Laura Proctor/The Canadian Press鈥淭here was so much laughter,鈥 Collette recalled. 鈥淭hat chemistry carried over into the tone of the show. Even in the darkest moments, there鈥檚 this undercurrent of humour and humanity.鈥
Helping those moments along are a slew of memorable supporting and guest actors, including Brandon Jay McLaren (鈥淕raceland鈥), Patrick J. Adams (鈥淪uits鈥), Tattiawna Jones (鈥淥rphan Black: Echoes鈥) and Carolyn Taylor (鈥淏aroness von Sketch Show鈥), who has a close friendship with Martin. The pair have a pact to always appear in each other鈥檚 projects.
Adding another layer to the ensemble is Toronto-born actor Sarah Gadon, best known for her work in 鈥淎lias Grace鈥 and 鈥淓nemy.鈥 As Laura, she plays a character navigating blurred lines between morality and survival.
鈥淢ae鈥檚 writing is fearless,鈥 Gadon said. 鈥淚t allowed me to be both vulnerable and strong in the same moment. That鈥檚 rare.鈥
She describes the set as unusually collaborative, crediting Martin and Collette with creating an open, trusting environment. 鈥淭he chemistry between them filtered through the whole cast,鈥 she added.
At its heart, 鈥淲ayward鈥 is about people searching for connection while wrestling with trauma and identity. It鈥檚 a show about complicated families 鈥 the ones we鈥檙e born into and the ones we choose 鈥 and about what happens when those ties are tested. Along the way it explores how people process their pasts and internalize stories about themselves, particularly in the context of teen rebellion.
Martin, who identifies as queer and non-binary, says the story inevitably carries personal echoes. They compare it to an escape room (Martin is obsessed with them) with puzzles and a slow drip of information for the audience to process.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 help but put myself into the characters,鈥 Martin admitted. 鈥淨ueerness, mental health, family bonds: those are the things I鈥檝e lived. But I hope it resonates beyond just my own experience. It鈥檚 about finding humanity in people who seem lost or broken. And that feels really urgent right now.鈥
Making a show that slips between genres isn鈥檛 easy. For Martin, the challenge was to maintain a consistent emotional core while allowing the story to veer into those moments of comedy, suspense and surreal absurdity.
鈥淲e never wanted the audience to feel completely safe,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淏ut we did want them to feel invested.鈥
From left, “Wayward” actors Brandon Jay McLaren, Sarah Gadon, Toni Collette, Mae Martin, Sydney Topliffe, Alyvia Alyn Lind and Patrick J. Adams at the show’s TIFF premiere.
Mathew Tsang/Getty ImagesFor Canadian audiences, 鈥淲ayward鈥 also represents something larger: the chance for homegrown talent to shape global conversations through partnerships with streamers like Netflix.
鈥淚t shows that Canadian talent isn鈥檛 just capable of supporting international stories, we can lead them,鈥 Gadon said.
鈥淐anada has this wealth of talent that the world doesn鈥檛 always get to see,鈥 Martin added. 鈥淚f 鈥榃ayward’ helps shine a light on that, then I鈥檓 really proud.鈥
As Martin reflected on their journey, there was a sense that the show鈥檚 title, 鈥淲ayward,鈥 is as much about their path as it is about their characters鈥.
鈥淢y life has never been a straight line,鈥 Martin said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been wayward in every sense. But that鈥檚 where the best stories come from.鈥
Stream 鈥淲ayward鈥 on Netflix beginning Sept. 25.
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