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Mae Martin’s Wayward Debuts on Netflix, Probing a Small-Town ‘Troubled-Teen’ Power Structure

Martin draws on personal experience to examine coercive youth treatment programs.

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Mae Martin as Alex Dempsey and Toni Collette as Evelyn Wade in Wayward.

Overview

  • The eight-episode limited series is now streaming on Netflix following an early September TIFF preview.
  • Martin stars alongside Toni Collette and Sarah Gadon in a thriller set around the fictional Tall Pines Academy in Vermont.
  • Critics praise the cast and the mood-rich soundtrack, with several reviews describing the finale as polarizing.
  • The narrative critiques the troubled-teen industry and reflects Martin’s long-standing research and personal motivations.
  • Filmed in Toronto in 2024 as one of Netflix’s early Canadian originals, the series features recurring versions of In the Pines, including a performance by Collette.