Mae Martin made their name through comedy, turning their sharp wit and lived experiences into the acclaimed semi-autobiographical series Feel Good. But with Wayward, Netflix’s new eight-episode limited thriller premiering September 25, Martin trades stand-up stages for the unsettling shadows of a town where nothing is as perfect as it seems.
“On paper, I’m surprised by how dark it is,” Martin admitted. “I’ve always been really interested in adolescence and coming-of-age stories… I felt a keen sense of injustice about the way the world treats teenagers. That all came together in this.”
A Town Full of Dark Secrets
Wayward follows Alex Dempsey (Martin), a police officer, and his pregnant wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) as they move to the picturesque community of Tall Pines. The town presents itself as progressive and idyllic, but Alex soon discovers that its reputation hides disturbing truths.
At the center of the mystery is Evelyn (Toni Collette), the chilling leader of a local school for “troubled teens.” Collette, whose resume spans Hereditary, The Sixth Sense, and multiple award-winning performances, brings a magnetic menace to the series. “It’s definitely not one note,” she said of Martin’s writing. “It’s really balanced in terms of hilarity and shocking behavior that’s disturbing.”
Collette was drawn to the originality of the script: “I just love it when I get lost in a story when I’m reading it, and I forget that I’m reading a script. That happened when I read this. I found all the characters so diverse and real. There’s really incredible arc for every single character. It’s about healing and growth.”
Introducing the Next Generation
Alongside Martin and Collette, two rising stars bring depth and vulnerability to the series: Sydney Topliffe as Abbie, a rebellious stoner teen, and Alyvia Alyn Lind as Leila, a bold young woman who refuses to let anyone define her.
“I play kind of a laid back kind of stoner teenager, but what’s so great about this writing is she’s not one-dimensional,” Topliffe explained. “You can’t really pinpoint her as just one thing. That’s a testament to the writing in the show. They’re not archetypical characters you usually find in YA dramas.”
Lind shared a similar experience, saying she felt an immediate spark when she first read the script. “I just immediately was drawn in… and just reading Leila and thinking about all the different ways to play her. I love roles that I can really sink my teeth into and do research. And then also just the backstory of the troubled teen industry… I love the story and I love the character and I love Mae.”
Leila’s bisexuality is also explored in the show, but it isn’t her entire story — and that’s exactly what makes her portrayal refreshing.
“It was incredible… especially a bi character, which is extremely unrepresented,” Lind said. “Leila is so confident… she doesn’t let anybody tell her differently. I’m just really excited and proud to be a part of a show that is just amazing for representation.”
Topliffe echoed the importance of that nuance: “They’re not defined by their sexuality. They’re still protagonists. That’s just a part of who they are.”
Toni Collette Is “Mother”
If there’s one performance destined to linger in viewers’ minds, it’s Collette’s. Both Lind and Topliffe were in awe (and so were we). “Colette? Well, it’s Toni Collette. Need I say more?” Topliffe laughed. Lind added simply: “She is mother. And we bow down.”
By the end of eight episodes, the series is guaranteed to leave viewers unsettled. “They’ll need some therapy,” Topliffe joked. Lind added on the importance of shining a light on the troubled teen industry, “I don’t know any other show that’s about this.”
Wayward premieres September 25 on Netflix.
