Mae Martin Draws on Friend’s Troubled Teen Escape for Netflix’s ‘Wayward’

On September 25, Netflix will debut ‘Wayward,’ a limited series created by and starring Mae Martin, the Canadian comedian known for their acclaimed work on ‘Feel Good’ and their candid explorations of queer identity. The series, which also features Toni Collette, Patrick J. Adams, and Sarah Gadon, is already generating significant buzz—not just for its eerie small-town setting and psychological thrills, but for its powerful connection to Martin’s own life and the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth in “troubled teen” facilities .

At a recent screening, Martin revealed that ‘Wayward’ was inspired by the harrowing real-life story of their best friend, who escaped from a “troubled teen” institution as a teenager. “I was a wayward teen in the early 2000s, and my best friend was sent to one of these troubled teen institutes when she was 16,” Martin shared. “She came back and had just the craziest stories about it.” These accounts became the narrative bedrock of ‘Wayward,’ with Martin seeking to dramatize not only the horrors of such institutions but also the resilience and solidarity among marginalized youth .

Martin’s friend’s escape is not just a plot device, but a lens through which the series interrogates the real dangers and abuses documented within the for-profit “troubled teen” industry—a topic that has gained renewed public scrutiny in recent years .

Set in the fictional, forest-enshrouded town of Tall Pines, ‘Wayward’ follows Martin’s character as they become entangled in the mysteries surrounding a local youth institution. The series blends small-town gothic with psychological thriller, capturing the isolation, fear, and uncertainty that many LGBTQ+ teens have reported facing in real-world institutions that claim to “reform” or “cure” non-conforming behaviors .

The creative team behind ‘Wayward’—including co-showrunner Ryan Scott and director Euros Lyn—have worked to ensure that the narrative remains both suspenseful and grounded in authentic emotional truth. The series is described as “a town with a sinister side,” where the veneer of wellness and community covers up systemic abuses and dark secrets .

The so-called “troubled teen” industry has long been criticized by LGBTQ+ advocates for targeting queer and transgender youth under the guise of behavioral intervention, often subjecting them to conversion therapy, isolation, and emotional or physical abuse. Martin’s decision to draw from personal and peer experiences offers a rare, insider perspective on these issues, inviting viewers to reflect on the intersection of institutional power, adolescence, and queer identity .

Recent documentaries and survivor testimonies have brought new attention to the ways these institutions disproportionately harm LGBTQ+ teens. Martin’s narrative foregrounds the need for community, self-acceptance, and resistance in the face of coercive environments, themes that resonate with many queer viewers and advocates .

‘Wayward’ marks a shift for Martin, who moves from comedy to drama while maintaining the nuanced, empathetic storytelling that made ‘Feel Good’ a critical success. The casting of a diverse ensemble and the decision to center LGBTQ+ perspectives reflect a broader industry trend toward more authentic and varied queer representation on screen. By rooting the show’s central mystery in lived experience, Martin and their collaborators offer both a gripping thriller and a call for greater awareness about the realities faced by queer youth in institutional settings .

Early reviews praise the show’s blend of suspenseful storytelling and emotional depth, with particular accolades for Toni Collette’s performance as a figure of authority within the town’s institution. Critics note that while ‘Wayward’ leans into genre conventions of psychological horror, its real impact lies in its “authentic teen drama” and “gripping psychological thriller” elements, which are grounded in the realities of marginalized youth .

Advocates in the LGBTQ+ community suggest that the series could help spark renewed dialogue about the regulation and oversight of therapeutic and corrective facilities targeting queer adolescents. By dramatizing these issues on a global platform like Netflix, ‘Wayward’ has the potential to reach audiences who may be unfamiliar with the ongoing debates around these institutions and the specific vulnerabilities of LGBTQ+ youth .

As ‘Wayward’ premieres globally, its origins in a true escape story and its focus on queer resilience serve as a powerful reminder of the urgent need for systemic change. Mae Martin’s willingness to share their friend’s experience, and to translate that trauma into a work of art, underscores the importance of LGBTQ+ visibility and advocacy—not only in entertainment, but in the fight for justice and safety for all young people .