Netflix's 'WAYWARD': Mae Martin opens up about playing a trans cop seduced by "heteronormative masculinity"

Canadian comedian and writer Mae Martin is making waves with their latest Netflix series Wayward, a genre-bending psychological thriller that dives deep into identity, cult dynamics, and the troubled teen industry. In a recent series of interviews, Martin opened up about the personal and political layers behind the show, and why trans representation on screen is more vital than ever.

Martin stars as Alex Dempsey, a trans police officer who relocates to the seemingly idyllic town of Tall Pines with his pregnant wife. Beneath the town’s liberal façade lies a sinister academy for troubled teens, run by the enigmatic Evelyn Wade (played by Toni Collette). As Alex investigates the school and its secrets, he confronts his own yearning for acceptance and the allure of hypermasculinity - a theme Martin found “juicy to explore”.

He’s seduced by the idea of a nuclear family and heteronormative masculinity

“Alex is desperate to conform, to fit in, and to find community,” Martin explained. “He’s seduced by the idea of a nuclear family and heteronormative masculinity, which mirrors the way cults in the ’70s promised utopia but often delivered oppression”.

The show’s inspiration stems from Martin’s own life. They revealed that two of the teen characters in Wayward were based on themselves and a close friend who was sent to a real-life troubled teen facility. That friend even served as a consultant in the writers’ room. “It’s a bit of wish fulfilment,” Martin said. “I always imagined what it would be like if I busted in there to break her out”.