TORONTO – Toronto comedian Mae Martin says their new Netflix limited series “Wayward” hits especially close to home — and was proudly made there too.
The Canadian thriller follows two teenagers sent to a troubled-teen reform program, where secrecy and manipulation lurk beneath a facade of structure and care.
Martin created the show and also stars in it alongside Toni Collette and Sarah Gadon.
Though fictionalized, “Wayward” draws from Martin’s past. As a teen, they spent time in rehab for addiction, and a close friend was sent to a troubled-teen facility. Those experiences helped shape the show’s portrayal of a hidden, often misunderstood world.
Martin hopes the series sparks dialogue about the troubled-teen industry, which they describe as a “billion-dollar” enterprise that operates with little oversight, using methods they say stem from “self-help cults from the 1970s.”
The Toronto-shot “Wayward,” which premieres at TIFF on Tuesday, is one of Netflix’s first Canadian original series. Gadon says tech giants like Netflix have a responsibility to give back to the countries they are operating in.
Martin says they support the CRTC’s efforts to hold streaming platforms accountable for investing in Canadian stories, hoping it will help keep talent in the country rather than forcing them to seek success elsewhere.
The comedian pointed to their own experience – in the 2010s, they moved to the U.K. and earned a name for themselves touring the nation’s standup comedy circuit.
“I’ve been doing comedy for 25 years and I really felt like I had to leave to make a profile in order to come back and be able to make stuff,” Martin said.
“I hope that changes with more opportunity with the streamers and things, because the more infrastructure there is, the less people will feel like they have to go.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 8, 2025.
