NetflixWayward is the latest binge-worthy Netflix series to watch this weekend, but is the troubled teen plot based on a true story? Creator and actor Mae Martin has shed light on the inspiration behind the show.
2025 is a huge year for Netflix. Already we’ve had Wednesday Season 2, Squid Game Season 3, and Black Mirror Season 7, but arguably the most anticipated is Stranger Things Season 5, which debuts in November.
However, the streaming service’s more understated TV shows are sometimes the biggest hitters. Just take a look at the runaway success of Baby Reindeer or Adolescence, both of which won big at the Emmys.
Now it’s the turn of Wayward, a new thriller series in which Alex (Martin) and his pregnant wife Laura (Sarah Gadon) move into the seemingly quiet town of Tall Pines, only to discover dark secrets. At the center is Evelyn Wade (Toni Collette), the leader of Tall Pines Academy.
Is Wayward based on a true story?
NetflixAlthough Wayward is fictional, it is inspired by the very real experiences of creator Mae Martin, who was considered a “wayward teen” growing up, and whose best friend was sent to a troubled teen institute when she was 16.
The troubled teen industry has been in the spotlight in recent years, ever since Paris Hilton released her tell-all documentary This is Paris in 2020, in which she exposed her forced visit at the Provo Canyon School in Utah.
Hilton spoke about the abuse she and other students experienced as a result of the troubled teen industry, something she continues to raise awareness about today.
Other documentaries such as The Program have come out since, highlighting the scale of this billion-dollar network of wilderness programs, boarding schools, and residential treatment centers that promise reform but often face allegations of neglect and abuse.
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Elaborating on their own experiences growing up, Martin told Netflix’s Tudum, “I often talk around adolescence, or I write characters who are processing their teens. It was such an intense time for me, and is for everyone, but I’ve always known I wanted to more directly dive into that time and all the visceral feelings of adolescence.
“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. She came back and had just the craziest stories about it.”
This led Martin to researching the troubled teen industry, which they used to help create Wayward, even though Evelyn and the Tall Pines Academy are fictional.
“On top of that, we added a genre element. Wayward has a ton of metaphors for the systems that we all participate in as adults, and how much of our empathy and critical thinking we have to suppress in order to just live in the world,” Martin continued. “I think that all the characters are grappling with that in this show.”
The creator went further into the topic in an interview with the Radio Times, stating, “I think I was acting out in lots of ways, and I probably was in need of some kind of intervention. But in the early 2000s especially, we didn’t have a lot of fluency around mental health or what might be the root of some of these behaviors.
“There was a sense that issues, especially around addiction, were about hedonism and selfishness and addictive substances, and I think now there’s a bit more awareness that a lot of those behaviours are self-medicating and things like that.
“But back then, it really was a time of Dr Phil sending kids to brat camp.”
Who is Mae Martin?
NetflixAs well as creating the show, Martin stars as the lead character Alex. And if you recognize them, it’s likely from Feel Good, the acclaimed semi-autobiographical Netflix series they co-created and starred in, which earned a BAFTA nomination.
They’re also known for their stand-up comedy and 2019 young adult book Can Everyone Please Calm Down?, which delves into topics of sexuality and identity.
As for Toni Collette, one word: Hereditary. Her acting skills are put to good use in Wayward, with many praising her performance in the show, contributing to its 77% Rotten Tomatoes score.
The viewers at home are enjoying the Netflix series just as much, with one writing on Reddit, “I was totally captivated and watched the whole thing in one evening. Wow!”
“Binged it all today. 8/10 better than anything else I’ve seen recently,” said another, while a third added, “I’m binging it right now, it’s amazing! Keeps me on the edge of my seat the whole time.”
Not everyone agrees, however, with one commenting, “Some of the acting is really bad. The lead character cop… I wanted to like but just SOOO bad at acting. His wife too. The teens and Toni Collette were good… but definitely missed the mark on some of the other characters.”
A second chimed in, “I feel it could have benefited from a few more episodes, because the ending felt rushed and not fully fleshed out. Too many things were in the air with little to no explanation or wrap up.”
If you want to make up your own mind, Wayward is streaming on Netflix now. For more on what to watch, check out the best shows of 2025 so far, the most binge-worthy series, and everything that’s coming up with our 2025 TV release calendar.