Wayward Netflix new series (NOT Wayward Pines)

[Charredtea]

I’m sorry if there’s already a thread. I couldn’t see one.
just started this today. Am hooked already.
perfect cold night in thriller.
Without giving too much away, Toni Collete is fucking terrifying in this (to me).

slightly off topic: does she ever put a foot wrong? Since the days of Muriel (‘Mariel’) , she seems to have been unfailingly brilliant.
not sure I’ve seen everything she’s done so open to recommendations.

there was a thread recently about ubiquitous faces and it can be so urgh when you see the same names over and over, particularly British ex soap stars turned household names in every drama series going, or typecast movie stars who play the same character in every production but TC does seem to have a genuine and broad spectrum talent.

You and me both. I’ve got to ep 3. I need to stop and watch the Masterchef final but I don’t want to.

Toni Collette is brilliant. Every single time! Even if she turns up for one episode in a series, she steals the show.

I’m really enjoying it- just finished episode four. I just love Toni Collette.

I was wondering why Mae Martins was cast as her acting is just terrible but then I realised she created the show. The story is terrific (so far), but her acting is so terrible that it really takes away from it for me.

Yes, she’s terrible. I had decided not to watch it because of her, but otherwise it looks like something I might enjoy. Might have to just give it a go and try not to focus on her acting skills (or lack of).

Yeah, saw that. Is she meant to be non binary, male or female in this? Laura mentions something about Alex is going to be a great Dad? Maybe I’m not paying attention!

Ok they just referred to Alex as him again.

I binge watched it today and enjoyed it.

Mae Martin's character Alex was a bit confusing - I think it was acknowledged that she was female, but trans-identifying as a male, and referred to in that way - 'he' and 'father'

Comments about 'being queer in a small town' and in relation to cops 'dick swinging- character says 'I don't think he has a dick' acknowledge that Alex is not actually a man.

Good story and idea though.

Alex is a trans man . There are multiple conversations about it in the programme! I am two episodes in and definitely not confused...

I wonder how she does it? I find good actors fascinating. I wish I’d studied film, I love direction too, when it’s done well it is just amazing

Mae sort of made it look like it was meant to be comedic at times, very stunted range, mainly wide eyed surprise but for some reason I still enjoyed their part in it.
looked like possibly Botox was impacting facial expressions, every emotion seemed eye based .
Toni Collette was a different class altogether.
and Stacey. Whoah, reminded me of sissy spacek. Horrendous

Oh she's awful and a very odd scene later on in the series which seemed totally unnecessary and just an opportunity to show off her new surgery. Shame as the rest of it was great. I binged the lot in a couple of days!

Her sex scene half way through the series has to be one of the most unsexy sex scenes I have ever seen.

It was the scene where Alex and her wife (Sarah?) were sitting inside and realised their dog wasn’t with them that really made me realise how terrible an actress Mae is. I have dogs. If they be isn’t around, I call for them in an upbeat manner. Instead, she started panicky shouting for the dog, then went to the porch AND STOPPED CALLING HIM! So stupid.

Apart from the acting, the fact that she looks like a 14 year old boy makes watching her being with a mid-30s woman very strange. I know Mae is in her 30s and can’t help that she looks young, but she’s never have been cast in this part had she not created the series.

The comment 'not believable as a human being' keeps coming to mind.

Otherwise, I'm enjoying it

Watched episode one today and I'm definitely hooked. Totally agree about Toni Collette - like Cate Blanchett, she's a revelation in everything she's in

Mae Martin is indeed a rubbish actor, very true

It was awful I was hiding and my husband was as horrified as I've ever seen him and he's a war vet

Just binged it in 2 days what a fantastic series I actually thought Alex was a great character and very well acted. I could do with erasing that sex scene but it did make it explicit that Laura was the dominant partner so I can see why it was included. The constant play between I can why they are doing this and no, no thus is wrong was really well done.

Just binged it in 2 days what a fantastic series I actually thought Alex was a great character and very well acted. I could do with erasing that sex scene but it did make it explicit that Laura was the dominant partner so I can see why it was included. The constant play between I can why they are doing this and no, no thus is wrong was really well done.

I am on Episode 4, really enjoying but agree with all comments about Mae

@Charredtea Apparently one of Toni Collette’s best performances is in Hereditary. She was very good in Unbelievable on Netflix too.

Unbelievable was could, I couldn’t watch hereditary as themes too close to home

*good

Came here to say Mae Martins is abysmal

theys probably only made it as an actor due to being trans

have always loved Toni. Am watching for her

Mae Martin isn't trans. The role is trans.

The world is hardly full of over privileged trans actors, elbowing everyone out of the way.

This is an interesting article which covers the ideas behind the story of the industry that was these schools , about the cast and about being in awe of Toni Colette:

https://deadline.com/2025/09/wayward-mae-martin-juicy-trans-character-hypermasculinity-1236555341/