Mae Martin has been making headlines with their portrayal in Wayward. Their genre-bending Netflix series has become one of the most loved series lately. However, the show also brings a leap for Mae as they step into a darker territory, playing a trans police officer caught in the grip of a cult-like community, and even sharing a surreal fight scene with a childhood comedy hero.
Mae Martin explored trans identity and hypermasculinity through the Wayward role
Mae Martin’s essays on the role of ‘Alex Dempsey’ in the series. A transgender cop who moved to the peaceful-looking town of Tall Pines with his pregnant wife. However, the town’s liberal façade hides a disturbing truth —the one that mirrors Alex’s internal conflict. Talking to Deadline about the same, Mae has opened up about their experience playing the character. They were quoted as saying:
“Alex is a character who’s desperate for acceptance. He finds what seems like a liberal utopia, the way a lot of those cults in the ’70s did seem to promise all of the right things. And he’s definitely someone who’s seduced by and yearning for that kind of heteronormative hypermasculinity and a nuclear family. So, it was juicy to explore that.”
Mae Martin emphasised that the show is not a ‘pro-cop’ series, despite the character’s profession. They shared that, just as cults are a useful metaphor for all sorts of oppressive systems that one is seduced by, this role was about examining those seductions and how far one would go to fit in.
Mae Martin revealed that Wayward is inspired by real troubled teen trauma
In the same conversation, Mae Martin revealed that Wayward uses the setting of a troubled teen facility as a central plot device. They added that this comes from a very personal place for Mae. They shared that their friend’s experience inspired two of the show’s central teen characters, and she even consulted in the writers’ room. They further stated:
“My best friend was sent to one of those schools when we were 16. She came back with these insane stories about the type of weirdly theatrical, aggressive therapy they were doing in there. It’s a bit of wish fulfilment. I always imagined what it would be like if I busted in there to break her out. Much of the content that seems heightened and thriller-like in the show actually has a lot of truth to it. It kind of writes itself.”
Mae Martin recalls beating up a Kids in the Hall alum, Mark McKinney
In one standout moment, Mae Martin’s character can be seen fighting with none other than Kids in the Hall star, Mark McKinney. A star Martin deeply admired growing up. They revealed that it was a weirdly niche Canadian comedy moment to see themself ‘beating the sh*t out of a Kid in the Hall.’ However, the fight had a personal twist. They were quoted as saying:
“I babysat for him when I was 13. He did a one-man show that year, and I waited at the stage door. So it was very full-circle to put him in the show.”
What are your thoughts on Mae Martin’s revelation on the show, Wayward? Let us know.
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