Trans sex scene in controversial new Netflix show praised for important reason despite backlash
A sex scene that featured in Netflix's popular new thriller series Wayward has been praised for its representation of the transgender community.
The thriller, which was written by and stars Canadian comedian Mae Martin quickly shot up the streaming platform's Top 10 rankings after its release last month.
The limited eight-episode series arrived on 25 September and whisks you to Tall Pines, a bucolic town where nothing is what it seems.
After an escape attempt from an academy for ‘troubled teens’, two of the students join forces with a newly local police officer, Alex Dempsey (non-binary actor Mae Martin) unearthing the town's dark and deeply rooted secrets.
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However, the show debuted to a mixed bag of reviews, with some people absolutely loving it and others hating it.
Those who are hooked by the new TV series have gone on to praise it for championing inclusivity and LGBTQ+ representation, with the main character Alex being a trans man who regularly appears shirtless and even completely naked in a particularly memorable sex scene between himself and his wife.
Taking to Reddit, one fan of the show penned: "Omg! This was one of the hottest scenes ever!"
A second said: "That scene has changed my brain chemistry forever! Omfg that changed my life."
Meanwhile, one Twitter user added: "Wayward just started and there's such good trans representation???"
Someone else praised: "Shoutout to Netflix with the representation on the show 'Wayward'!!!"
Speaking of the sex scene, another agreed: "I liked it. As a non-passing trans dude I felt the representation was accurate."
However, it seems that other people felt it didn't fit in with the plot, with one social media user penning: "Felt like a mandatory gratuitous nude/sex scene. Oddly choreographed and rigid. I felt disappointed that they felt the need to do it and it was oddly placed in the plot. Feel Good felt better to me."
Another commented: "I found the 'subtle' not-so-subtle way of bringing up the fact that their character was trans so stupid. It felt so weirdly forced."
Somebody else reviewed: "I don’t think this rep was terrible, but it was certainly not good... For the most part I did not enjoy it. However, as a submissive man, the sex scene was actually the most relatable scene in the entire show for me lmao.
"I still have issues with it, but I was honestly pleasantly surprised to see basically the kind of sex I have on tv."
Speaking about the show, Martin told 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."
Wayward is streaming on Netflix now.
Topics: Netflix, Sex and Relationships, TV And Film
Madison Burgess