Toni Collette at the centre of a tangled web in Wanderlust.
Wanderlust (Season 1, Netflix)
Toni Collette is at the peak of her craft in this funny, emotionally mature drama series about a long-married couple who decide to start having sex with other people. Wanderlust is written and created by Nick Payne, whose previous work has predominantly been in UK theatre. The story charts the unforeseen changes in a family when respectable Joy (Collette), a couples therapist, and Alan (Steven Mackintosh), a school teacher, allow themselves the freedom to stray. They still love each other but the passion has waned. How do they tell their three grown children? What happens when a new tryst becomes genuine love? Intelligently written, edited and directed, with a top notch cast all round, the series belongs to Collette, who is also an associate producer. She steers the tricky subject matter and commands every scene, no matter how awkward things become (and there are some very awkward moments). Her depiction of a modern woman pursuing her desires – and trying to live with the unforeseen consequences – is entirely believable. Wanderlust is currently sitting at a 76% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes and you can find more reviews there.