Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Wanderlust, which premiered on September 4, 2018 on Netflix and became a provocative British series that fearlessly explores the complexities of long-term marriage, sexual desire, and the boundaries of conventional relationships.
Wanderlust aired on BBC One from September 4, 2018, and premiered on Netflix on October 19, 2018, consisting of 6 episodes with approximately 60-minute runtimes each. Written by acclaimed playwright Nick Payne and directed by Luke Snellin and Lucy Tcherniak, the series stars Toni Collette as Joy Richards and Steven Mackintosh as Alan Richards, alongside a supporting cast including Zawe Ashton, Joe Hurst, Emma D’Arcy, and Celeste Dring.
This searingly insightful and provocative drama follows a therapist who tries to save her marriage after a cycling accident causes them to reassess their relationship, leading to an exploration of open marriage and sexual liberation. The series asks fundamental questions about whether lifelong monogamy is possible or even desirable, creating a bold examination of modern relationships that challenges conventional expectations about marriage and commitment.
A Marriage at the Crossroads: When Love Meets Reality
Wanderlust begins when Joy Richards, a respected therapist, and her husband Alan, an English teacher, find themselves in a sexual rut after years of marriage. After a cycling accident puts their physical relationship on hold, both Joy and Alan find themselves drawn to new people and tempted to make the ultimate indiscretion, forcing them to confront fundamental questions about their marriage and desires.
The series doesn’t shy away from the uncomfortable truth that even the most loving couples can face periods of disconnect and temptation. When their marriage reaches a crisis point, Joy comes up with an audacious, unorthodox proposal that will have huge ramifications for their future, suggesting they explore an open marriage arrangement that challenges everything they thought they knew about love and commitment.
Joy Richards: A Therapist Confronting Her Own Desires
Toni Collette delivers a fearless performance as Joy, a therapist who finds herself unable to apply her professional wisdom to her own relationship struggles. Her character represents the complexity of modern women who refuse to suppress their desires in service of social expectations, even when those desires threaten the stability of their family life.
Joy’s journey throughout the series shows her grappling with the tension between her role as a mother, wife, and professional, and her needs as an individual woman with her own sexual and emotional desires. Collette brings nuance and authenticity to every moment, making Joy both sympathetic and frustrating as she navigates the consequences of her bold choices.
Alan Richards: A Husband Discovering New Possibilities
Steven Mackintosh plays Alan, whose initial reluctance about Joy’s proposal gradually gives way to his own exploration of desire and possibility. His character arc explores how men can also feel trapped by traditional relationship expectations and find liberation through honest communication about needs and desires.
Alan’s evolution shows him discovering aspects of himself he never knew existed while struggling with jealousy, excitement, and confusion about his marriage’s new direction. Mackintosh brings vulnerability and depth to the role, showing how even reluctant participants in relationship experiments can find unexpected growth and self-discovery.
When Boundaries Collapse: The Messy Reality of Open Marriage
The series builds to intense moments where the theoretical becomes devastatingly real, as both Joy and Alan begin relationships with other people while trying to maintain their marriage and family stability. These pivotal episodes explore how opening a marriage affects not just the couple but their children, friends, and community.
The most powerful scenes occur when the family must confront the consequences of Joy and Alan’s arrangement, showing how personal choices ripple through entire family systems. The series doesn’t romanticize open marriage but instead shows both its potential liberation and its capacity for emotional destruction.
Controversial Reception Despite Strong Performances
Wanderlust received mixed critical reception, with some praising Toni Collette’s brave performance and the series’ willingness to tackle taboo subjects, while others found the characters unsympathetic and the premise self-indulgent. The show sparked significant discussion about sexual liberation, marriage expectations, and family dynamics.
Neither BBC One nor Netflix renewed the series for a second season, though writer Nick Payne expressed interest in continuing the story if given the opportunity. The series represents the kind of bold, adult-oriented programming that streaming platforms and traditional broadcasters occasionally attempt, even when they don’t always find mainstream success.
A Bold Exploration of Modern Relationships
If you love provocative dramas that challenge conventional thinking about marriage and sexuality, Wanderlust is worth experiencing on Netflix. While it may not provide easy answers or comfortable conclusions, it offers a fearless examination of how people navigate desire, commitment, and personal growth within long-term relationships.
Why You Should Watch: Love Has No Easy Rules
Wanderlust reminds us that real relationships are messy, complicated, and rarely fit into neat categories. It’s a series that asks difficult questions about love, desire, and commitment without offering simple solutions, making it essential viewing for anyone interested in honest portrayals of modern relationships.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 6 episodes
Platform: Netflix, BBC One
Release/End Year: 2018
Current IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romance
Status: Canceled after one season
Main Characters: Toni Collette (Joy Richards), Steven Mackintosh (Alan Richards)
Supporting Characters: Zawe Ashton (Claire Pascal), Joe Hurst (Tom Richards), Emma D’Arcy (Naomi Richards)