Series Review: Baby Reindeer (2024)
Baby Reindeer has dominated headlines and streaming charts this last few weeks. The Netflix mini-series is the #1 watched show in the UK and the US, it’s sparked backlash, social media sleuthing and at the time of release, a 100% Rotten Tomatoes score. I didn’t know what to expect tuning in to watch the seven episodes that people online stated were “shocking” and “life changing”.
There are endless videos on TikTok seemingly portraying people’s disbelief at what’s happening on screen similar to the response to Saltburn. In my view, these videos are hyperbolic yet fantastic for marketing. I really enjoyed the series, it’s a heart breaking story of trauma, abuse and stalking presented in an engaging and stylistic way, even horror Godfather Stephen King agrees.
Overview
If you are unfamiliar with the series, Baby Reindeer was written by and stars Richard Gadd, and is the telling of his real-life experience with a female stalker and his trauma of sexual abuse. His stalker, Martha Scott, is portrayed by the sublime Jessica Gunning who deserves all of the awards. His abuser, Darrien is played by the chilling Tom Goodman-Hill and his trans girlfriend Teri is played by the stunning Nava Mau. The Netflix hit was adapted from Gadd’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival one-man play Monkey See, Monkey Do.
Social sleuths
As soon as the series landed on Netflix it didn’t take long for the social media sleuths to begin searching for the real life counterparts to the characters on screen. However, these actions created a media frenzy with speculation towards innocent people. Gadd even had to release a statement urging people to stop as that “wasn’t the point” of the show and accusations were causing real world implications for innocent bystanders.
Martha
One of the key themes in the series is how vulnerable both Donny and Martha are. Donny is a struggling comedian living in his ex-girlfriend’s mum’s house and Martha is evidently mentally unwell.
Her intense stalking and increasing threats of violence towards Donny are contrasted with moments of heartbreak especially when we hear why she calls Donny “baby reindeer”.
In the end, you can’t help but pity her when you realise that she never got the support she needed. It doesn’t excuse her violent behaviour towards Teri and Donny, or the Diet-Coke incident with Keeley but you begin to empathise with her.
Donny
Donny’s tale is one of substance abuse, struggling with his identity and sexual assault. On one hand, he frustrated me when he kept going back to Darrien’s house, I couldn’t understand why. Yet on the other hand, reading Gadd’s ending explanation, it broke my heart realising that this behaviour is cyclical with abuse survivors.
You are “trauma bonded” to this person, that is part of the issue and why it’s so difficult to move on. Watching Donny repeatedly take drugs I wanted to shake him and say stop, I could only imagine what it was like for Keeley, his ex-girlfriend, watching the man she loves self-loathe so much.
A moment for Teri
The breakout performance of the entire show was for me Nava Mau’s Teri, the accomplished psychologist who wanted to proudly present her identity yet was kept indoors by Donny’s fear of Martha and himself.
When the row broke out in her apartment and she told Donny he enjoyed having Martha as a stalker as it made him feel important was such a poignant moment. I loved how she held up a mirror to his behaviour as I was becomingly frustrated by him engaging with Martha and not acting faster by going to the police.
Nava Mau is a force and I can’t wait to see what future projects she is involved with.
Overall
Baby Reindeer is an incredible series, the pacing, style and narration make it incredibly engaging to watch. The characters are frustrating, heart breaking and pitiful, they stir emotions from viewers and the themes presented in the series have hit nerves with people worldwide. I give this series a huge 10/10. I couldn’t fault it, it’s rage inducing, emotional and completely addictive.