What’s the Truth Behind Netflix’s Stunning ‘Baby Reindeer’?
The title alone is an attention grabber. The New York Times called it “mesmerising.” It’s a show nearly ten years in the making. And it’s all based on a disturbingly true story. So what’s the deal with ‘Baby Reindeer’?
It’s the show everyone’s talking about. And don’t let the cute title fool you.
Baby Reindeer is based on Scottish writer and comedian Richard Gadd’s stage-play, which itself was based on his real-life encounter with a woman — named Martha in the show — who began obsessively stalking him both in real life and digitally. Incredibly, she sent Gadd over 41,000 emails; from these, hundreds of the real emails appear verbatim in the show.
Through the series’ eye-opening seven episodes, the story goes to deep lengths to explain the traumatic backstory and (often deliberately confusing) actions of Gadd’s character, Donny. This can sometimes make for itchy, complicated viewing; as the ABC describes it, Baby Reindeer “prods uncomfortably at the audience’s need for an evil villain and a perfect victim.” Well said — in fact, uncomfortable prodding is an understatement.
The dark series has become a massive Netflix hit, racking up over 50 million hours watched within a fortnight, with seemingly the same question coming at once from everyone who saw it — “is this really real?!” The answer is definitely yes — with Gadd recently telling GQ, “Any time it veered too much into embellishment I would always want to pull it back. It’s extremely emotionally truthful.”
“Shocking, hilarious, painful and devastating, Baby Reindeer is a rare gem on television, reminding us of what is possible in the medium.”
~ Aramide Tinubu, Variety
In a dark irony, the success of the show has led to internet sleuths trying to track down the real-life figures (yes, plural) that assaulted and traumatised Gadd — in other words, doing much the same thing that spurred the series in the first place. It led to Gadd making a public statement urging people to back off “doxxing” anyone they suspected as being the real Martha, and another key character we won’t spoil, saying: “Please don’t speculate on who any of the real life people could be. That’s not the point of our show.”
The real point, in our eyes, is a deeply honest and harrowing account of a downward spiral of shame, and the serious mental health concerns that can be triggered by events like assault, gaslighting and stalking. It’s brilliantly written and performed, and its depiction of navigating nuanced sexual themes — like bisexuality and trans-dating — is sensitive and kind.
Oh, and if you just have to know what’s behind that cute-sounding title? The heartbreaking truth comes out in the Episode 7 finale. Be brave and hit play — it may not be light viewing, but this one is an all-timer.
Baby Reindeer is streaming now on Netflix.
Originally published at https://good.film.
