Netflix’s Baby Reindeer has rapidly become a cultural phenomenon, captivating audiences with its dark humor and suspenseful narrative. However, beyond the initial intrigue, the series leaves viewers with a lingering sense of unease. Before delving deeper, it’s crucial to acknowledge that Baby Reindeer tackles sensitive subjects, including stalking, mental health struggles, substance abuse, and sexual assault. These themes are integral to understanding why the show is so profoundly disturbing and will be addressed with care in this analysis. Viewer discretion is advised.
Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer centers on Donny (played by Gadd himself), a struggling stand-up comedian who finds himself relentlessly stalked by Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning). What begins with a simple act of kindness – a cup of tea offered in the pub where Donny works – spirals into an intense and disturbing obsession. This series distinguishes itself by being a semi-autobiographical account of Gadd’s own harrowing experience, blurring the lines between fiction and reality and amplifying the unsettling nature of the story.
One of the most nuanced and conflicting portrayals of stalking and mental illness ever depicted on screen.
Adapted from Gadd’s acclaimed one-man play at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Baby Reindeer uses its unsettling title, derived from Martha’s nickname for Donny, to constantly remind the audience of the deeply personal and disturbing nature of the events portrayed. As noted in The Guardian‘s review of the original play, it was seen as a “cathartic triumph,” highlighting the raw and personal journey at the heart of the narrative.
The character of Martha, brought to life by Jessica Gunning’s compelling performance, is central to the show’s disturbing impact. Gunning masterfully portrays Martha not as a caricature of a stalker, but as a complex individual grappling with severe mental illness. Despite her manipulative behavior, incessant flirting, jarringly loud laugh, and the infamous 40,000 emails filled with misspelled phrases like “Sent from my iPhone,” the series allows glimpses of Martha’s vulnerability and underlying pain. This nuanced depiction makes it disturbingly difficult to simply dismiss her as a villain, fostering a sense of unease and prompting viewers to confront uncomfortable questions about empathy and mental health. The gradual unraveling of Martha’s fabricated persona as a successful lawyer to reveal a life built on delusion and deceit is profoundly shocking and adds another layer to the disturbing nature of her character.
Beyond the stalking narrative, Baby Reindeer delves into Donny’s internal struggles, adding further depth to its disturbing core. Donny’s complex reaction to Martha, oscillating between pity and fear, is presented as a manifestation of his own unresolved traumas. His relationship with Teri (Nava Mau), a confident and self-assured transgender woman, highlights Donny’s internal conflicts and his difficulty in forming healthy relationships due to past experiences. The revelation of Donny’s sexual assault in the fourth episode is a pivotal moment, casting a dark shadow over his present actions and providing a disturbing context for his vulnerabilities and self-destructive tendencies. Gadd’s performance is deeply affecting, conveying the emotional weight of these hidden traumas and making Donny a profoundly sympathetic yet flawed and, at times, equally disturbing character.
The real-life implications surrounding Baby Reindeer threaten to overshadow the show’s intended message.
The autobiographical nature of Baby Reindeer has extended its disturbing reach beyond the screen. Despite Gadd’s pleas to respect the privacy of individuals involved, online sleuths have relentlessly attempted to unmask the real-life Martha. This culminated in the public identification of Fiona Harvey as the ‘real Baby Reindeer stalker’, who has since given interviews to the press, asserting her own narrative and denying aspects of the show’s portrayal.
This real-world intrusion into the story threatens to undermine Gadd’s artistic intentions and the crucial conversations Baby Reindeer aims to spark about mental health and trauma. Jessica Gunning herself has expressed disappointment at viewers’ focus on identifying real individuals, emphasizing that it detracts from the show’s deeper purpose. The disturbing irony is that the audience’s obsession mirrors, in a way, the very behavior the show critiques, adding another layer of discomfort to the entire Baby Reindeer phenomenon.
Baby Reindeer is a disturbing watch not for gratuitous shock value, but because it delves into the uncomfortable complexities of human behavior, trauma, and mental illness. Its power lies in its nuanced characters, its blurring of reality and fiction, and its unflinching exploration of deeply personal and universally resonant themes. While its binge-worthiness is undeniable, the true impact of Baby Reindeer lingers long after the credits roll, prompting reflection on the disturbing realities it portrays and the ethical considerations surrounding true crime and personal narratives in the public sphere. It is highly recommended for viewers who appreciate psychological dramas with dark comedic elements and are prepared to engage with challenging and potentially triggering content. However, as emphasized, viewers should heed content warnings before watching due to the graphic nature of certain scenes and themes.
