by Mike Hilty, Contributing Writer
TV is a public way to tell an autobiographical story about something that happens in your life. It takes guts to showcase something out in the open for anyone to see and to judge. I can think of plenty of stories from my life that would make for a good show. But I would never want to take something horrible that happened to me and put it on screen. That is a level of courage I simply do not have, which makes what the creator, writer, and star, Richard Gadd, does with Baby Reindeer all the more powerful.
The miniseries follows a fictionalized version of Gadd named Donny (played by Gadd), an aspiring comedian who works at a pub in London. One day, he meets Martha (Jessica Gunning), and what starts as playful affection between bartender and patron turns into a full-scale obsession, as Martha begins to stalk Donny. Her actions open up a wound that never properly healed for Donny, and he learns some hard truths about himself that he wasn’t prepared to deal with. As Martha’s advances get more aggressive, every aspect of Donny’s life becomes affected in ways he could never imagine.
All the credit in the world for Baby Reindeer goes to Gadd. As the writer and main star, the series doesn’t work without his commitment. He could have easily just phoned it in and made something that is simply good. Instead, Gadd’s performance is incredibly raw, and the audience can feel how bad the situation gets with each episode. As wonderful as a performance he gives, I’m hoping that this show is ultimately a cathartic part of his journey towards healing from what inspired it.
Two of Gadd’s scenes ultimately make the series great. The first is when he does his performance at the end of the sixth episode. He leaves everything out there for the audience to behold, and you can’t help but cheer for him. The second is him listening to old messages he received from Martha. These quiet moments help give us a glimpse of what’s going on inside her head.
Although Gadd is the star and focal point of the series, Gunning steals the show. Martha is an incredibly complicated character, and Gunning somehow manages to make the audience so incredibly tense and uncomfortable due to the unpredictability of her actions. When she flips out, we have no idea how long it’s going to last or how much it’ll escalate. Gadd’s experience helps shape the narrative, but Gunning brings Martha to life in frightening ways. It’s one of the best performances I’ve seen in a very long time.
Gunning’s real trick, though, is that despite all the awful things she does, the audience still manages to have the slightest bit of empathy for Martha as a character. They are buried deep underneath all the chaos she enacts, but there are several moments where Martha is likable and capable of having a healthy connection. It’s this confusion that makes this story so fascinating, and a testament to how there are always two sides to a story no matter what.
The exploration between Donny and Martha’s relationship is the crux of what makes this show great. Anytime the two are together, the audience has no idea what to expect. However, buried under the horrible things Martha says and does, they share genuine moments where they can understand one another. Toxic is an understatement when it comes to their relationship, because in the end, Donny sort of likes the attention that he gets from Martha, while Martha likes the abuse that she gets from Donny. Make no mistake, Donny’s the victim, but he’s also not 100% innocent.
Nava Mau gives the other standout performance in Baby Reindeer as Teri, a love interest for Donny, who he meets on a website where he is interested in finding someone who is transgender. She comes into conflict with Martha while on a date with Donny. Martha is particularly cruel to Teri, physically assaulting her, but also being particularly harsh when it comes to her appearance. I can’t imagine how hurtful something like that is for someone who is transgender, where being out as their authentic self is only made harder by the cruelty of the world. Mau plays this role beautifully and offers a heartbreaking perspective on the work it takes to feel completely comfortable with who you are, and how it is a lifelong and fragile journey. I will most definitely be on the lookout for more of Mau’s future projects.
Several of Baby Reindeer’s themes resonated with me a lot. The first is how trauma can manifest itself in many ways. It takes one type of trauma for Donny to address something that he attempted to forget for a long time. It goes to show how everyone reacts to situations differently, and how burying something deep underground will always find a way to haunt you at some point in your life. This show has some traumatic instances that easily need a trigger warning for anyone who has been in situations of stalking, domestic abuse, drug abuse, and sexual assault.
Moreover, the role of police in situations like stalking and sexual assault is on full display. Donny’s interactions with the police made me just as uncomfortable as some of the scenes with Martha. When he finally gets the courage to go to the police regarding Martha, Donny doesn’t realize that the burden of proof is needed within the justice system, and that the law can only do so much without evidence. It made me a little sick watching the police’s inaction, mainly because I know too often that not being believed is a major reason why people don’t report trauma that happens to them.
This leads me to one of the bigger lessons that I found the most compelling, which is how the quest for fame can lead to dark and terrible places. It’s no secret Hollywood is filled with some amazing people; however, it’s also swimming with predators who will do anything to get what they truly want. Donny is taken advantage of in such a terrible way that when the fourth episode of the series explains how much he’s been through, it hits you like a ton of bricks. Baby Reindeer is a shining example of how toxic attention can be, and how it attracts some unsavory people.
Baby Reindeer will go down as one of the bigger surprises of 2024. For a series that was under the radar, word of mouth has (rightfully) gotten the show the attention it deserves. From the amazing performances, the striking tone, and the deep and challenging themes, Baby Reindeer is a must-watch. While it might be the most uncomfortable I’ve felt watching a show in a long time, some of the scenes have stuck with me long after the credits rolled.
Rating: Low Side of Loved It
Baby Reindeer is currently streaming on Apple TV+
You can read more from Mike Hilty, and follow him on Instagram, Letterboxd, and Serializd