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In the mini-series about stalking and abuse, the author processes his real experiences. It makes it to the top of the Netflix charts.
The reason why the story of “Baby Reindeer” is getting under the skin of many people is partly because of the superbly written script and partly because of the fact that the things we see happened to the author and leading actor Richard Gadd himself . And these things are disturbing, to say the least.
The slightly different stalking series
Protagonist Donny is an unsuccessful comedian who works as a bartender in London. One day Martha enters the pub. She seems deeply sad, Donny feels sorry for the woman and buys her a drink.
Legend:
More happens here: Donny (Richard Gadd) and Martha (Jessica Gunning) slide into a complicated stalking story.
Netflix
This small act of affection has consequences: Martha now comes to the bar every day, bombards him with compliments, writes him countless emails, and ultimately waits outside his house day and night.
Despite Martha’s aggressive behavior, Donny is unable to fight her off. Even if he is afraid of her: Martha fascinates him. Finally someone laughs at his jokes, gives him the attention and validation he so desperately needs.
Legend:
Netflix
The Scottish comedian Richard Gadd has already brought his experiences of stalking and abuse to the stage as a successful one-man play. The title of the play and the series based on it, “Baby Reindeer,” is the nickname given to him by his stalker. She sent him tens of thousands of emails, hundreds of hours of voicemails, tweets, Facebook messages, letter pages, and gifts over the course of years.
It is a dynamic that goes beyond a classic victim-perpetrator narrative. The stalker is not portrayed as a monster. It is clear that Martha suffers from mental illness.
This complex role is embodied by the English actress Jessica Gunning, who impressively oscillates from shy, awkward, to threatening and frightening.
Legend:
More than a dark stalker image: “Baby Reindeer” clearly describes the stalking Martha in multiple dimensions.
Netflix
A story about self-worth
Parallel to Martha’s stalking, Donny falls in love with the trans woman Teri, but cannot stand by the relationship. He even uses a false name towards her and gets deeper and deeper into a lie.
Not only is the whole thing told at a rapid pace, the excesses of Donny’s self-destructive behavior also remain constantly unpredictable.
Legend:
“Baby Reindeer” Donny can’t really stand by his love for Teri (Nava Mau).
Netflix
The whole chaos finally confronts Donny with the source of his problems: his lack of self-worth. And you find out who stole it from him in the fourth, probably most disturbing episode: Donny was manipulated and abused by a successful TV producer a few years ago.
Taboo topic: sexual abuse among men
“Reindeer Baby” can be seen as an important contribution to breaking the taboo surrounding sexual abuse among men. But more than that, the series is an accurate deconstruction of the far-reaching consequences of sexual trauma and an example of how deeply the resulting shame can drive someone into self-loathing.
The great interest in “Baby Reindeer” can also be explained by the fact that the series deals with other topics that have rarely been seen on screens. The relationship between a cis man and a trans woman, for example, or the effects of toxic masculinity on the psyche and sexuality.
But what makes the series special is the fact that Gadd tells his own story so honestly and self-critically – and that makes the series deeply encouraging despite all the tragedy.