Baby Reindeer Review: A Dizzying Show, Balanced Between Drama and Comedy?
Cast: Richard Gadd, Jessica Gunning, Nava Mau, Tom Goodman-Hill
Created By: Richard Gadd
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Filmyhype.com Ratings: 4/5 (four stars)
Adaptation of Richard Gadd’s acclaimed play of the same name, Baby Reindeer is a show you don’t expect, based on the shocking true story of its author. The protagonist of the narrative is Donny, a bartender and failed comedian who, following a simple gesture of kindness, will attract the suffocating attention of a serial stalker, giving rise to a complex relationship of co-dependence. Richard Gadd’s new series, Baby Reindeer, is presented as a raw and personal exploration of the devastating effects that bullying can have on a person’s life. Based on the Scottish comedian and writer’s own experiences, the plot follows Donny, an unsuccessful bartender and comedian, whose peaceful existence is disrupted by the appearance of Martha, a mentally unstable woman who develops an unhealthy obsession with him.
As we will see in our review of Baby Reindeer, despite its origins in the world of stand-up comedy, the show written and starring Richard Gadd goes beyond the boundaries of comedy to launch into a courageous exploration of human drama and trauma, to the point of achieving a slow but inexorable descent into hell. To complete the picture of this disorienting show, the performances of its leading actors, among which Jessica Gunning shines, a truly irresistible and dizzying presence on the screen. What begins as a simple gesture of kindness, offering Martha a free cup of tea at the pub where Donny works, soon turns into a never-ending nightmare. Martha begins showing up at the store day after day, bombarding Donny with thousands of emails and making veiled sexual innuendos about their supposed mutual desire. Slowly, Donny’s life descends into a unique hell, as he tries to keep Martha in line while he struggles with the fact that her presence in her life is the most interesting thing that has ever happened to him.
Baby Reindeer Review: The Story Plot
Donny (Richard Gadd) is a struggling comedian who moved to London to make his dreams come true but finds himself, on the threshold of thirty, working in a pub without the slightest prospect of a career and living off the hook at his girlfriend’s mother’s house. ex-girlfriend. When Martha (Jessica Gunning) enters Donny’s club one day, in tears, he regrets it and offers her a cup of tea. A decision she will end up bitterly regretting. Yes because, if initially the man feels sympathy and a sort of attraction for the captivating confidence and the strange way of expressing herself of the woman – who boasts of a prestigious job and important knowledge but does not have the money to pay for a Diet Coke -, As the days pass, Martha becomes more and more intrusive, pushing her way into every corner of his life and sending Donny hundreds of emails.
Richard Gadd has chosen to be the protagonist of his own story: the one told in Baby Reindeer is nothing other than the transposition onto the small screen of his theater show of the same name, in which the writer and performer talks about his relationship with his stalker and the impact this had on his life, so much so that it forced him to once again deal with a past trauma that he thought was now buried. The series starkly and uncompromisingly portrays the way Martha’s obsession becomes increasingly intertwined with every aspect of Donny’s life, becoming a devastating force that affects his relationships, career, and mental health. Jessica Gunning’s performance as Martha is particularly outstanding, managing to convey a magnetic and changing presence, oscillating between pity and constant threat.
Baby Reindeer Review and Analysis
Baby Reindeer opens like this, with Donny reporting his stalker to the police. But the answer he gives to the agent is rather indicative of the complexity of the relationship he ends up establishing with Martha. After offering her a cup of tea out of pure compassion towards a visibly vulnerable woman, Donny begins to be fascinated by that loud and brazen presence, or perhaps by the only human being who seems to really see him, see that person he wanted to become moving to London. Is our protagonist therefore a good guy who just wanted to reach out to a stranger in difficulty, or an egomaniac in search of that fulfillment that life doesn’t seem willing to grant him? There is no correct answer. But the truly central issue of the show written and starring Richard Gadd is that of co-dependency: flattered by the fact that Martha is interested in him, Donny pays her a sort of attention in return, allowing the woman’s obsession to fester and trapping both in a toxic bond that doesn’t seem to have a way out.
Although it moves on the tone of comedy, Baby Reindeer very often evokes the atmosphere of a horror film, with its close-up shots, the at times disturbing aesthetics, and the nervous string music that permeates almost every frame. All this contributes to creating a sense of disorientation in the audience, constantly increasing tension and accompanying the protagonist on a slow but inexorable descent towards hell. Not only that: Richard Gadd deals with numerous uncomfortable topics such as self-loathing and pity towards others, guilt and loneliness, mental illness and obsessive control, raising difficult questions and forcing viewers to confront their own traumas. Yet, this still isn’t enough to define Baby Reindeer; because the show, thanks to its unique humor, offers an authentic look at reality and broken dreams but, at the same time, transmits a message of hope, managing to find beauty even in the despondency of everyday life. After all, isn’t this the complexity of human existence?
With a fair amount of courage and a touch of self-irony, Richard Gadd offers a ruthless portrayal of Donny (i.e. himself), painting him as a stagnant individual, a coward who still lives at his ex-girlfriend’s mother’s house to avoid paying the rent and an insecure man forced to take refuge in the attention of a stalker. His face marked by sadness and his disillusioned eyes perfectly convey the deep sense of self-loathing that pervades him. But the real star of the show is Jessica Gunning in the role of Martha: the actress manages to make the madness of her character real, managing to convey all those nuances that are part of her, from security to vulnerability, from malice to physical violence and psychological, moving from one aspect to another by simply changing one’s expression. Whatever guise she embodies, however, she always remains a truly compelling and dizzying presence on screen.
The most shocking thing of all is that much of this story is based on Gadd’s own experiences of harassment. Over three years, the comedian received more than 41,000 emails from a stalker, which translates to around 37 messages a day. This royal background adds a layer of metafiction to the series, with the real “Martha”‘s own messages peppering the narrative like frenetic punctuation. Faced with this very personal situation, Gadd is not condescending when it comes to portraying his alter ego, Donny. Far from presenting him as an innocent victim, he paints him as a coward whose life has stalled, who still lives with his ex’s mother, and whose dog-like face and sad eyes are the perfect vehicle to convey the self-hatred that he clearly feels.
Donny is a complex character who defies the viewer’s expectations. Is he a nice guy offering a cup of tea to a needy stranger, or is he a selfish, lying manipulator? The answers don’t seem clear, and Gunning’s masterful performance as Martha adds even more layers of ambiguity to the character, presenting her at times as ruthless and at other times as vulnerable, but always a captivating presence both in Donny’s life and on screen. The series is almost packed with ideas, exploring fascinating aspects such as Donny’s relationship with Teri, a trans woman, where he experiences shame that leads him to lie to her about his name and job, or the generational impact of sexual abuse in Gadd’s family. Donny, who are Scottish Catholic. However, the central creative question of Baby Reindeer revolves around codependency. Does Donny allow Martha’s obsession to be compounded by a desire to be someone?
Far from being a blind spot, this dilemma is something the series thinks through carefully. Donny is a fragile and not entirely likable character, while the writing largely eschews jokes in favor of moments that veer between psychological thriller and consumerism drama. But even if Martha calls him “my stuffed reindeer” and acts like he’s naïve in the big city, neither Donny nor his creator are that innocent. This is a twisted, mature, and self-reflective story that will leave the viewer more disturbed than amused. Baby Reindeer is a raw and personal look at the devastating effects of bullying, where Gadd himself delves into his traumatic experiences to create a narrative that defies expectations and refuses to offer easy solutions. It is a disturbing and layered series that transcends the mere portrait of obsession to delve into deeper questions about human nature and the complex relationship between victim and perpetrator.
Baby Reindeer Review: The Last Words
Despite its origins in the world of stand-up comedy, the show written and starring Richard Gadd goes beyond the boundaries of comedy to launch into a courageous exploration of human drama and trauma, until it completes a slow but inexorable descent into the underworld. To complete the picture of this disorienting show, the performances of its leading actors, among which Jessica Gunning shines, a truly irresistible and dizzying presence on the screen. Baby Reindeer is a thought-provoking and disturbing show, but its strong performances and complex narrative make it a compelling television. If you’re looking for something original and aren’t afraid of dark subject matter, this might be a good pick.
Baby Reindeer Review: A Dizzying Show, Balanced Between Drama and Comedy? - Filmyhype
Director: Richard Gadd
Date Created: 2024-04-11 18:03
4
Pros
- His always being in the balance between drama and comedy
- Jessica Gunning's irresistible performance
- The way he is able to raise uncomfortable questions
Cons
- It may be difficult for some to watch
