Baby Reindeer: The True Story of Richard Gadd (and his Stalker) That Inspired the Netflix Series

A thriller miniseries Baby Reindeer inspired by a true story has arrived on Netflix starting on April 11, 2024, and in a very short time has already climbed the top 10 of the streaming platforms, positioning itself among the most watched series of the moment. It’s called Baby Reindeer and it’s a 7-episode series inspired by the one-man show by Scottish actor Richard Gadd, which in turn was based on a stalking story experienced firsthand by Gadd. In addition to being an actor and comedian, Richard Gadd is also a screenwriter of some of Netflix’s most famous series from Sex Education where he wrote some episodes to Outlander. Now Gadd is the screenwriter and protagonist of the miniseries Baby Reindeer where he brought his story, without filters, addressing very delicate topics such as psychological distress, traumas related to sexual violence and stalking, gender identity, and much more.

But let’s go into more detail to find out who Richard Gadd is and what the true story behind the Baby Reindeer series is. The new British miniseries Baby Reindeer has captured the attention of viewers on Netflix, debuting on the list as one of the most-watched series and achieving a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. This psychological drama, based on the play of the same name and the real experiences of its creator Richard Gadd, revolves around Gadd’s disturbing experiences with a stalker who subjected him to a whirlwind of unwanted messages and unsolicited appearances at his home. he. This shocking series, which is not looking for a continuation due to its closed-story nature, consists of only seven episodes of approximately 30 minutes each.

Baby Reindeer: 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.

Who is Richard Gadd: From Theater To TV to His Experience As A Victim Of Stalking

Richard Gadd is a 34-year-old Scottish writer, actor, and comedian who is currently on Netflix with the TV series Baby Reindeer inspired by his 2019 one-man show of the same name, a stage show for which he won numerous awards from the Scotsman Fringe First Award for the show’s script at the Stage Award for Excellence in Acting. This show also received the Off West End Theater Award and an Olivier Award. An incredible success blocked only by Covid and then back in vogue with the creation of the Netflix series inspired by the story of violence and stalking experienced firsthand by Richard Gadd. In addition to being a great theater author and actor, Gadd is also an actor for the small screen.

He was the protagonist, together with Daniel Mays, of the BBC2 drama Against the Law, also nominated for a BAFTA another role on TV including in BBC3’s Clique, Sky Arts’ One Normal Night, Sky One’s Code 404, and tripped by E4. Richard Gadd was also the screenwriter of some episodes of Netflix’s Sex Education and other TV series such as Ultimate Worrier for which he wrote several episodes and The Last Leg. His bad experience as a victim of stalking by a fan led him to become an ambassador for, We Are Survivors, a British charity that helps survivors of sexual abuse.

Richard Gadd, The True Story of the Stalker Behind the Netflix Series Baby Reindeer?

The Netflix series Baby Reindeer is established as a dramatic adaptation based on the alarming harassment experienced by Richard Gadd, who experienced disturbing monitoring by a fan after a performance of his. This situation not only had a profound impact on his personal life but also inspired his artistic work, becoming the genesis of Baby Reindeer, a work that has captured the attention of both the public and critics.

The stalker’s obsessive behavior is detailed on Netflix through impressive figures:  41,071 emails, 350 hours of voice messages, 744 tweets, 46 messages, four fake Facebook accounts, 106 pages of letters, and a cup of tea, reflecting the intensity and severity of the harassment experienced by Gadd. By turning his anguish into an artistic narrative, Gadd not only documented the complexities of his own experience but also addressed the deep psychological and emotional implications of bullying.

Baby Reindeer stands out not only for its critical acclaim, but also for offering a thorough exploration of the main character Donny Dunn, revealing his insecurities, traumas, and the psychological dynamics underlying his situation with the stalker. Unlike traditional stalking narratives, this series delves into the complexity of human experience, confronting viewers with a more nuanced reality than that offered by typical horror stories. Netflix‘s success in adapting this true story has triggered a positive response from both specialized critics and the public, although potential viewers are warned about the disturbing content and sequences of sexual violence present in one of the episodes.

Only after two and a half years did Gadd manage to obtain a restraining order against the woman who, during that period, had also begun harassing her family and friends.

“When I was being stalked I saw a person who was not well, who needed help. Stalking is a mental illness that derives from addiction to fantasies, from the idea that only one person can be the answer to one’s problems” declared Richard Gadd who, for his stalker, has always felt a sort of compassion.

“Martha does bad things on the show, but I want to think that sometimes it all comes from that hurt.”

Despite this warning, the series has been praised for its ability to confront difficult topics with sensitivity and depth, following Richard Gadd‘s statements about his confrontation with bullying. The resolution of this real-life case, with the stalker sentenced to nine months in prison and a five-year restraining order, sheds light on the legal and emotional consequences of stalking. The uniqueness of Baby Reindeer, being a story based on real events narrated by the person who lived them, offers viewers a unique and deeply personal perspective on the impact of psychological bullying. Baby Reindeer is emerging as a valuable addition to the platform’s programming, marking a high point in the representation of dramas based on real experiences and opening a channel for discussion on critical topics such as bullying and its psychological repercussions.

When Did Baby Reindeer Premiere on Netflix?

Baby Reindeer made its debut on Netflix on Thursday, January 11, 2024, immediately capturing the attention of a global audience. Since its launch, the series has accumulated positive reviews, among which it stands out for its well-structured script and masterful performances, especially that of Gadd, who wrote and starred in the series, providing unparalleled authenticity.

How Many Episodes Does Baby Reindeer Have?

The series Baby Reindeer, as is its original name in English, is made up of 7 chapters, which have an estimated duration between 27 and 45 minutes, which makes it ideal to enjoy in a single day. Below we show you all the chapters that make up the production and the times of each of them:

• Episode 1: Donny is a budding comedian and works in a pub. One day, he serves tea in the house to a lonely woman who claims to be a lawyer. The obsession begins. (32 minutes)
• Episode 2: Donny goes on a date with Teri and tells her all about his stalker. To be nice, he ends up getting Martha’s hopes up and makes things worse. (27 minutes)
• Episode 3: Donny decides to leave the pub for a while and tries to repair things with Teri. But no matter how hard he tries, he can’t let Martha out of his sight. (38 minutes)
• Episode 4: Donny goes to the police to report Martha, which triggers a memory of the traumatic experience he had with a man years ago at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. (45 minutes)
• Episode 5: Liz discovers the truth about Martha and asks Donny to move out. It’s a new beginning for him and Teri, but her memories prevent him from getting closer. (28 minutes)
• Episode 6: Martha tries other tactics to get closer to Donny, such as harming the people he loves. With the police still failing to act, Donny takes matters into his own hands. (34 minutes)
• Episode 7: For the first time in his career, Donny feels like he’s going somewhere… until he makes a mistake that causes Martha to unexpectedly return to his life. (31 minutes)

What Did Critics Say About Baby Reindeer?

Baby Reindeer, a series that is aimed at people over 18 years of age due to the appearance of sex scenes, nudity, inappropriate language, drugs, and sexual violence, was very well received by critics. This is reflected in different pages dedicated to rating productions, such as IMDb, where fiction has an 8.3 out of 10.

Likewise, on Rotten Tomatoes the outlook is even better, since ‘Baby Reindeer’ has a 100%, score based on 8 opinions, while more than 50 people gave the series an 87%. Finally, Metacritic gave it 86 points and the audience gave it 6.6, making it one of the best productions today.