Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault which some readers may find distressing
Netflix viewers have been left ‘speechless’ over a new miniseries with a perfect Rotten Tomatoes score.
Based on a harrowing true story, the new show dropped on the platform on 11 April and details how a single act of kindness ‘leads down a twisty road paved with hundreds of hours of voice messages and north of 40,000 emails’.
Written by and starring Richard Gadd, the series is adapted from his one-man play and follows his real ‘warped relationship’ with his female stalker.
The 34-year-old was heavily stalked by a woman, named on the show as Martha, for six years before police were finally involved.
Baby Reindeer is named after the pet name Gadd’s stalker gave him, as she flooded him with 41,071 emails, 744 tweets, 106 pages of letters and a jaw-dropping 350 hours of voicemail, as well as turning up to his gigs and his home.
The Netflix series blends heavy emotion and trauma with humour as the comedian told Tudum he reckons ‘life is a comedy-drama’.
“Some of the darkest places I’ve been in, I’ve found giggles somehow,” he explained.
“And some of the funniest places I’ve been in, including backstage at comedy clubs with other comedians, can be the most depressing places as well.”
“I always think life is a mixture of light and shade. So I wanted Baby Reindeer to be a blend of them both.”
Gadd portrays himself as character ‘Donny Dunn’. (Netflix)
The show also details Gadd’s experience as a victim of sexual assault while also offering a less-than typical narrative of stalking.
The star describes stalking as a ‘mental illness’, adding: “I really wanted to show the layers of stalking with a human quality I hadn’t seen on television before.
“It’s a stalker story turned on its head. It takes a trope and turns it on its head.”
Viewers are praising the new seven-part series on X, with one saying: “Binged #BabyReindeer – just finished. Speechless. What Richard Gadd has done there is not only an incredible piece of television, but so important for so reasons.
“Absolutely compelling watch and leaves you needing time to process what you’ve just watched.”
Another echoed: “Never gone through so many emotions from a show. Fear, shock horror, disgust, disturbed, confused, sympathy, anger, THE LOT!
“Scariest bit was Martha sat frozen at the bus stop outside Donny’s house. WHEW! What a brave & important show on male abuse. Bravo Richard.”
The stalker is named ‘Martha’ in the series to protect the real woman’s identity. (Netflix)
As one wrote: “Baby Reindeer is a truly special series. Richard Gadd’s storytelling is nothing short of masterful. Based on true events, the aftertaste is even more raw. Much respect for using his experiences to produce such an authentic, complex & uncomfortable drama.”