The series “Baby Reindeer,” which premiered on Netflix in 2024, has captivated both critics and audiences alike. The show follows the story of comedian, performer, and writer Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd), who becomes involved with Martha (Jessica Gunning), a vulnerable woman dealing with her own struggles. This rapid and twisted relationship spirals into a strange obsession, impacting both of their lives and forcing Donny to confront a deep and dark trauma from his past. With 22 million views and over 87 million hours watched, the series has become a major phenomenon in over 30 countries.
1 – REAL STORY
A notable feature of the series is its inspiration from a true narrative starring actor and comedian Richard Gadd, albeit with some information and details modified.
2 – ACTOR SHARED HIS EXPERIENCE IN 2019
In 2019, the actor spoke about his experience at the 2019 Edinburgh Festival Fringe, and Netflix approached him to create the series.
3 – NAME CHANGES
In the series, the person being pursued is referred to as Martha, but the comedian changed her real name to preserve her identity. He described her as someone peculiar and emphasized the efforts made to completely disguise her, to the point of believing she wouldn’t recognize herself. He stressed that what was depicted is an emotional representation, not a factual portrayal of the individual.
4 – ASTRONOMICAL NUMBERS
A crucial aspect of the series is the many messages and emails the protagonist receives. In reality, the total was 41,071 emails, 744 tweets, 46 Facebook messages, along with 106 pages of letters and 350 hours of voicemails, according to Screen Rant.
5 – GIFTS
Although the Netflix production doesn’t address these details, in the reality of the story, the stalker sent a variety of strange gifts, including a bottle of sleeping pills, a woolen hat, underwear, and a reindeer toy, as reported by The Independent.
6 – EVERYONE HAS VIRTUE AND FLAW
According to Richard, the comedian involved in the real-life story, he expressed the desire for people to realize that there are no victims. He wanted to highlight the complexities of human nature, showing that people are a combination of virtues and flaws, and he believes that narratives about stalkers often oversimplify, dividing people into good and bad. He concludes by saying that he wanted to deviate a bit from that narrative.
7 – POLICE DIDN’T WANT TO HELP
In reality, Gadd mentioned that he approached the police but didn’t receive a warm reception. He reported to the British newspaper The Guardian that he was reprimanded for “bothering” the police with his harassment story.
8 – OUTPOURING
In the series, during a performance, the protagonist chooses to share his story and exposes all the events he experienced. This scene reflects a real-life event that occurred during his 2016 stage play titled “Monkey See, Monkey Do.”
9 – STALKER STEREOTYPE
The comedian expressed to Netflix’s Tudum portal the desire to avoid stereotypes when portraying stalking and the stalker. Richard reported that on television, stalking tends to be highly sexualized, with a mysterious aura, depicted as someone lurking in a dark alley, someone initially attractive and normal who gradually reveals themselves as strange. But in reality, stalking is a mental health issue. The actor really wanted to explore the various facets of it in a more humane way, something he had never seen in other productions.
10 – WAS MARTHA ARRESTED IN REAL LIFE?
In the series finale, Martha is detained, but in reality, Gadd chose not to pursue legal action against her, concerned for her mental well-being. She faced a trial and was sentenced to nine months in prison. What happened to her afterward in real life remains unknown.
Baby Reindeer truly became a global phenomenon, winning over critics and audiences right in its debut week. With a unique and touching story, many groups quickly found themselves discussing the series and the reasons behind Martha’s actions. It’s certainly a milestone in Netflix’s history.