Technically speaking, Baby Reindeer is not based on a book; instead, it was written as a one-person show by its creator, Richard Gadd, as an autobiographical account. Now, Netflix has successfully adapted it as a limited series based on true events for the silver screen. Still, considering it was a written record of what happened with Richard Gadd, I can safely categorize this as a successful transmission.

That aside, now let’s take a look at this famous series.

If I have to describe this mind-numbing traumatic tale in one word, then I would like to call it twisted. Not only does the story about Richard and his surrounding people come across as twisted, but all those characters are also twisted in their unique ways.

As the first episode opens, we meet our protagonist, Danny Dunn, working in a pub in London. The entire premise of his working there is to earn enough cash to fulfill his long-cherished dream of becoming a comedian. Since his career as a comedian has yet to take off, he is surviving by working in the pub and living in a house owned by his ex-girlfriend’s mother. All in all, he is not in a good spot financially and physically.

However, he is also not in a good place psychologically, which is displayed by his unexplainable pull towards Martha Scott. Later, when she entered that pub one day, Danny offered her a free coke, and suddenly, she became a regular presence. However, we soon find out that her regular presence is not seeking Danny’s company but to associate herself with him by any means. What starts as a harmless laughter session soon turns into a full fledge stalking and confronting Danny wherever he goes, whenever he returns home or accesses his emails and phones.

Not only does Martha berate him with incessant phone calls and emails and stationing herself outside his home, but she also violates him in an intimate way. Despite her toxic behavior and threats made to Danny’s new girlfriend- Teri, he fails to get rid of her or rather refuses to shake off her presence.

The reason behind his broken mind and damaged psyche comes tumbling out in a series of flashbacks and later in an emotional monologue. That gives an idea of why he came under Martha’s spell in the first place, even though she has behaved atrociously to him. I would say the writing of the series is astonishingly fantastic, as it transcends Martha’s past trauma and mental health history so well on the screen and makes us realize why Danny empathizes with her. 

In the end, viewers remain stunned to the core by the raw and emotionally captivating portrayal of all the characters brought to the screen by a host of talented actors. Previously relatively unknown but now so famous, these actors need to take a bow for their realistic presentation.

So, I would say, if you haven’t already, go ahead and watch this in a single sitting. It’s definitely worth your time.