User reviews

Possibly the toughest series I've ever watched, on so many levels - not least the fact that it's based on a true story.

Really had little idea where it was going, and was expecting something quite light hearted, if I'm honest.

Light hearted, it isn't.

It's a great cast, and the acting is very good.

I found it very difficult to like any of the characters at all - and going back to the fact that it's predominantly true - I found myself questioning some of the decisions that were made by the main protagonist.

I also found myself wanting to watch some of the scenes (including the stand up routines) through my fingers.

Episode 4 is particularly tough.

All that said, it's totally engrossing, and brings some huge issues to the fore.

Started this and thought it was a nice light thing to watch, especially judging by the trailer and the beginning of the first episode. It was pretty funny, very well shot, acting is great. Binged a few episodes and it seemed to get darker and darker until half way through the season and holy hell, that went a whole different way. This is an amazing show, it definitely isn't 'light watching' though. Had to switch it off and watch a few episodes of 'is it cake' just to clear our palette 😂 It's amazing but we really weren't ready for that, we really just wanted some light viewing, but it does grip you and reel you in to watch more. Probably needs a warning at the beginning because it was disturbia central up in here.

I had no idea what to expect with this show, it just popped up on my Netflix recommended and I decided to give it a go. Without giving too much away Baby Reindeer tells the true story of a man and the woman who stalks him but it's so much more. It a brutally honest masterpiece about two very broken individuals, one who is destructive to others and one who is hell bent on self distrusting and how they form a bizarre and thoroughly toxic connection. The vulnerability it took to make this show is praise worthy and it was done with such elegance and rawness. It's not an easy watch by any stretch and it's jarring at times but if you are willing to sit through the brutality, there is a breathtaking beauty in this show rooted in the honesty it's told with.

I have never reviewed anything before, but I needed to make an exception with this series. The characters, the actors and the storyline is by far some of the best television that I have seen in a long time. I wish I could give more details, but I have just finished my second re-run and I am still filled with a pyrrhic feeling in my stomach. Each episode is so captivatingly disturbing and yet shines a light on so many important issues faced today without perpetuating any sort of moral judgement. If you are ever going to give a show a chance, let it be this one.

Sent from my iphone (watch the show to catch that reference)

I went to bed thinking about this show and finished it the next day as I couldn't think past.

This type of show will stay with you for a long time. I saw a reviewer say how stalkers are glamourised in media, think Netflix's You. This raw and haunting story of comedian Richard Gadd's real life experience of being stalked by a woman he met in a pub and befriended, shows a dark and refreshingly honest portrayal of a terrible stalking experience.

Not only do we see the reasons behind why he did what he did, why he didn't stop when all the signs where pointing to danger, but the background to Richard / Donny's life is so incredibly brave.

Rarely do we see this story line in the media happening to men, although it happens very frequently to women in movies and tv, and for that I think it will strike a chord with many people. I won't elaborate on this more without giving too much away.

To summarise, this show is a must watch, but be warned it is not an easy watch and should come with trigger warnings.

I came back here to review this series following Fiona Harvey (also known as Fiona Muir) A. K. A Martha's appearance on the Piers Morgan show where she denied all allegations made about her in this series.

The most admirable aspect about this series is the fact that Richard, or Donny, never portrayed himself to be just the victim. He was honest about his mistakes, and all the things he may have done to lead Martha on. He also didn't portray Martha to be just an abuser. I think the show did well to portray that Martha also had her good parts and was herself a victim to her childhood tragedies. There was nothing one-sided about the way he told his story. The series is quite unconventional in the way that the narrative was so much than just Victim vs. Abuser. That the story is multi-dimensional and complex.

This is definitely one of the most difficult series I'd had to watch. There were some scenes that left me stunned and speechless. Most importantly, I cannot fathom how painful and difficult it must be for Richard to reenact some of most traumatizing events in his life for the world to see.

I can't say I liked Baby Reindeer - it's a darkly frustrating watch to see so much abuse and self hatred - but it is a well told, powerful (true) story. We have stalking, grooming, rape, sexual deviance, body dysmorphia, self harm... the list goes on. Watching Baby Reindeer is like getting dragged through the sewage of a neurotic therapy purge.

The acting is very good - very believable. The vibe is darkly comic, very 'in the face' with lots of close ups. Voice-over throughout, arty, and quick moving - I've heard that a lot of people 'binge watch' the series in one go.

I have certainly known some Donnies and Martha's in my time working alongside social services in deprived neighbourhoods. Superficially friendly but needy, deluded, compulsive liars and manipulators - desperate for attention. In that respect Baby Reindeer is all too common and sadly familiar.

A major theme of this story is mental illness and how it feeds off the neurosis of others. Donnie's neediness masquerades as compassion and his self hatred as submission - desperate for a loving father in his life. Of the main characters I would say that only Donnies X-girlfriend and her mum (minor characters) seem anything like 'normal' or 'healthy' - everyone else is confused, afraid, and tormented to some extent.

On a more positive note another theme is authenticity. How honesty and truthfulness are always the path to liberation and reconciliation. And also how you can only get rid of your demons if you make them your enemies rather than trying to make them your friends. However - My feeling by the end of the story is that it never truly does either but leaves us feeling like it could all just happen again (especially now, in a twist of irony, Donnie has hit the big time with a Netflix hit) - so it's an honest but ultimately tragic tale in which we are all culpable.

Donny has moved to London, with dreams of becoming a comedian, but things don't quite work out. Working at a bar, he makes a friendly gesture to Martha, a gesture he'll come to regret.

Very rarely do I give a straight 10/10 review these days, but in this show's case, I had to. I didn't want to binge watch it, I had no other choice, it's spellbinding.

It almost lulls you into thinking you're watching a comedy drama, and there are definitely several funny elements, as it moves on however, it takes you to some very dark places, Donny's back story is quite something.

It's chilling to think that this is based on Gadd's own personal experiences, it makes you think and question all sorts, how much is real, how much is made up, where does dramatic license start and finish.

The acting is incredible, Richard Gadd and Jessica Gunning are both phenomenal, the supporting cast also, truly on point.

One of those very rare shows that I didn't want to end.

The subsequent fallout is morbidly curious to watch, there's a lot of pain, a lot of damage.

10/10.

Absolutely!

"Jessica" offers a tour de force in acting prowess, with both leading characters delivering performances that are nothing short of extraordinary. Each episode takes viewers on a thrilling journey, with twists and turns that keep them on the edge of their seats.

In the end. It's a series that lingers in the mind long after credits roll, leaving viewers clamoring for more. With its stellar performances, impeccable writing, and bold storytelling choices, "Jessica" stands as a shining example of what modern series can achieve. Just loved it. I hope it never ends. Netflix thanks for that.

Oh my God! It took me completely by surprise and once you reach the 4th episode you're inexorably part of it. We know all there is to know even if it doesn't make any sense. We're told this is a true story. Richard Gaad, the author and star of this series doesn't keep anything to himself. He tells us in the most appalling detail, Is this a story that he's telling us, a memory, a dream a nightmare or a confession. Sometimes it feels as if its a bit of all of it. I don't want to tell you too much because the surprises are part of the sickening thrill of sitting through this unsettling tale. Let me just tell you that the leads, Richard Gaad and Jessica Gunning are out of this world. Superb.

I just finished binge watching the show. It's not an easy watch. It started out a little lighter but the more it progressed the harder it was to watch. Sexual abuse, mental illness, self destruction and trauma are some of the things that you'll see in the show. It's disturbing to think this is a true story.

The acting is phenomenal! I was very impressed with it. You can feel the raw emotion and stress that is going on in the lives of those people. I just can't get past the fact that it's a true story. There's a lot of mental illness and trauma involved. Makes you feel so bad for them. Hope they're all doing better now.

... This is THAT good! It's truly a tour de force (and forgive me for using that terminology but omg! OMG! When you write something this significant AND do it the justice it demands in the acting.. I mean... Ya 'tour den force' is the only fitting phrase) - it took me awhile to truly appreciate what I was looking at, what he was conveying and why but.. Sheesh! And lemme tell you right now, a 9 from me is exceptional! (for reference I reserve tens for things like an Attenborough nature documentary, or maaaybe Rick and Morty but both of those are for different reasons - I never bestow the NINER - but it's warranted - congratulations man, you should be very VERY proud - THANK YOU for this! Thank you FOR YOU!

Wow. There's so much more than meets the eye with Baby Reindeer. The show's Netflix synopsis makes it out to be a psychological thriller, which it is, but it's so much more complex than that. Richard Gadd takes us on a deep dive into a dark, emotional, psychologically unsettling experience, sharing his story with the utmost vulnerability. I imagine this couldn't have been an easy tale for Gadd to re-enact, especially so graphically.

Baby Reindeer is without a doubt worth the watch - I binged it in a day, and have continued to ponder over the concepts of self-destruction, mental illness, and male sexual assault. Thank you for sharing your story with us, Richard.

I am guessing this show is getting high numbers because of the subject matter. Because the story itself and characterisation is pretty mid. I would say the best thing about the series is the performances shown by the actors. Which was excellent.

If this wasn't based on a true story, I would imagine one would be saying the main character is the most unrealistic dumb character they have ever seen. It's like you're watching Homer Simpson in real life, but without the endearing factor of the character.

By the end you will come to believe that he enjoyed the torture he has lived through the season you just watched, that he comes back to look for more afterwards. Some indirectly by listening to his stalker's messages over and over like a common psycho, or more directly by trying to meet his tormentor(s) after the fact. He is a proper loser.

Easily one of my most hated characters I have seen on tv. And it's based on a true story. So an actual person behaved like this? Sheesh.

This show was 7 episodes of 30+ minutes, and it still had a lot of filler to fill up that short amount of time. How many times must we see the unfunny comedy act? Not enough apparantly.

Really dissapointed watch. I was expecting an 8 rating show, and got a 6 instead.

This was the first show in a long long time I binged in just two nights.

It's a rare show that comes along and feels pure in its writing. Truthful, painful and easy to see yourself in Gadd/Donny.

I winced through an awful lot of it but couldn't look away. I kept watching and waiting for a reckoning a comeuppance or some sort of revenge piece but no one really got their just desserts which I suppose made it all the more realistic.

Amazing piece of storytelling from someone who's been through so much. I guess that's where the win was that Donny/Gadd were looking for all that time.

Be prepared with a box of tissues.

This is insane. The story, the woman, every bit of it, just insane. Oh my god. There were so many moments that just made my blood boil.

Somehow, This story is shockingly real, the show is written and produced by the guy this happened to. Even more shockingly, The actor who plays Donny, Richard Gadd, is the guy this stalking situation happened to! I cannot believe one could have the energy to write, produce, and act in a show based on one's own traumatic experience.

Now, I get that Martha is sick, and the series made it clear that she needs help. However, I won't empathize with Martha. Don't confuse empathy with sympathy. Sure, Police/Institutions should learn many things from this Martha situation, and society should provide more resources to those with mental illness. Still, no, I don't empathize. Build many affordable therapy centers, then send her to them, permanently.