Common Sense Media Review
Dark comedy about stalking has sexual assault, drugs.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Baby Reindeer
What's the Story?
BABY REINDEER follows Donny (Richard Gadd), a struggling comedian who bartends by day to get by. When a woman named Martha (Jessica Gunning) comes into the bar looking very depressed, Donny offers a free drink and his listening ear. Smitten, Martha excitedly spins tales about her important job, multiple properties, and top-shelf clientele. Donny cautiously entertains her, skeptical yet fascinated. But as time goes on, Martha quickly becomes more concerning and off-putting. She constantly shows up at Donny's job and stand-up gigs, demands a romantic relationship, and sends him oodles of odd emails even though he never gave her his contact. After some research, Donny uncovers Martha's dark and crime-ridden past. Before he realizes it, he's become a convicted stalker's next target.
Is It Any Good?
This series balances being deeply unsettling and being darkly humorous. Baby Reindeer is foreboding and fascinating. Audiences might get anxious as the situations are bizarre and unpredictable, and—much like reality—can get scary. Gadd portrays Donny's vulnerability and insecurities well. Gunning's performance of Martha is both expertly unsettling and heavily emotional. The language and sexual content make this more suitable for older teens.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about TV series based on true stories. How do they tell their stories of victims and victimizers? Do any of these stories exploit or glamorize crime rather than telling the story sympathetically? Is Baby Reindeer an example of a sympathetic or exploitive story? What's the difference?
Did you know that stalking people on and offline is a crime? How does this show treat this kind of behavior? How can parents help kids understand how to behave safely online, and how to deal with it when others do not?
TV Details
- Premiere date : April 11, 2024
- Cast : Richard Gadd , Jessica Gunning , Danny Kirrane
- Network : Netflix
- Genre : Drama
- TV rating :
- Awards : BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , Emmy - Emmy Award Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
- Last updated : May 16, 2025
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