Mikes Film Talk

Richard Gadd writes and stars in Netflix miniseries Baby Reindeer as Donny, a hopeful stand-up comic. This “on the fringe” stalking drama captivates. It enthralls while taking us into another world. One of bi-sexuality, trans relationships, stalking, and rape. This one, it seems, has it all.

Synopsis

Donny Dunn (Gadd) is a wanna be stand up comic. He works a number of gigs while searching for his own style. A style that audiences will find funny. He works in a pub to fund his way and there he meets Martha. The heavy older woman who fixates on him after he “buys” her a cup of tea.

This overly loud woman soon invades his life. Donny juggles dealing with Martha as he attempts to deal with a number of things. He tries fringe comedy. A possible mentor rapes him. He falls in and out of love, and all this happens as Martha tries to take over his life.

Bittersweet

Donny is like most of the folks in the entertainment industry; he wants to be accepted. Comedy, perhaps more than any other career, seeks glorification. The audience laughing is a certain sign of love. And comics want you to love them.

Stand-up comedy requires the comic to have balls of steel. This is perhaps the hardest part of the entertainment world to conquer. Donny’s first foray into that world is hard to watch.

Sadly, for Donny, he has not found his comedic voice yet. He struggles to find an audience. We follow his bittersweet journey. We see him break up with Keely, his struggle to develop a relationship with Teri; a trans woman, and his own reaction to a mentor sexually abusing and then raping him.

In the background, springing with disturbing regularity into the fore, is Martha. An omnipresent force that screams for attention. A lot like a stand-up comic.

Discovery

As Donny works his way through so many obstacles, a sort of discovery takes place. One that will define him and shape his sexuality and quite probably his career. He bounces from hetero to b-curious to gay. His journey is one that is almost impossible to ignore. Like many others on the fringe of what is acceptable in society, he flounders.

Sometimes, badly.

Donny and his struggle with identity grabs us. We empathize with his troubles, not just with Martha, but with everything that affects his life. His karma. The man is struggling to find his niche and life is not helping him out.

It is also very difficult to exclude Martha from the empathy state. She too is floundering. Her struggle is very different from Donny’s. She clearly has mental issues that are never really addressed in the series.

True Story

Gadd has stated that the entire series is a true story. This is not surprising. Martha, the name given the real life stalker in the series, was changed significantly. This was to give the real woman anonymity. Questions have been raised about the sexually abusive mentor in the series. Gadd has remained silent.

Viewers should understand that the entertainment business is full of predators and always has been.

True story or not, the journey of Donny is almost painful to watch at times. There are moments, for instance the scenes dealing with his family, that are sad and cringeworthy.

Netflix

Baby Reindeer is streaming on Netflix. If, like me, you get hooked from the very first episode, set aside a bit of time. This seven episode mini series will keep you glued to the screen. Donny (Gadd) and his story grabs you and holds you. Check out the trailer below and see what I mean.

This is a full 5 star effort. Do not let this one pass you by.