Since its release, the series Baby Reindeer has drawn attention, and perhaps it is the opening line of the first episode that makes its shocking story even more impactful, familiar, and unsettling:
“This is a true story.”
Released as an eight-part miniseries, Baby Reindeer focuses on the experiences of Donny, a comedian whose career is not going well. Living with the dream of becoming a comedian, Donny soon finds himself working in a bar. His ordinary life takes a turn when he encounters Martha, who seems very desperate. Feeling sorry for her, Donny offers her a cup of tea, which catches Martha's attention, and from that day on, she never leaves him alone. In the first two episodes, which focus on Martha—who visits the bar every day, sends dozens of emails daily to harass him, tells lies about her life, and clearly has psychological issues—we expect to see an obsessive lover. However, in later episodes, we begin to question Donny's behavior. Because despite saying, “I just gave her a cup of tea,” Donny doesn’t report Martha to the police for six months, sometimes chats with her, and even follows her to her home despite being scared of her. In his life, which turns into frustration as he becomes invisible even in his daily life, Martha becomes the only person who truly sees him. Sometimes she helps him relax on stage, and sometimes she can see Donny's bad experiences even before we do.
As Martha's harassment intensifies and she becomes more prone to violence, we embark on a journey into Donny's past. We watch his early struggles to become a comedian, his school life, and the sacrifices he made to meet screenwriters and get noticed. When he meets Darren, the writer of a popular show, Donny thinks he will benefit from Darren's experiences, but Darren not only manipulates him but also rapes him. “I wish I could say I walked out and never went back, but I stayed,” Donny shares his shame and perhaps the hope that he could have left that house with an idea that would change everything. Things don’t go well for Donny, and long after, he even goes back to see Darren again.
Richard Gadd, who plays Donny, is the writer, director, and producer of the series, and he openly admits that this is his true story. His courageous and impactful narrative also stands out. Leaving us to face our own shames, Richard Gadd describes this project and process as, “It was the greatest therapy possible, doing this saved my life.”
Questions like “Why didn’t Donny report Martha? Why did he stay with Darren? Why does he want to see him again after all this time and not report him?” are questions that anyone who has questioned themselves, felt shame, and empathized can answer. Far from formulaic approaches like “If this happens, then that should be done,” this series sheds light on our inner world as well.
Aslıhan Nar
Yücel Cultural Foundation
Voluntary Author
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