Baby Reindeer

With the title Baby Reindeer and the genre classification drama-biopic, I can't think of anything less attractive than this at the moment. I gave it an immediate pass as it sounded like a series version of Father or Nomadland. No thanks! But this is so fucking deceptive. This ain't no talky drama for intellectual fuckers, I'm adding tags here immediately! stalking thriller, true crime, and adjectives like over-the-top, twisted, unreal, compulsive, emotional, depressing, challenging, uncomfortable, traumatic, disturbing, and emotional Psychological carnage!!!! Sounds and looks more interesting now doesn't it? It's based on true events and it's unbelievable what kind of hell the main character goes through and that he can't really do anything about it. He really only meets strange people in his life. On the one hand, he's a poor guy, on the other hand, some things are his own fault. The highlight for me was episode 4, experimenting with different drugs and being abused by a guy! The final speech on stage about his life in front of everyone had power and depth. You just don't want to experience that. The big surprise of the year that came where I definitely didn't expect it. I'm raising the score at the end because this will resonate in me for a while. 85%. (05/05/2024)

When one hears about a series about a stalker, they have a very distant idea of what they'll actually get in the case of Baby Reindeer. That's why I appreciate the intimate and unprecedented confession that doesn't just stigmatize the stalker, but also the victim, and Richard Gadd's story is probably one in a million. It was a very bold move to open up to such a level to the whole world and depict the bizarre aspects of his inner obsessions, guilt, naivety, foolishness, trauma, but also kindness and empathy. This is a story that truly only life can write, and although the expectation was different, the reality and impact of this extraordinary story is ultimately on a completely different front, in a good sense of the word. A strong, shocking experience. (06/26/2024)

I’ve just finished one of the most acclaimed Netflix series of the year, and I have to say, I’m fairly satisfied, although I do have a few criticisms. First, I have to commend Richard Gadd. Playing the lead role in this crazy story about stalking (which he actually experienced :O), writing the script, and directing it is not something you often see (and he succeeded on all three fronts). That definitely deserves praise. But for me, the undisputed gem of the series is actress Jessica Gunning. She took on the role of the crazy and emotionally unstable stalker in such a way that my jaw almost dropped. So why am I not rating it higher? I often didn’t understand the decisions made by the main character, and at times, the pacing also stagnated. Still, it’s an interesting contribution to the genre. After all, this phenomenon, which is so widespread nowadays, deserves more discussion in broader circles. I’m giving it a solid 6.5/10. (08/31/2024)

A highly imaginative concept that rightfully earned the title for the most intriguing idea on Netflix this month. Baby Reindeer is everywhere, jumping between genres so much that it eventually trips over its own premise. At its core, it's a drama about stalking, but it also dives into the life story of a desperate individual, cramming in rape and drugs into the most compelling episode, which oddly has little to do with the main plot. The rest of the series feels repetitive, and until the final cathartic moments in the last episode, you realize the protagonist is just wallowing in misery, seemingly with no desire to change things. (05/07/2024)