Baby Reindeer - Netflix

[Spratt]

Got a day off today so I’m binging Baby Reindeer. Two episodes in and it’s great so far, I see that it’s previously been a stage show but I’ve never heard of it so looking forward to finding out what happens. It’s about a comedian being stalked by a woman in her 40s.

I don’t agree.

He’d been having fantasies about Martha and masturbating to the photo of her on her underwear. At the same time he was unable to have sex with Teri.

After he’s had sex with Martha, we then see him having just had sex with Teri and the narration tells us that he’s been able to do so because of sleeping with Martha.

He was obsessed with her.

I enjoyed it but it was much darker than I’d expected. I think Richard gave a fairly fair view of himself- far from perfect, made mistakes, owned up.

He definitely could have done more to stop her early on.

Just watched episode 1. Seems OK. I will keep watching. For now.

Is 'Martha' still alive in real life? I dread to think how she would be react to this, and the theatre shows before it. But mainly this series because of the bigger platform and the fact everyone is talking about it.
The writer/actor is talented no doubt, but he appears to have become obsessed with what happened. He has been reliving and breathing the whole trauma for years now. Hopefully this latest body of work has been cathartic for him moreover I hope it doesn't trigger contact between the two of them.

Just finished, I found it more frustrating than anything and very mentally drained!

Richard Gadd on his stalker: ‘It would be unfair to say she was awful and I'm a victim’ | Richard Gadd | The Guardian

Baby Reindeer review – Richard Gadd's solo theatre debut is a haunting hour | Edinburgh festival 2019 | The Guardian

Richard Gadd's show about his sexual assault wins Edinburgh comedy award | Edinburgh festival 2016 | The Guardian

Richard Gadd review – grindhouse gags give way to courageous confession | Edinburgh festival 2016 | The Guardian

Gosh, this is a good point.

Watched episodes 1-3 tonight and really enjoying it so far.

2019
As the show makes clear, Martha – while now, finally, restrained from contacting the artist himself – is still at large, and until recently has been harassing his friends and family. Might not publicising the story risk escalating her activities?
“I have to admit that it hasn’t,” he says, cautiously. “Maybe seeing this in the press has made her think twice about her behaviour.”

Watched the first episode tonight, was 'ok' but didn't much want to watch episode 2. So didn't. Not a binger for me.

However, some stalkers do reoffend/can't seem to stop themselves.
Emily Maitlis stalker jailed again for writing more letters - BBC News

It was harrowing. For those who asked why he indulged Martha, for me, it is was clear he was badly damaged by the sexual abuse, grooming and manipulation he had experienced. He couldn’t see a clear distinction between healthy and not healthy human connections with people, hence living with his ex’s mother - as just one example.
I think he portrays himself as flawed and recognises his faults and the role he played in how some situations turned out. He hated himself more than he loved Teri — that part was particularly poignant.
From watching the show and reading Gadd’s interviews, he purposefully blurred the lines so he isn’t seen as a helpless victim. He broadcasts his flaws and bad decisions. Ultimately, he was a damaged young man but at least he acknowledged this and took responsibility.

It didn't need to be 7 episodes long. Felt like a slog getting through it. Obviously it's dark AF so it's not meant to be that enjoyable. But ultimately it's very hard to get behind Richard- the reasons for him being as he is are explained, but it's a chore getting there rather than a journey.

There’s always one - victim blaming FFS

Thank you, this really sums it up. I’ve been having some conversations with myself questioning my bias against him because he’s male v if he were female but
he is a victim of the abuse he suffered and some of the questionable things he went on to do were as a result of this.

I think there's maybe a gap between people watching the show and responding to the fictionalised account, and people who have read interviews etc with the writer and are viewing this as autobiographical.

I agree ref compelling and best thing I’ve seen in a long time, not necessarily for the ‘entertainment’ value.
i am sad to read a lot of victim blaming comments here.
these and other public comments about notorious cases of fb, sa etc shows how far we still need to come .
i have a long term low level stalker who has terrified me and my family and numerous other people and their children.
he lives in very close proximity and the law has been involved numerous times including charges and orders etc.
he is nothing to do with me except on a very superficial level but he is obsessed with a particular ex partner who I met ONCE and since then he has targeted me as well as many others connected to his ex.

people have offered to help out but this person knows the law inside out and when people have intervened in the past it has got them into trouble with the law because he knows exactly what he’s doing , I don’t want to risk my job or risk being arrested or make anything worse so I just curl up and try to pretend he’s not happening

because he lives nearby and I’m often with my children when I see him, there are times I say hello or acknowledge with a nod because I don’t want things to become awkward or scary for my children if they’re with me.

it’s nowhere near the level of bby reindeer but that compulsion to be polite is literally a survival instinct as a protective mother in order not to bring more terror to our door.

It appears on Netflix under comedy, I can't imagine anyone thinking it is funny.

I didn't know anything about the story behind it, I was expecting a dark comedy about a stalker. It was really quite disturbing.

I only found out that it was the actors own real life story!

Yes! What Remains was excellent, if memory serves.

Just finished episode 5, I'm finding it so excellent and mind blowing. The portrayal of his reactions to the sexual abuse are so authentic, it really makes me think about a lot of the shit i did to myself in my youth in order to get over shit that had been done to me. He's really captured that period of self loathing where you reabuse yourself. It's interesting that he's bisexual irl. I wonder if all sexual orientations go through the 'reabuse' urge.

Reminded me of I May Destroy You.

I’m on episode 6 and I’ve been transfixed all evening. The performances are astonishing.

One of the best and worst things I’ve ever seen.

I remember Jessica Gunning from Pride.

I really loved that it examined how much he needed her back. He was almost obsessed with her too at times and how she made him feel about himself. He was almost using her back in a way. A very complex relationship between the two and I’m glad it was addressed.