
Entertainment
Share
Published 10:48 17 Apr 2024 BST
Updated 10:48 17 Apr 2024 BST

Baby Reindeer, a new dark comedy thriller series, has recently landed on Netflix and is sure to inspire plenty of conversation and thought in the wake of its release.
Written by, created by and starring Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, the show centres around Donny - an aspiring Scottish stand-up who moved to London to pursue his career dream.
Now in his late 20s and working a dead-end job in a pub though, he feels like a failure.
So, when an older female patron at his bar named Martha (Jessica Gunning) laughs at his jokes and shows an interest in him, he is at first pleased with the attention - endeavouring to get more positive reactions out of her.
It turns out, however, the seemingly friendly Martha has a history of stalking and winds up forming a dangerous obsession with Donny.
Adapted from Gadd's hit one-man play of the same name and based on true events that happened to the writer and performer, Baby Reindeer is sure to earn comparisons to Phoebe Waller-Bridge's Fleabag thanks to its series narration and its use of black comedy to explore serious themes.
Bear in mind though that the new Netflix show is much darker and more unsettling in tone than Fleabag because of the warped relationship at its centre and how it forces Donny to face his own personal demons, as well as Weronika Tofilska's horror-inflected direction.
It is also worth noting that Jessica Gunning gives one of the best TV performances in years in the series, managing to be sweet and sympathetic one moment and utterly terrifying the next.
The show has been met with incredible reviews, and has even debuted on Rotten Tomatoes with a perfect score of 100%.
Viewers have taken to social media to share their thoughts on the new series.
"You guys must watch the series Baby Reindeer," one person put. "It has to be one of my favourite, well written series with a nice dark turn I’ve ever watched after Behind her Eyes."
A second wrote: "Okay but guys, seriously, Baby Reindeer on Netflix…you need to go watch it. Go, like, right now, I’m so serious."
"#BabyReindeer is possibly one of the most heart wrenching, moving, thrilling, brilliant pieces of writing I’ve ever seen, the fact Richard Gadd reenacted his own trauma and experience, insane. He deserves every award," a third penned.
All seven episodes of Baby Reindeer are streaming on Netflix right now.
Read more:
Explore more on these topics:

The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 107
Entertainment

‘Rip-off’ contracts costing Brits £576 a year
Entertainment
The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 107

Entertainment
The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 107
Entertainment
‘Rip-off’ contracts costing Brits £576 a year
Entertainment
The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 106
Entertainment
Kit Connor and Joe Locke reflect on the emotional end of Heartstopper
‘The end of an era’ After four years, three series and a devoted global fanbase, Netflix has officially brought Heartstopper to a close with the feature-length finale, Heartstopper Forever. The film picks up directly after the events of series three and follows the couple as they face one of the biggest changes in their relationship […]
Entertainment
3 days ago
Claudia Winkleman confirms BBC chat show exit after one series
Claudia Winkleman’s Friday night sofa has been packed away The Claudia Winkleman Show has officially come to an end after just one series, with Claudia Winkleman deciding not to return for a second run. The BBC chat show, which launched in February, was created as a Friday night companion to The Graham Norton Show while […]
Entertainment
3 days ago
Entertainment
The JOE Film Club Quiz: Week 105
Entertainment