Baby Reindeer: Netflix’s Near-Perfect Psychological Thriller Takes Less Than 4 Hours to Binge in 7 Episodes

Donny’s life shifts

Richard Gadd created Baby Reindeer as a fictionalized account of real events that threatened to upend his life. He plays Donny Dunn, a struggling stand-up comic who works in a bar while trying to build a career with his offbeat prop humor. Donny’s routine changes after he offers a cup of tea to Martha, played by Jessica Gunning. She becomes fixated on him, imagines they are meant to be together and calls him names including “baby reindeer.”

A story about gender

The series develops beyond a conventional stalker thriller by examining sexuality and gender dynamics. Donny’s concerns are dismissed in part because Martha is a woman and he is a man, leaving him to minimize the danger he faces.

Donny worries that people in his male-dominated workplace would ridicule him for being afraid of a woman. Martha’s attention also gives him a sense of validation amid his disappointment with his comedy career, creating a difficult attachment.

Shame and earlier trauma

Donny’s personal life adds another layer to the story. While dating Teri, a transgender American therapist played by Nava Mau, he wrestles with shame as he explores his sexuality.

Episode 4 reveals that a male comedian groomed, drugged and sexually assaulted Donny. He never reported the assault, and the shame surrounding it damaged his relationships.

Reporting Martha’s stalking

Donny’s earlier experience shapes his response to Martha. Afraid that his account will be difficult to prove, he waits months before going to the police, and the delay brings further doubt about whether he is telling the truth.

Across seven episodes, the series combines comedy with a disturbing account of fear, vulnerability and toxic masculinity. Its focus on Donny’s internal conflicts gives the story a broader resonance while keeping it rooted in his particular experience.