Maddox Rice

I rarely write reviews for tv shows but Baby Reindeer was so enthralling it deserves my acknowledgement. I’m not a well versed critic but I feel like I am the intended audience and my advice may help those who are on the fence about watching. I’ve seen quite a bit of people upset that the main character Donny empathizes with his stalker, even by the end. The issue with that is that these people are missing the fact that this element is one of the main points. Donny is not exactly sane either, although likely closer to it. He is hyper-empathetic, insufferably forgiving and unwilling to address his past, obsessive, avoidant, stubborn and perhaps most importantly, a victim. If you have not been a victim it will definitely be harder to understand the choices Donny makes as a result of his trauma, and it may make you angry to watch the cycle of self destruction. This is part of the point. If you lack unhealthy amounts of empathy, you may fail to understand the choices Donny makes. This may make you angry. If you do not have family or friends with severe mental illness, this show may make you angry…again, that’s part of the point. If this show is angering you, do your best to determine why you think Donny is undeserving of (x, y, z) as a result of his behavior. The importance of understanding Martha and Donny is part of what is necessary to move society towards rehabilitation, mental health intervention programs, support for male victims and breaking down toxic masculinity. Here’s the thing…this tv show should be treated like a documentary. Nobody comments on a documentary saying “the plot is bad” or “that (historical figure) made stupid choices therefore I give it one star”. Usually documentaries are graded by their framing, interview choices, biases, etc. This story is real. Donny happened, and as someone who relates to the way he is I imagine his character is very close to the truth behind who he was and what motivated him in reality. That said, the artistic direction, execution and the way each scene and story was set up played out remarkably. The script made me think deeply about my own trauma, life experiences and choices. I couldn’t stop watching until it ended. The ending itself had me in tears and I truly felt terrible for Martha and Donny alike. These stories do exist in reality and they are every bit as heartbreaking when they play out in real life. If you are not naturally sensitive, give it a chance as it may surprise you. All I can say now as a message to the creators is thank you for this work of art.