Today - September 23rd 2024 - was grey and miserable - so different from last Monday. I didn't feel like going out and I have been in the house all day.
Recently, Shirley renewed our subscription to "Netflix" so I riffled through what was available and settled on the award-winning series "Baby Reindeer". It had echoes of my own experience with Sylvie that I blogged about very recently.
I did not intend to binge-watch the entire seven part series but that is what happened this afternoon. It was a gripping, unusual show and I guess seeing all of the episodes in a row made the drama more intense - like watching a feature-length film in a pitch dark cinema.
As you know, the producers of modern day dramas will often insert songs that perhaps date the artifice or heighten the emotional impact. With "Baby Reindeer" I was a little taken aback by the number of songs that meant something to me - most notably the closing song which was "Farewell, Farewell" by Fairport Convention. It was sung by Sandy Denny whose grave I went to visit in February of this year.
The stalker was Martha Scott brilliantly played by Yorkshire-born actress Jessica Gunning. She comes across as mentally deranged and indeed had previously been in prison for obsessive stalking. In the show, she latches on to a young barman and failed comedian called Donny Dunn played by Richard Gadd who wrote "Baby Reindeer".
Apparently, when Martha Scott was a girl she had a cute toy reindeer. She claims that Donny reminded her of this toy figure and hence made "Baby Reindeer" his nickname. She pursues him mercilessly and manically, refusing to let go over a period of two years. She bombards him with e-mails and keeps turning up like a bad penny.
At the end there is no real resolution. There is the possibility of her reappearing but in any case, Donny Dunn has kind of been worn down by her. A strange sort of closeness has developed as if her relentless pursuit has somehow affirmed his existence.
Do you know that Richard Gadd is also the guy all that really happened to? He was playing himself. Jessica Gunning was terrific. The story stayed on my mind for weeks after watching Baby Reindeer. The sexual assault scenes were hard to watch, but I thought the whole thing was powerful. I have nothing but respect for Gadd for telling his story.
ReplyDeleteI did know that Jennifer. It is clear that the show had a powerful impact upon you.
DeleteI haven't seen the show, but watching the Emmys it won the other night, and hearing your view of the show, it sounds very intriguing.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you should watch it Bob.
DeleteI binged watched that sometime earlier this spring and had forgotten all about it until you brought it up in this post. It started off kind of silly but by the end of the series, it was really grabbing at me with the intensity. I was feeling really sorry for poor Donny!
ReplyDeleteEven though it was set in London I am glad you were drawn into it Ed.
DeleteI know the film was somewhat controversial but I never picked up why. I'm afraid I don't see Richard Gadd as worth pursuing.
ReplyDeleteYeah but you are not a crazy female stalker (as far as I know).
DeleteOh my goodness...I just read your Sylvie story. Good god! What a nut! I'll bet she went on to stalk and harass others, too.
ReplyDeleteI don't know what happened to her but rather like Donny Dunn, I sometimes wonder. No trace at all on the internet.
DeleteI can never find anything to watch on Netflix. Why don't they show gardening programmes?
ReplyDeleteI think I'll pass on it. I read the plot on wikipedia, too sad, too much pain for me.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I can watch it. It just occurred to me that my abuser was a sort of stalker- there was no way I could get away from him. He lived in our house. You've really given me something to think about here.
ReplyDeleteI have read about this show, but have not watched it as of yet. From reading your post and the comments, I think I need to check it out.
ReplyDeleteI started to watch it but couldn't finish it. Just too upsetting and sad.
ReplyDeleteI watched a movie on HBO MAX the other day called "Marcel the shell with shoes on" and I really enjoyed that. Sweet and sad and happy. I recommend it.
Probably not something I am going to watch, but after your experience with Sylvie I can see how this must have resonated with you.
ReplyDeleteWe loved this show. It was terrific, as were the performers.
ReplyDeleteRiveting. Modern. Authentic. I binged most of it too.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing this. I have been in a what-to-watch slump so I watched 2 episodes last night and it was great
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