The story of Baby Reindeer is pretty well known by now, given its surprise success on Netflix. A powerful, raw, unflinching look at sexual predatory behavior, the issues surrounding trans-women, and most of all, squalid stalking: these are not the normal subjects of a popular series. But Richard Gadd somehow makes this journey one that it's both hard to watch and hard to stop watching: the emotions here are so deep and so overwhelming that you almost feel as though you were going through them yourself. And that's probably the best compliment you can give any entertainment: it makes you live the show, rather than watch it.
Richard Gadd gives a terrific performance, playing a fictional version of himself. But Jessica Gunning makes this show work -- her extraordinary effort to make what might be the least sympathetic role on tv more than just a pathetic one-note character; without that, this wouldn't have worked so well. And it does, all work well.
Richard Gadd gives a terrific performance, playing a fictional version of himself. But Jessica Gunning makes this show work -- her extraordinary effort to make what might be the least sympathetic role on tv more than just a pathetic one-note character; without that, this wouldn't have worked so well. And it does, all work well.