The Horrific Effect of Abuse and Trauma: “Baby Reindeer”
By: Aedan Wong
Netflix's Emmy-winning series “Baby Reindeer,” released on April 11, 2024, offers a gut-wrenching exploration of stalking, sexual abuse, and trauma. Based on Richard Gudd's real-life experiences and starring Gudd himself, the show has captivated audiences with its raw portrayal of a comedian's life spiraling out of control.
The Premise: Donny’s Stalking Nightmare
The Show opens up with a desperate Donny Dunn failing to convince a policeman that he is being stalked. Dunn showed the policeman the hours of voicemails his stalker was sending him as well as all the emails the stalker was sending. Over 41,000 emails and 350 hours of voice mails over the course of four years. Due to insignificant material the officer was unable to make an arrest.
Unraveling Martha Scott
Who is the lady dressed in pink? As the first scene of the drama we see Martha Scott walk through the door of The Heart. Usually when a person comes to a bar they would find a seat at the bar counter or a table and order a drink but not Scott. When we first see Scott she seems scared, vulnerable, and nervous. Our bartender Dunn comes over and asks Scott if she would like anything. “No thanks,” Scott replies. Dunn and Scott have a quick back and forth until Scott says “can’t afford something.” which leads Dunn, our favorite bartender, to offer Scott a cup of tea on the house. Scott’s facial expression and tone instantly lights up and the story goes from there.
Day after day Scott would show up to the pub in new outfits, new makeup, new hairdos and talk about made up people, made up stories about her job as a lawyer. After our long but brief introduction to Scott, we see Dunn at home checking his phone and seeing tons over 80 emails a day from Scott. Day after day Dunn would get emails from Scott about their interaction that day and would over glorify things.
Dunn’s Struggle: Comedy And Desperation
We learn more about Dunn’s personal life after we first meet Scott. Dunn is thriving to become a comedian, going to competitions, doing stand up, and brutally failing. One night while Dunn’s is competing in a competition he’s telling jokes and getting no reaction except one singulair laugh from Scott. Her laugh echoed throughout the room allowing Dunn to use Scott as a catalyst in jokes. As Dunn continues to go to more and more competitions the pattern of Dunn relying on Scott’s presence to get a reaction out of the crowd becomes more noticeable. Dunn was struggling as a comedian until Scott came into his life, Scott’s demeanor changed, she started to have purpose in the cruel world.
Darrien: A Predator In Mentor Clothing
Episode four of “Baby Reindeer” is possibly one of the harder watches of the series. The episode opens lightly but slowly gets heavier as the episode goes on.
Episode four continues the report of episode one. As we watch more of the episode we see how desperate Dunn is. How Dunn’s hunger for fame and success put him in positions where he was sexually assaulted, groomed, and raped. Darrien O'Connor was Dunn’s “mentor.” We first meet O'Connor in a bar. He enters the frame after Dunn fails to capture the attention of a group of friends and gives a horrible first impression. O'Connor's first impression on us the watcher is a friendly man who writes stories and shows. Dunn and O'Connor form a bond and later on become acquaintances with goals in mind. Dunn’s goal being to make it to the top and become a successful and renowned comedian across the world. Throughout the episode we see how Dunn slowly falls deeper and deeper into O'Connor’s grasp. In the time Dunn was working with O'Connor at his house he was drugged, raped, and groomed. All while under the influence of hard drugs. Dunn would constantly go back to O'Connors home again and again to get drugged and sexually assaulted/abused, “all for a little at fame.”
The Breaking Point: Dunn’s Public Breakdown
As we approach the ending of the show, Dunn has a comedy competition once again. Big red carpet, big audience, high stakes. As Dunn starts his performance everything is going, the crowd is laughing, he’s getting reactions and all is going well. This only lasted for a minute. Once Dunn’s crowd dies down he starts to have a mental breakdown. In the ten minutes of Dunn’s breakdown he calls out O'Connor, his abuser as well of the heinous things he has done to Dunn. Dunn goes into detail on how he was abused and why he continued to go back to his aggressors, Dunn believed that O'Connor would be his key to success and fame, instead he was the one of the key reasons of his mental downfall and fatigue. Dunn explains how being raped and drugged has affected his wellbeing. In the last part of Dunn’s mental breakdown, he says “I hated myself more than I loved her.” referring to his ex-girlfriend Teri. Dunn hated himself to the point where he started to push those who loved him away, isolating himself.
Personal Opinion
After watching “Baby Reindeer” on one random weekend, saying surprised and shook would be an understatement. The show had lots of content in terms of entertainment as well as remorse for Dunn. Something that I found powerful was Richard Gudds decision to play himself. Gudd would technically be reliving the past and bring back old memories that should have been locked away and to be never revealed again. Overall the show was phenomenal, the acting from Gudd and the way the story was written and the authenticity of the show. Most parts of the story are based on true events of Gudds experience with a stalker and being sexually abused.