Just over a year ago, Richard Gadd’s Baby Reindeer landed on Netflix and almost immediately became a cultural phenomenon. The limited series quickly began charting in the top 10 on the streamer, ultimately claiming the #1 slot a week after its debut. Millions streamed the program, including a couple of high-profile customers. Among the series’ most notable supporters is one Stephen King. That’s correct, dear reader, King was such a fan of the show that he penned an op-ed piece for British outlet The Times praising the program’s efficacy.
“So, like 13.3 million other Netflix subscribers, I tried it and found myself sucked in, unable to look away,” King says in his essay. “My first thought was to thank God my novel came first, or people would assume I’d stolen it from Richard Gadd, who wrote and produced the seven-episode series and also stars in it. My second thought was that Donny Dunn (Gadd) actually looks like a baby reindeer, with his big eyes and timid manner. The scruffy beard adds to this impression rather than distracting from it.”
That’s exceptionally high praise coming from a decorated storyteller. Series creator and star Gadd has a lot to be proud of.
The setup for this harrowing program goes like this: When a struggling comedian deals with a female stalker, whom he showed kindness to once, he is forced to face a dark, buried trauma.
Gadd adapted the series for the screen from his autobiographical one-man show. The proceedings change some of the details but are still largely inspired by an ongoing ordeal Gadd had with an alleged stalker.
In addition to Gadd as the lightly fictionalized lead character, Donny, the program also stars Jessica Gunning as Donny’s ‘admirer,’ as well as Nava Mau and Michael Wildman.
The show received near-universal acclaim from critics upon release. Baby Reindeer is certified fresh on Rotten Tomatoes with an almost perfect critical approval rating of 99%.
There you have it, dear reader. Stephen King is a big fan of Baby Reindeer, so much so that he binged the program in its entirety and even drew comparisons to his celebrated tome Misery. If you’re keen to see what made King connect with the show, you can check it out on Netflix now.
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