It's been a solid year for new TV shows so far, with Fallout, Shogun, and Mr. Smith all receiving critical acclaim and deserving of a lot of audience attention. But Netflix's Baby Reindeer has surpassed them all to become my favorite show For 2024 so far that's a testament to the quality of this dark film.
Released earlier this month (April 11), Baby Reindeer has quickly risen through the Netflix ranks and now sits at the top of the most watched list in both the US and UK, which is no mean feat.
This achievement is even more impressive as the British show is currently ahead of familiar favorites including 'The Circle' and 'The Upshaws'.
Not only was Baby Reindeer a huge hit with the viewers, but critics also showed great interest in this movie. The show currently holds a perfect score of 100% Rotten tomatoes With the site's “Critic Consensus” stating, “Baby Reindeer can be a punishing watch but rewards viewers generously with its emotional complexity and stellar performances.”
If you haven't given this #1 show on Netflix a chance yet, here's why it's my favorite show of 2024 so far, and the frontrunner for the top spot comes at the end of the year…
“Baby Reindeer” is also a must-see movie on Netflix
“Baby Reindeer” is a semi-autobiographical suspense series by Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, based on his stage show of the same name. Gad wrote all seven episodes and stars as Donnie Dunn, a struggling comedian working in London who is essentially a fictionalized version of Gad himself.
Donnie came to the Big Smoke aspiring to get on the comedy circuit, but years later found himself working in a Camden pub by day, and performing stand-up in the background to unenthusiastic audiences at night. One day, a seemingly friendly customer named Martha (Jessica Gunning) walks into the bar, and Donnie's life quickly turns into a nightmare.
Martha takes an immediate liking to Donnie, and while he initially pities the older woman, he becomes increasingly concerned when she begins showing up at his workplace regularly, sending him hundreds of emails a day and stalking him across London. The situation becomes even more disturbing when Donnie learns of Martha's criminal past, and her behavior crosses the disturbing boundaries.
The show is based on Gad's own experience with being stalked, and “Baby Reindeer” is a very tense hour. Thanks to Gunning's stunning performance, you'll always feel the tension as Martha becomes more fixated on Donny and her attempts to integrate herself into every aspect of his life.
Donnie's well-written voice-over narration provides insight into his mind as he tries to gently let Martha down, while also making several foolish mistakes that encourage her all the more. The overarching narrative explores how guilt, self-loathing and shame can prevent a person from seeking help. This in turn creates a vicious cycle and leads to more problems for Donnie.
“Baby Reindeer” is full of iconic moments, but my favorite sequence comes in Episode 4, where Donnie's traumatic past is explored. This episode isn't easy to watch, but it fills in many of the blanks explaining Donnie's character and why his experience with Martha had such a big impact on him. It comes in the middle of the season but it is the climax of the show.
Although most of “Baby Reindeer” is very dark, and some scenes are quite difficult to watch, there are elements of comedy sprinkled throughout that give the show a unique feel. Between the strong writing and excellent performances from the entire cast (but especially Gadd and Gunning), there's a lot to appreciate about this new show on Netflix.
I've previously seen shows claiming the top spot on Netflix that I personally consider somewhat skippable, but “Baby Reindeer” is not. This is among the best Netflix shows not only of the year, but of all time. It's a compelling and at times uncomfortable thriller, anchored by two strong performances, and I'm confident it will be among my favorites as we look to 2024.
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