Netflix‘s latest limited seris, Baby Reindeer, is an intense ride for several reasons. Sitting at a 98% Tomatometer rating, the drak comedy thriller follows a struggling comedian Donny Dunn (Richard Gadd) who encounters Martha (Jessica Gunning) at the bar he works at. The innocent conversation and act of kindness on Donny’s part results in him being endlessly stalked by Martha for years to come. There’s more to the story than the stalking; it also reveals deep traumas Donny previously experienced.
What makes the series intense, besides the storylines, is that this a true story that actually happened to Gadd, and audiences are essentially watching him re-live these traumas on screen. “It’s a true story. In a weird way, I first started feeling like this could be a good story during the whole ordeal itself. It was one of the most intense periods, when I was listening to these voicemails. I’d go to sleep at night and these voicemails — her words would bounce around my eyelids. I remember thinking, ‘God, if I was ever to speak about this onstage, I’d fire the words around. Put the voicemails in a big cacophony and fire it.’ That’s how the play was born,” Gadd told Tudum.
If you’ve binged the series and are looking for more content filled with obsession, stalking, traumas, and/or dark human experiences, here are 7 shows like Baby Reindeer to watch next.
Am I Being Unreasonable? (2022 – )
Cast: Daisy May Cooper, Selin Hizli, Lenny Rush, Jessica Hynes, Dustin Demri-Burns, Amanda Wilkin, David Fynn, Juliet Cowan
Synopsis: “A twisted comedy thriller about obsessive friendship and maternal paranoia, in association with the BBC. Unfulfilled in her marriage, Nic is grieving a loss that she can’t share with anyone. Only her son Ollie keeps her going. But when Jen arriv’es in town, Nic’s life is lit up with laughter and through this kindred soul her dark secret starts to surface.”
Where to watch: Hulu
Beef (2023 miniseries)
Cast: Steven Yeun, Ali Wong, Joseph Lee, Young Mazino, David Choe, Patti Yasutake, Maria Bello, Ashley Park, Mia Serafino, Justin H. Min, Andrew Santino
Synopsis: “A road rage incident between two strangers — a failing contractor and an unfulfilled entrepreneur — sparks a feud that brings out their darkest impulses.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Dirty John season 1 (2018-2020 anthology series)
Season 1 cast: Connie Britton, Eric Bana, Juno Temple, Julia Garner, Jean Smart, Keiko Agena, Jake Abel, Kevin Zegers, Jeff Perry, Judy Reyes
Season 1 synopsis: “How a romance with the charismatic John Meehan spiraled into secrets, denial, manipulation, and ultimately, survival – with horrific consequences for an entire family.”
Where to watch: Netflix
Fatal Attraction (2023 miniseries)
Cast: Joshua Jackson, Lizzy Caplan, Amanda Peet, Toby Huss, Brian Goodman, Reno Wilson, Alyssa Jirrels, John Getz, Jessica Harper, Toks Olagundoye
Synopsis: “A deep-dive reimagining of the classic 1980s thriller, exploring timeless themes of marriage and infidelity through the lens of modern attitudes toward strong women, personality disorders and coercive control.”
Where to watch: Paramount+
I May Destroy You (2020 miniseries)
Cast: Michaela Coel, Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu, Marouane Zotti, Stephen Wight, Adam James, Natalie Walter, Aml Ameen, Lara Rossi
Synopsis: “A fearless, frank and provocative half-hour series exploring the question of sexual consent and where, in the new landscape of dating and relationships, the distinction between liberation and exploitation lies. Set in London, where gratification is only an app away, the story centers on Arabella (Coel), a carefree, self-assured Londoner with a group of great friends, a boyfriend in Italy, and a burgeoning writing career. But when her drink is spiked with a date-rape drug, she must question and rebuild every element of her life.”
Where to watch: Max
Wilderness (2023 miniseries)
Cast: Jenna Coleman, Oliver Jackson-Cohen, Ashley Benson, Morgana Van Peebles, Claire Rushbrook, Talia Balsam, Eric Balfour, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Jonathan Keltz
Synopsis: “The perfect marriage. The perfect trip. The perfect place for an accident? The dream trip of Liv (Jenna Coleman) and Will (Oliver Jackson-Cohen) is shattered when Liv discovers her husband’s dark secret. What lengths will Liv go to to seek revenge?”
Where to watch: Prime Video
You (2018 – )
Cast: Penn Badgley, Elizabeth Lail, Shay Mitchell, Victoria Pedretti, Carmela Zumbado, Ambyr Childers, Tati Gabrielle, James Scully
Synopsis: “A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.”
Where to watch: Netflix
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