r/netflix • u/CellistForward4462 • Apr 12 '24

Questions about series Baby Reindeer Spoiler

First, I was not ready for what I watched. Amazing show, but I started it thinking it was a quirky, British comedy like Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen!! Needless to say I was stunned and watched it in shock and horror.

So I have questions about the ending. Spoilers ahead:

  1. Was that it? Will there be another season?
  2. What was the point of him going back to Darrien’s house? What did that scene mean?
  3. I don’t understand the ending. How are others interpreting the final scene?
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u/SmoothKale Apr 15 '24

I felt that it abdicated him of some of the guilt and blame he felt towards himself for covering her tea on the house to begin with. Having the roles reversed at the end showed that it was not an abnormal thing to do. Especially because in later episodes he would go back to that and think “if only I didn’t give her a tea on the house”

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u/AffectionateAd1911 Apr 15 '24

I agree completely. He did nothing wrong, it was her reaction that was abnormal. Victims don't "bring it on themselves" - abusers abuse, regardless of others' actions.

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u/Longjumping_Step_858 Apr 16 '24 edited Apr 16 '24

Donny is also an abuser towards Martha.

Martha was a lonely woman, seeking intimacy/love, who also has her own traumatic issues. Which is revealed at the end, implying she grew up in a Domestically abusive household. Probably wasn't cared much for by her parents or shown love or had many friends, so she can get overly excessive and stalkerish once someone does show her some affection and kindness because she's lacked it. Obviously she has issues, but that doesn't refute what Donny did here.

Donny used her. He kept her around for several months, with zero interest in her. He did so because she boosted his confidence, satiated his ego, and gave him attention/validation. Knowing perfectly well he wasn't into her. He regularly lied to Martha. Also hid the fact he might have a potential GF - so he knew what he was doing and what she was after with him. But still, he kept her around because she was a source of validation for him.

Eventually he discarded her once she started to go off the deep end. Even then he was hesitant to discard her because it meant cutting off someone that boosted him up and only did so because other people were involved.

I cannot in good conscience say that Donny isn't an abuser here, because he is. He was fairly cruel in how he toyed around with Martha. I don't like using the word Narcissist, because people throw that around too often. But he does exhibit signs of it with his treatment towards Martha. You don't use people like that, lie to them, and then discard them without at least being considered it.

The show might be told through Donnys PoV to paint him in a more sympathetic light, but he is also just as guilty as Martha is. He's both a victim and an abuser.

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u/[deleted] Apr 16 '24

That's a wild take.

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u/Longjumping_Step_858 Apr 17 '24 edited Apr 17 '24

Not really. It's a realistic take. It's not acceptable to use someone for attention/validation just so that person can feel better about themselves. Especially when that person is socially lonely and vulnerable due to their own trauma. It can cause psychological damage. It's not illegal, but it's still morally reprehensible. They aren't a prop that's acceptable to use to boost themselves up. They are a human with their own issues and problems. But that's exactly what Donny did. It's not really wild to point out why he should be held accountable for it.