Richard Gadd’s Netflix series has been an incredible success, so here’s what we know about Richard Gadd’s next project.
The new TV series stars Gadd (who also wrote and directed it) as Donny, an aspiring comedian and bartender who takes pity on Martha Scott (Jessica Gunning), a broke “lawyer” who enters his pub crying and alone. It ends up being the first in a long series of mistakes, as Martha falls into a deep, sexually charged and violent obsession with him that affects every aspect of her life.
Although featuring fictional characters, it is based on Gadd’s real experience of bullying and his experiences of abuse (not just from his bully).
First told in her one-woman play at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, Baby Reindeer has become a huge hit on Netflix. So, will there be a second season?
Will there be a season 2 of Baby Reindeer?
No, Baby Reindeer will not be returning for season 2. This is a limited series, meaning it was never ordered with another season in mind – and given the nature of the story, it’s highly unlikely that Gadd will ever write new episodes.
Of course, with the show’s fallout, Fiona Harvey (the real Martha) has sparked a lot of discussion with her tweets at Richard and her appearance on Piers Morgan’s show. But it’s highly unlikely that side of things will translate into a second season of the original series, especially since Harvey filed a $170 million lawsuit against Netflix in June.
Netflix
Baby Reindeer took home a big win at the 2024 Emmy Awards (winning four awards), which naturally sparked new theories that season 2 will eventually happen. However, based on Gadd’s acceptance speech, it seems like he still intends to stick to a single narrative.
“I think if Baby Reindeer proved anything, it’s that there’s no formula. You don’t need big stars, proven IP, a long-running series, a catch-all narrative to be successful.”
What’s Richard Gadd’s next project after Baby Reindeer?
Netflix
Gadd is currently developing Lions, a new six-part BBC series not related to Baby Reindeer.
According to Screen Scotland, the series (once again written and created by Gadd) will follow two brothers, Niall and Ruben, after an “outburst of violence” at a wedding “catapults us into their lives,” according to the official synopsis.
The film is said to span four decades, from the 1980s to the present day, and “covers the highs and lows of the brothers’ relationship, from their meeting as teenagers to their falling out as adults – with all the good, bad, terrible, funny, angry and difficult moments along the way.”
Unlike Baby Reindeer, it doesn’t appear to be based on a true story. But Gadd is incredibly passionate about the project, describing it as “love at first sight.”
“It’s a dream come true to be part of a heritage television network renowned for bringing the best comedy and drama (and comedy-dramas for that matter) to our screens. A dream that is likely to fade with the tight writing deadlines and rainy shooting days on the streets of Glasgow. Just kidding. I’ve never been happier to work on anything in my life,” he said.
Lions doesn’t have a release date at the moment, so it’s unclear if it’ll be released later in 2024 or if we could wait until 2025.
There have also been rumors that Gadd could land a role in the Jurassic World sequel. Nothing is certain yet, but it has been mentioned that he would be involved in some way.
How did Baby Reindeer end?
Netflix
Baby Reindeer ended with three major moments: Martha was arrested and put behind bars; Donny was offered a job by Darrien (clearly as compensation); and Donny ended the show alone, crying in a bar, unable to buy a drink… just like Martha.
On the advice of the police, Donny takes it easy and waits for Martha to send him a threatening voicemail, not only to anger or scare him, but for which she could be charged. Soon, she declares that she is ready to stab him or his family, and she is arrested the next day. In addition to a five-year protection order, she is sentenced to nine months in prison.
Donny struggles to recover from his ordeal, turning his bedroom into a sprawling mind map of desperate reasoning, clues, and other details about Martha. His ex-girlfriend Keeley asks him to move back in with her mother, and he accepts. However, he finds his script for Hangman Harry, the comedy series he had developed with Darrien, the producer who groomed and raped him.
When he returns home, Darrien calls his previous viral video brave and asks Donny to come work with him again, but promises that “it won’t be like last time.” Donny replies that he would “love that,” before leaving sobbing down the street.
In the final scene, he listens to Martha’s sweetest voicemails, including one where she explains the meaning of her nickname Baby Reindeer: she had a difficult childhood and her only comfort was a stuffed reindeer. He stops at a bar and orders a vodka and coke, before realizing he doesn’t have his wallet. The bartender tells him it’s okay and gives it to him for free, echoing the series’ opening scene.
Baby Reindeer is now available on Netflix. In the meantime, you can check out the best TV shows of 2024 so far. If you need more of that kind of vibe, here are 10 shows to watch similar to Baby Reindeer. We can also tell you if Richard Gadd is in a relationship and reveal the most shocking moments from Fiona Harvey’s Piers Morgan appearance.
