Baby Reindeer star explains final scene after it left Netflix viewers with their ‘jaw on the floor’
Warning: This article contains discussion of sexual assault and rape which some readers may find distressing.
Spoilers for Baby Reindeer ahead
One of the stars of Netflix's latest smash hit Baby Reindeer has spoken out about the ending and explained how she reacted when she read the script.
In case you haven’t already heard, the seven-part TV drama Baby Reindeer has been taking Netflix by storm with its heart wrenching story.
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The show focuses on the real-life ordeal of comedian Richard Gadd who was stalked relentlessly for years.
The Netflix hit takes a deep dive into this story with Gadd playing the role of struggling comedian Donny Dunn whose life is turned upside down by Martha, played by Jessica Gunning.
After taking a liking to Donny, Martha quickly becomes a manipulative, abusive stalker, bombarding the comedian with incessant emails, messages and texts as well as real life pestering.
But just as quickly as Martha can be cruel and cunning she proves to be empathetic and charming, creating a conflict in the mind of Donny.
The story also delves into the emotional consequences of abuse, rape, sexual assault, trauma, validation, and shame.
While many viewers have praised the TV show for its raw look at these complex issues, the final scene has divided many fans.
Without spoiling the whole show, the ending finishes on a cyclical note.
Donny first takes pity on Martha after she comes into the pub where he works and as he sees her crying he says her drink is on the house.
It is this act of kindness that starts the terrifying and traumatic ordeal that defines his life for the next two years.
The show ends on a similar note, with Donny gaining a better understanding of Martha and breaking down in tears only for a bartender to take pity on him and say his drink is on the house.
Gunning spoke to RadioTimes about the ending and explained just how much she loved it.
She said: "I think that’s how it’s so cleverly written, because by the end, there’s no winner - and you definitely feel that. It’s not a success story, there’s no victory there. It’s two lost people, and that’s captured so well."
She added: "When I read [the final scene], I actually got goosebumps, because I thought, 'What a clever way to end this.' It’s a broken guy, really, like she was in a sense, being offered this act of kindness, and I think he’s just got an insight into what that meant at that moment.
"That’s just such a clever final beat of everything. I think it’s amazing, and it just translated so well to the screen."
Meanwhile, Gadd said the ending of the show is open to interpretation.
He explained: "I quite like the ambiguity of the ending, I sort of don't want to put a meaning on it. I think it can be interpreted in a lot of different ways. I know what it is in my head – that ending's my favourite thing in the whole series, the way it ends."
If you've been affected by any of the issues in this article, you can contact The National Sexual Assault Hotline on 800.656.HOPE (4673), available 24/7. Or you can chat online via online.rainn.org
Topics: Film and TV, Netflix, Baby Reindeer
Gerrard Kaonga