“Baby Reindeer.” / “En Fin.”

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“Baby Reindeer” (Netflix) British black comedy-drama thriller, adapted from Richard Gadd’s autobiographical one-man show. Plot: Aspiring comedian Donny Dunn works as a bartender in a London pub. He offers a cup of tea to a customer, Martha, to cheer her up. Martha develops an attachment to Donny and begins to stalk him both in person and online.



       I first read about the “true story” aspect of this series before I finally carried on, still reluctantly. Yet as the show flowed, a poignancy developed. An unmistakable urgency that is so real in these internet times as our individual universes are fit in an electronic gadget. I also recently saw a movie that treads the same vein, “Cat Person.”

       Acting is exemplary. Richard Gadd as Donny and Jessica Gunning as Martha, and Nava Mau as Teri. 

       Direction by Weronika Tofilska and Josephine Bornebusch managed to keep the story interesting and heart-wrenching, never falling into stalker kitsch and politically correct slapstick (sic). 

       “Baby Reindeer” won six Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, Outstanding Writing as well as Outstanding Lead Actor for Mr Gadd, and Outstanding Supporting Actress for Ms Gunning. It also won two Golden Globe Awards: Best Limited or Anthology Series and Best Supporting Actress for Jessica. 🎥👍📽


“En Fin” (Amazon Prime) Spanish comedy/drama. Premise: Tomás abandons his wife and daughter when the end of the world is announced, only to repent when the apocalypse fails to happen. So he struggled to return. 



       This little series had a funny and intriguing opening. Although the proceedings went a bit insanely disjointed in cartoonish sequences, I still managed to hang on till the Episode 6 finish line. It's mainly due to Irene Perez as Noa, the daughter. 

       While everybody else talked and talked and engaged in childish shenanigans, Noa talked less. It's all about her face: Virgin Mary innocent, country girl lost, stoner spaced-out, bewildered and bewitched, dazed and confused. It's fun just watching her face. 🎥💻📽


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