Baby Reindeer: Martha’s obsession explained. #babyreindeer #netflix
Published 2024-04-25
Character Analysis of Martha in Baby Reindeer
Baby Reindeer is a one-man play written and performed by Richard Gadd, which delves into his harrowing experience with a stalker named Martha. Martha is a complex and unsettling character whose presence profoundly impacts Gadd's life. Her character represents the darker aspects of obsession and mental illness, illustrating the severe consequences of unchecked fixation.
*Introduction to Martha*
Martha first encounters Richard Gadd in a café where he works. Initially, she appears as a somewhat eccentric but seemingly harmless woman. She befriends Gadd, and their initial interactions are polite and friendly. However, it quickly becomes evident that Martha’s interest in Gadd goes beyond mere friendship. Her demeanor shifts from a harmless acquaintance to a persistent and invasive figure in Gadd’s life.
*Martha's Obsessive Behavior*
Martha’s obsession with Gadd becomes the central conflict of *Baby Reindeer*. Her behavior escalates from frequenting the café to more intrusive actions, such as showing up unannounced at his comedy gigs, sending numerous emails, and making repeated phone calls. Her fixation grows more intense and erratic over time, revealing her inability to accept boundaries. Martha's relentless pursuit disrupts Gadd's personal and professional life, causing significant stress and fear.
*Psychological Profile*
Martha’s character is portrayed with a mixture of sympathy and horror. She is depicted as a person struggling with deep psychological issues. Her obsession with Gadd appears to be rooted in loneliness and a desperate need for connection. However, her inability to recognize the inappropriateness of her actions or respect Gadd’s boundaries underscores her mental instability. Martha’s behavior exemplifies the symptoms of obsessive love disorder, characterized by an overwhelming need to possess the object of affection.
*Impact on Richard Gadd*
The effect of Martha’s stalking on Richard Gadd is profound. Initially, he tries to handle the situation with patience and understanding, hoping that she will eventually lose interest. However, as her behavior escalates, Gadd experiences increasing anxiety and paranoia. He feels constantly watched and unsafe, which takes a toll on his mental health. The fear and stress induced by Martha’s relentless pursuit lead to a sense of helplessness and desperation.
*Themes Explored*
Martha’s character allows Baby Reindeer to explore several themes, including the psychological impact of stalking, the complexities of mental illness, and the failure of social and legal systems to protect victims adequately. The play highlights how Gadd’s attempts to seek help are often met with indifference or disbelief, underscoring the challenges faced by stalking victims. Martha’s actions serve as a catalyst for discussing broader societal issues regarding personal safety and mental health.
*Conclusion*
Martha in Baby Reindeer is a deeply unsettling character whose obsessive behavior profoundly impacts Richard Gadd's life. Her portrayal sheds light on the darker aspects of human psychology and the devastating effects of stalking. Through Martha’s character, the play delves into themes of obsession, mental illness, and the inadequacies of support systems for victims. Baby Reindeer not only tells a personal story but also prompts important discussions about the nature of obsession and the need for greater awareness and protection for those affected by stalking.
All Comments (21)
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I recorded this video about a week before the "real Martha" outed herself and did her interview on Piers Morgan. It's obvious from the Piers interview that her Cluster B traits are very prominent. There is a lot we don't know about her, but I hope she can get the help she needs and not harm other people.
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Jessica Gunning deserves an Emmy win for this performance
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”It doesn’t cost anything to be nice” well in some cases it does
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I feel sad for a person like Martha because she must be a very very lost soul, and people like them need therapy but also people who care for them.
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I had a boss who was overly friendly and controlling. I told him once, calmly but firmly, that i would like our relationship to remain professional. He stormed away from me and yelled, in front of our coworkers, "AFTER EVERYTHING I DID FOR YOU!" I felt that scene deeply.
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I was diagnosed with bpd and I related so much to Martha, it was like seeing my old self again. I have a theory about the first scene we saw her, i think she was contemplating su*c*de, maybe she tried to contact the person she stalked before or something idk. Great video!
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Seems more a cluster B personality disorder with episodes of depression than bipolar to me. She had strong elements of emotionally unstable personality disorder combined with a vulnerable (covert) narcissism. Her actions were actually very calculated like thinking to record all their interactions and knowing how to handle the police when they clamp down on her. Someone in manic episode is likely to not be that calculating and be (even) more chaotic IMO
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As someone mentioned this seems like this looks like a lot of untreated BPD. Donny was her “favorite person” (Idolized) and she was love bombing him with the affection and attention he clearly wanted. Then when he went off script, she began to split and devalue him. Then she began to reidolize him all over again. When at the end she mentioned that she called him baby reindeer bc of he was her teddy bear that is literally how most people with BPD see their victims as emotional comforters. Donny also seems like the typical target for a person with BPD traits. His woundedness and need for validation was partially what kept her in his life to the point where he began to obsess over her. Many men who fell for Bpd type women actually struggle harder to let them go, because they are not use to being showered in the affection, attention, and mirroring received by the BPD person.
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I really like the way you put things, so clear, gentle and without any judgements. Thank you very much for the videos.
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I think she needed therapy more than a prison sentence, but I think donny encouraged her behaviour to a very high level
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Bipolar can quite often be diagnosed when it's actually BPD. The one big difference is the mood cycles as with BPD you can go from ecstatic to rage and hopelessness in the same hour whereas in Bipolar mania and manic episodes happen over longer periods. I was involved with a Borderline and Martha shares a lot of similar traits as my BPD ex.
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She definitely gives me some BPD vibes. I have the disorder and I know at times I became almost delusional many times in my interpersonal relationship granted no where near this severe. Untreated BPD has a huge link between female stalkers who were unmedicated and not in treatment. BPD also has a big issue with seeking and receiving help. With that said I want to make something clear: this level of stalking is extremely rare even with BPD. I also think it’s BPD other bipolar because it’s an interpersonal relationship with idolization and devaluation, mood swings that are reactionary, and a past of childhood trauma.
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What I am interested is to understand more is why Richard Gaad (Donny) was addicted to the attention from his stalker and took 6 months to report her to the police. Sure,he had this fair share of past trauma, but wouldn’t that all the more result in him running away from Martha sooner rather than later.
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I don't know why people still ask these question a about themselves. the fact is the human is a predatory animal and the fact is the human animal is totally unaware about how dangerous they really are.
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I enjoyed your post- Thanks for giving us your take on the characters
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Thank you very much for this informative video!
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Greetings from Costa Rica! As soon as I finished the series, I came looking for a psychological analysis of her behavior. Thank you for your detailed explanation. It was hard for me to grasp how a mental disorder can affect somebody’s life.
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This feels like some sort of Black Mirror episode because I'm now reading the real life Martha's Facebook ramblings and it's just like the show. I know it's wrong to use her as entertainment...
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Excellent vlog- thank you!
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Your description on bipolar manic/depressive episodes makes a lot of sense. My only experience with bipolar people is succesfuly medicated and self aware people, so it doesn't fit Martha at all. From my own experience with people with BPD, Martha has some similar traits but it isn't exact fit. Her charisma, how she becomes strongly attached to someone, her ignorance of his discomfort, weird comments often sexualy charged, preffering her version of the story that makes her right and justified, how would she rather double down on the wrong behavior than admit and fix it. Also how jealous is she and how she tries to alienate him from people around him. Suicide thoughts were never mentioned directly, but Donny was afraid to hurt her by leaving her.
