When Richard Gadd took the stage at the Gotham TV Awards to accept an accolade for his breakout Netflix hit "Baby Reindeer," he expressed genuine surprise at the series' success. "It’s weird that a show as messed up as this has gone on to strike a chord with so many people," he remarked, as reported by Vanity Fair. "I think it speaks to the fact that a lot of people in the world are struggling right now."
Gadd's astonishment is understandable given the show's content. "Baby Reindeer" delves into Gadd's harrowing experiences as a victim of stalking, abuse, and sexual assault. The series is unflinchingly raw, filled with graphic depictions of violence and profound psychological turmoil. It's a narrative that's tough to watch and even tougher to digest, concluding on a note far from uplifting. It's certainly not the type of series you'd categorize as feel-good TV.
Yet, despite—or perhaps because of—its intense and dark subject matter, "Baby Reindeer" has resonated with millions. The miniseries spent nine weeks in the Netflix global top 10 English-language chart and held the No. 1 spot for three weeks. This phenomenon isn't isolated; Gadd's show is part of a larger trend I like to call "feel-bad TV."
Think about it: recent popular series often lean into the dark and tragic. We have Holocaust dramas, documentaries unraveling the Ashley Madison scandal and an alleged TikTok dance cult, thrillers about kidnapped children, video game adaptations reveling in nuclear apocalypse, and reality competitions where betrayal is the name of the game. Dark, tragic, and downright depressing stories have been staples on television for decades.
True crime, for instance, has long captivated audiences. Series like Showtime's "Dexter" or CBS's "Criminal Minds" have consistently drawn viewers with their grim narratives. The antihero drama trend of the 2000s and 2010s, where fans rooted for characters like Tony Soprano from HBO’s "The Sopranos" and Walter White from AMC’s "Breaking Bad," showcased a public fascination with morally complex, often dark, storylines. The latter part of the 2010s saw "The Walking Dead" (AMC) and "Game of Thrones" (HBO) dominate the airwaves, where character deaths were more common than survivals.
But there's something uniquely bleak about the media landscape of 2024. This pervasive sense of misanthropy isn't just about one or two standout hits. Art mirrors life, and in a world reeling from the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, grappling with inflation, political strife, and wars, our media reflects our collective angst. This isn’t the time of Apple's giddy "Ted Lasso" anymore.
In some ways, it feels good to feel bad, especially when it's through the lens of fiction. These stories allow us to empathize and find catharsis, providing a strange comfort that we can compartmentalize and return to our lives feeling a bit lighter. Worried about climate change and the apocalypse? Watch Amazon's "Fallout" and laugh at the absurdity of the end of the world. Concerned about the impact of TikTok? At least you're not in an alleged cult.
"Baby Reindeer" serves as a prime example of a series that strikes a nerve during this cultural moment. By exposing his trauma, Gadd gives us all permission to release our pent-up emotions. The series is honest, raw, and difficult, yet its power as a piece of art is undeniable, even as it raises ethical questions—like the controversy surrounding fans who outed one of Gadd's alleged abusers, leading to a defamation lawsuit against Netflix and Gadd. Despite the ethical quandaries, the series forces us to confront the often-ignored realities of sexual abuse and assault, making it a necessary, if uncomfortable, watch.
Of course, there are lighter options out there. Netflix's "Bridgerton" and ABC's "Abbott Elementary" offer doses of love and laughter, though they seem to be in the minority. Even "Bluey" left more parents teary-eyed than chuckling with its recent half-hour special. And shows designed to uplift can sometimes have the opposite effect. Remember the adored love story of "The Golden Bachelor"? Well, they’re getting divorced.
So, if you find yourself drawn to true crime, the dark satirical take on superheroes in Amazon's "The Boys" (Season 4 now streaming), or any other somber series, you're not alone. There's a collective craving for these narratives, perhaps as a way to process our own emotions in a safe space. So, grab your popcorn, keep a box of tissues nearby, and indulge in the feel-bad TV trend for as long as you need.
"Bridgerton" and other lighter fare will be waiting for you when you're ready to switch gears.
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