Richard Gadd, the creator and star of the acclaimed series “Baby Reindeer,” has revealed that a significant portion of the show’s narrative underwent a significant rewrite during the editing process. The decision to alter the structure,notably concerning the character of Martha,was driven by Gadd’s evolving viewpoint on her on-screen presence.
Initially, the production team considered reducing Martha’s screen time, believing the audience required breaks from her intense portrayal. However, Gadd found himself missing the character whenever she was absent. “When we got to the edit, I felt you miss her every time she’s not on screen,” Gadd explained.”And I felt in a lot of ways, the sooner you get back to her, the better.”
This realization led to a significant restructuring, with episode three becoming a composite of several planned episodes. Gadd elaborated on the impact of this decision: “The episode that’s missing ended with her in my kitchen, which is actually how we started [the final version of] episode three.So the edit was almost a complete rewrite of what was in the script.”
The series, which has garnered significant critical attention and awards, including Emmy wins for Outstanding Lead Actor (Richard Gadd), Outstanding Supporting actress (Jessica Gunning), and Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series, explores themes of stalking and trauma. Gadd’s candidness about the creative process highlights the dynamic nature of filmmaking and the pursuit of the most impactful storytelling.
