Baby Reindeer Ending Explained: What Happens With Donny?

Baby Reindeer was such an intriguing miniseries that depicted the real-life experiences of the main character, who was mentally abused by his stalker. This binge-worthy show introduced us to the emerging comedian Donny, his stalker Martha, and the horrific outcome of their interactions.

Directed by Richard Gadd, who also plays the leading role, the series portrays his real experiences of dealing with a female stalker in his early 20s. This authenticity is what makes the show unique. We witness the raw and depressingly honest thoughts of a person dealing with abuse on many levels. Now, let's delve into the final episode of the show and what the ending suggests!

Table of Contents: 

• Donny At The Highest Point of His Life & Martha's Return
• What Happened After Martha Was Imprisoned 
• The Meaning of Donny's Nickname - Baby Reindeer
• What Does The Final Scene of Baby Reindeer Imply?

Donny At The Highest Point of His Life & Martha's Return

The episode started off with what seemed like the most successful time for Donny. After his breakdown during his comedic performance, a video of him went viral, leading to his popularity soaring and ultimately fulfilling his dream as a comedian.

However, it wasn't long until Martha found a way to creep back into his life. This time, she did what he feared most - she found his phone number. After Martha threatened to expose his past life to his parents, who hadn't seen his popular video, Donny rushed to his parents' to confess all of his secrets before she could. Luckily, this resulted in Donny's family bond getting stronger than ever, which allowed him to relax and move on. Mostly.

Ever since getting his number, Martha has been spamming him with voice messages, some of which are happy, and others angry. Donny learned that the only way for him to be able to sue her would be if she said something threatening to him. So he listened and listened for a very long time until he finally gathered enough proof to take her to court.

What Happened After Martha Was Imprisoned 

Martha has now been officially removed from Donny's life, but her presence and long-lasting effects on the main character remain. Despite finally getting rid of his stalker, Donny starts to obsess over finding the root of Martha's mental issues and listens to her voicemails as a non-stop podcast. Donny is now at a transitional period of his life where, even though he finally gained some peace of mind in his personal and family life, he still has this sense of emptiness within him.

After coming across his old script out of nowhere, Donny felt a sudden rush of determination to go back and meet with his abuser. So he did. We witness the very uncomfortable conversation between Donny and Darrien, which ended with the aspiring comedian agreeing to start working with his abuser again. As soon as he left Darrien's apartment, Donny had an emotional breakdown and managed to calm down only after he started listening to Martha's podcast again.

This scene holds significant importance and provides an actual representation of what victims of abuse endure. In an interview with GQ, Richard Gadd shared his understanding of this part of the episode:

"I think that was almost the most truthful scene of the entire show. What abuse does is it creates psychological damage as well as physical damage… Abuse leaves an imprint. Especially abuse like this, where it’s repeated with promises. There’s a pattern where a lot of people who have been abused feel like they need their abusers. "

Additionally, the fact that he escapes the trauma of one abuser by leaning towards the messages from another one further underscores how lasting and hurtful abuse can be.

The Meaning of Donny's Nickname - Baby Reindeer

After the long and tiring investigation, Donny was able to uncover Martha's deepest secret. In his desperate attempts to justify her actions and attitude, the main character devoted his whole life to listening to her hours-long voicemails. Just as suddenly as their relationship began, Donny stumbled upon Martha's confession. While sitting in a bar and listening to her as one would to a comforting song, Donny heard her opening up about her childhood and how she witnessed constant arguments between her parents.

In times of distress, the only thing that brought her comfort was a Baby Reindeer toy that she hugged to feel safe. Martha explained the significance this doll had for her and how, in her eyes, Donny resembled it and was just as important to her. Donny's compassionate nature couldn't bear hearing about her sad childhood. Even the thought of him bringing some comfort to her broke his heart, knowing how things turned out for her.

What Does The Final Scene of Baby Reindeer Imply?

The end of the show sparks debate among the audience about its symbolism and meaning.

After hearing about Martha's childhood, Donny starts crying in the bar. The bartender approaches him to ask for payment, but Donny realizes he forgot his wallet. Sensing that something is wrong, the bartender offers the drink on the house and lets him enjoy it in peace. This scene directly mirrors Martha and Donny's first interaction.

Some fans speculate that due to the resemblance of the scenes and Donny's fondness for Martha, he might follow in her footsteps and become a stalker himself. However, I disagree with this interpretation. In my view, the scene represents a full-circle moment, symbolizing Donny's return to his life before he met Martha. This is how it started and how it ended. Now that he knows the source of her pain, he has nothing attaching him to Martha.

In an interview with Radio Times, the director of Baby Reindeer expressed his satisfaction with the ending and how he sees it as the perfect conclusion to the show, one that does not provide a specific conclusion and remains open to interpretation.

Baby Reindeer is definitely a must-watch with all its unique perspectives and important topics that it covers. Check our website for more news and updates for other shows that you like!