Stephen King Calls Netflix’s 99%-Rated Psychological Thriller One of the Best Shows He’s Ever Seen — and Says Its Disturbing True-Life Story Is More Terrifying Than His Own Horror Classic

Stephen King has spent more than five decades terrifying readers with some of literature’s most unforgettable stories, but one Netflix drama left even the legendary horror author deeply impressed.

The seven-part psychological thriller Baby Reindeer, created by and starring Richard Gadd, became one of Netflix’s biggest television sensations of 2024.

Yet what makes King’s endorsement particularly striking is that the series contains none of the supernatural horrors normally associated with his work.

Instead, it explores stalking, obsession, abuse and psychological trauma through a deeply personal, semi-autobiographical story.

King was so impressed that he described the series as one of the finest things he had ever watched on television.

Stephen King Gives Baby Reindeer Extraordinary Praise

Following the show’s release, King took to social media to share his reaction.

“Brilliant, nightmarish, and all too real,” he wrote on X, before adding: “One of the best things I’ve ever seen.”

His admiration extended beyond a brief online recommendation.

The bestselling author subsequently wrote an essay for The Times, examining the series and explaining why its disturbing portrayal of human behavior had affected him so profoundly.

Baby Reindeer follows Donny Dunn, a struggling comedian played by Gadd, whose encounter with a woman named Martha develops into an increasingly troubling relationship.

Jessica Gunning portrays Martha, whose obsessive behavior gradually disrupts Donny’s life.

As the story unfolds, the drama reveals the complicated emotional consequences of abuse and the ways unresolved trauma can influence personal relationships.

The series earned a remarkable 99% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, reflecting its overwhelmingly positive critical reception.

King Compares the Netflix Thriller to His Own Novel Misery

Perhaps the most revealing part of King’s response was his comparison between Baby Reindeer and his celebrated 1987 novel Misery.

That story follows novelist Paul Sheldon, who becomes trapped by Annie Wilkes, an obsessive admirer whose devotion turns terrifying.

The novel was famously adapted into a 1990 film starring Kathy Bates.

King recognized similarities between the two stories, particularly their exploration of obsession and the psychological control one person can exert over another.

In his essay, he joked that he was fortunate to have written Misery first, otherwise people might have accused him of borrowing Gadd’s idea.

However, King believed Baby Reindeer possessed an additional layer of horror because of its roots in real experiences.

He described the Netflix drama as “ten times more real” than Misery.

For the author, its most unsettling qualities came not from exaggerated violence or supernatural threats, but from the complicated emotional realities surrounding the characters.

Why Baby Reindeer Is More Than a Conventional Stalking Thriller

One of the drama’s defining characteristics is its refusal to divide its characters neatly into heroes and villains.

Gadd’s character, Donny, is portrayed as vulnerable and deeply affected by earlier abuse, but he also makes decisions that complicate his circumstances.

Martha, meanwhile, is presented as both frightening and emotionally troubled.

This complexity gives the series a different perspective from more conventional thrillers, where the danger is often easier to identify.

King praised Gadd’s willingness to explore uncomfortable truths about shame, guilt, vulnerability and the lasting effects of trauma.

The story’s deeply personal nature also makes its most disturbing moments feel particularly intimate.

Although inspired by Gadd’s experiences, Baby Reindeer is a dramatized account rather than a documentary.

Why Baby Reindeer Isn’t Returning for Season 2

Despite its critical success and enormous popularity, Baby Reindeer was conceived as a self-contained miniseries.

Gadd’s seven-episode story follows Donny through a deeply personal journey, exploring both the stalking experience and the unresolved trauma shaping his life.

The conclusion provides a degree of emotional resolution without suggesting that recovery is simple or complete.

Extending the story into another season could risk undermining that carefully constructed ending.

The original series succeeds partly because it concentrates on a specific experience rather than attempting to create an ongoing television franchise.

King’s praise also focused on the existing seven episodes, rather than any possibility of continuing the narrative.

For viewers seeking a psychological thriller that leaves a lasting impression, Baby Reindeer offers something far more unsettling than conventional horror: a story in which the most frightening experiences emerge from ordinary human relationships.

All seven episodes of Baby Reindeer are available to stream on Netflix.