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In the canon of unexpected streaming successes, Netflix‘s Baby Reindeer looms large as a particularly unlikely hit.
The seven-episode British series, created by and starring comedian Richard Gadd has taken the media world by storm. Per Netflix’s metrics, Baby Reindeer is on its way to becoming one of the most-watched shows in the streamer’s history. Audiences remain captivated by Gadd’s depiction of real life events – perhaps too captivated, as the internet continues its attempts to dox every actual person involved (Note: Stop doing that!)
Still, it’s not hard to see why Baby Reindeer has invoked such a passionate reaction in viewers. The story is an intensely personal one for Gadd and oftentimes, the more personal something is, the more universal its appeal becomes. Not everyone can directly relate to Gadd’s traumatic experience of being stalked, but everyone knows what pain, confusion, and fear looks like.
The success of Baby Reindeer merely hammers home that relatively short, intensely personal series have become a cheat code for the TV industry. When a talented entertainer or artist decides to borrow from their own life to craft an episodic story, the results are often enchanting. With that in mind, we’ve gathered some of our favorite recent series that are highly reminiscent of Baby Reindeer. Many of these can be considered semi-autobiographical for their creators and all of them center on one character’s pain, but in a comedic fashion.
Fleabag
Available on: Prime Video (U.S. and U.K.), Sky (U.K.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
We’re cheating a bit right off the bat as Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller-Bridge has clarified that the show is not really autobiographical. Still, the brilliant two-season series has the intimate, personal flair that Baby Reindeer fans will surely appreciate. It also may be one of the single greatest things to ever air on television so just go ahead and watch it anyway if you haven’t already.
Even if you’ve never watched Fleabag, you may be familiar with some details surrounding its pitch perfect second season featuring Andrew Scott as a man known only as “Hot Priest.” But both seasons are incredible exploration of one woman’s psyche as she attempts to deal with personal trauma the only way she knows how: breaking the fourth wall to talk to you.
I May Destroy You
Available on: Max (U.S.), Sky (U.K.), BBC iPlayer (U.K.)
Perhaps even moreso than Fleabag, I May Destroy You is the show that convinced American audiences that semi-autobiographical comedies were an untapped reservoir of TV goodness. Of course, our British counterparts have long known that. I May Destroy You creator and star Michaela Coel came to prominence with her similarly autobiographical show Chewing Gum. It’s this one, however, that really shines. Like Baby Reindeer, I May Destroy You is a challenging, at times painful, watch. It’s also quite funny!
Single Drunk Female
Available on: For purchase on Apple TV and Google Play (U.K.)
As its name suggests, Freeform’s Single Drunk Female is about a very single, very (formerly) drunk woman. Created by Simone Finch, the series follows 28-year-old alcoholic Samantha Fink as she is forced to move home and get sober after hitting rock bottom. In addition to having a truly great creator-to-character-name analog (Simone Finch = Samantha Fink), Single Drunk Female is one of the more uncommonly open and honest American series in this genre.
Bupkis
Available on: Peacock (U.S.)
You’ll come to find out that stand-up comics tend to dominate the “semi-autobiographical TV series” category. That’s because they’re already accustomed to working out their demons in front of an audience. Comedian and former SNL cast member Pete Davidson is particularly familiar with living an uncomfortably public life. It’s no surprise then that he created his own scripted confessional for Peacock. Bupkis contains a lot of what folks already know about Pete’s turbulent path while adding in some empathetic, well-executed revelations.
This Way Up
Available on: Hulu (U.S.), Sky (U.K.)
Premiering in 2019, Channel 4’s This Way Up wears its Fleabag influences on its sleeve. Like Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s classic, this series is a two-season exploration of one woman going through a rough time. Also like Fleabag, it’s not strictly autobiographical. This story about an Irish woman in London recovering from a nervous breakdown doesn’t follow creator Aisling Bea’s exact experience. But it still plays out as a tenderly funny and personal saga inspired by Bea’s mental health journey.
Feel Good
Available on: Netflix (U.S. and U.K.)
Feel Good has everything a Baby Reindeer fan would be looking for in a TV series. For starters, it’s actually mostly autobiographical with creator Mae Martin creating a fictionalized version of themself also named Mae for the proceedings. Feel Good follows the fictionalized Mae who, like their real life counterpart, is a Canadian comedian and recovering drug addict. When Mae meets a middle class British woman named George (Charlotte Ritchie) they try to begin a relationship despite Mae’s trouble past and George’s reluctance to come out.
Mo
Available on: Netflix (U.S. and U.K.)
Taking inspiration from the equally personal Ramy, the Netflix series Mo (which was also co-created by Ramy‘s Ramy Youssef) is as thick a slice of life as you’re apt to find on TV. The series follows Mo Najjar (played by co-creator Mo Amer), a Palestinian refugee living in Houston. Mo excels at presenting the real life events from Mo’s life in as he deals with personal tragedies and seeks American citizenship.
The post Semi-Autobiographical TV Series Like Baby Reindeer to Watch Next appeared first on Den of Geek.
