Stephen King loves 'Baby Reindeer' so much he's written an essay about it

The horror writer compares the Netflix show to "Misery".
 By 
Sam Haysom
 on 
A side-by-side image shows an older man on the left and a younger man behind a bar on the right.
Credit: Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images/Ed Miller/Netflix/Mashable composite

Stephen King often recommends shows he likes on X (formerly Twitter), but it's not often he writes a whole essay about them.

That's exactly what the horror master has done for Baby Reindeer, Richard Gadd's limited Netflix series based on his own experience of being stalked.

"I have an essay about BABY REINDEER in the London Times," posted King. "I can’t believe they paid me for writing about such a cool show, but they did."


You May Also Like

The essay sees King talking about how he discovered Baby Reindeer, which he goes on to compare and contrast with his own novel Misery.

"Unlike most streaming series’ episodes, which can feel bloated at 50 minutes — or even longer — the episodes of Baby Reindeer, each about 30 minutes, are like short, swift stabs administered by a very sharp knife," King writes.

The essay is essentially a very positive review, with King even saying that the penultimate episode is "one of the best things I’ve ever seen on television (or in the movies, for that matter)."

The show already has a very high score on Rotten Tomatoes and a large viewership — but a glowing essay from one of the world's most successful writers isn't something you get every day.

How to watch: Baby Reindeer is now streaming on Netflix.

Topics Netflix

Mashable Image
Sam Haysom

Sam Haysom is the Deputy UK Editor for Mashable. He covers entertainment and online culture, and writes horror fiction in his spare time.

Mashable Potato

Recommended For You
I read this website's free AI-written YA novels so you don't have to
Three AI-generated novel covers for 'the Starless Crown,' 'the Probability Garden,' and 'the Unraveling of Whispers.'

The AI industry has a big Chicken Little problem
men line up outside a breadline during the great depression

Stephen Colbert bought Punch the monkey's IKEA orangutan
Stephen Colbert holds a stuffed toy monkey to his ear while presenting "The Late Show."

The internet is rooting for this abandoned baby monkey and his stuffed animal
a baby Japanese macaque monkey

Pi Day 2026 deals: Score free food from Burger King, 7-Eleven, DoorDash, Papa John's, and more
Pi symbol on pie

More in Entertainment

Trending on Mashable
NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 3, 2026
Connections game on a smartphone

Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 3, 2026
Wordle game on a smartphone


You can track Artemis II in real time as Orion flies to the moon
Victor Glover and Reid Wiseman piloting the Orion spacecraft

What's new to streaming this week? (April 3, 2026)
A composite of images from film and TV streaming this week.
The biggest stories of the day delivered to your inbox.
These newsletters may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. By clicking Subscribe, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Thanks for signing up. See you at your inbox!