Unlike what Bollywood films have taught us over the years, stalking tends to be frowned upon. It’s definitely not how you get someone’s approval, but it certainly is a shortcut to landing yourself an FIR. Comedian Richard Gadd’s seven-episode Netflix series Baby Reindeer is chilling reminder of how harrowing the experience can be. But it goes beyond that. Gadd, who plays a semi-fictionalised version of himself named Donny Dunn, gives the viewers a glimpse into one of the most traumatising phases of his life.

Based on his one-act play of the same name, the show chronicles Gadd’s life as an aspiring comedian who’s working a dead-end job at a London pub. In episode one, we see him meeting Martha—played to perfection by Jessica Gunning—who goes on to become his stalker. Her obsessive nature becomes apparent to Gadd very early on, but he doesn’t question her intention. Why? We get that answer in episode four, where we’re transported five years into the past. This episode is pivotal in informing people about the various levels of abuse Gadd went through and what makes him yearn for his stalker’s attention in the present time.

Despite the jarring details about his life that crop up throughout the show, Gadd has made sure to not write his character as a victim. It also helps that all the performances are brilliantly soft and nuanced, never pointing the viewer in a certain direction. Everybody is a different shade of grey, fighting their own demons, and Gadd is very careful in treating the characters as such. Throughout the show, there’s a touch of that wry British humour that everybody enjoys. There are almost no laugh-out-loud moments, but that’s a tall order given the subject matter of the show.

The last episode serves as a mirror, if you will, urging people to look within and acknowledge the various charades we put up for the world—and sometimes ourselves—to see. And the actors bring the poignant writing to life in an incredibly moving manner.

Baby Reindeer is a brutally honest show that doesn’t hold back any punches. It’s a brilliant depiction of one’s vulnerability and about seeking catharsis through art. An unmissable watch that forces you to take a hard look at yourself and the world around you.