Netflix’s Weekend Lineup: ‘Baby Reindeer,’ ‘Dark Winds,’ and ‘Orphan Black’
With the finish-of-the-month crunch, the week has been a blur of errands, emails, and work-week-woes—not to mention the late-winter weather. Time to clock out with some Netflix shows this weekend. For February 27 to March 1 and beyond, there’s a mix of old and modern series, including a dark and quirky stalker story, a Navajo murder investigation, and an Emmy-winning sci-fi thrillride.
‘Baby Reindeer’
Baby Reindeer, a chilling and obsessive psychological drama, is based on true events experienced by writer and star Richard Gadd. The show, which shares a name with Gadd’s 2019 autobiographical one-man stage play, is a dark comedy about being stalked. Gadd plays Donny Dunn, a struggling London comedian and bartender, whose act of kindness towards an upset customer, Martha (Jessica Gunning), spirals into a disturbing onslaught of obsessive emails, phone calls, and public outbursts.
The show explores the disruption Martha’s presence causes in Donny’s life, his relationships, and his sense of safety, while also addressing the challenges of seeking help from authorities. Baby Reindeer is a deeply personal exploration of unresolved trauma, unfolding over seven episodes. The show’s popularity has even sparked a real-life search for the “real” Martha, leading to a defamation lawsuit against Netflix, with some claims dismissed but the case continuing amid appeals.
Baby Reindeer has earned a 99% critics’ rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Dark Winds’
Based on the acclaimed novel series Leaphorn & Chee by Tony Hillerman and his daughter Anne, Dark Winds offers a refreshing take on the police procedural. The series is set across the vast landscapes of the American Southwest in the 1970s and features a predominantly Native American cast.
The series, currently in its fourth season on AMC (with the first three seasons streaming on Netflix), follows veteran Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn (Zahn McClarnon), his younger partner Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon), and their team, including officer Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten), as they investigate murders, disappearances, corruption, and other crimes.
Dark Winds is praised for its outstanding cinematography, its stunning backdrop, and its authenticity in weaving in Navajo culture and spiritual beliefs. Every season of Dark Winds has a perfect 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
‘Orphan Black’
Orphan Black is a sci-fi thriller that has garnered a devoted online fan base. The series centers on Sarah Manning, a con artist played by Tatiana Maslany, who discovers she is one of a group of clones. Maslany portrays multiple distinct and complex clones, including an alcoholic housewife, a corporate villain, a scientist, and a serial killer.
The show is lauded for its clever plot, action-packed narrative, and Maslany’s performance, which earned her an Emmy Award. Orphan Black has a near-perfect score on Rotten Tomatoes.
Three totally different vibes, one simple goal: end the weekend with that satisfying “just one more episode” grin. Grab a snack, silence the group chat, and let your couch do the heavy lifting.