Baby Reindeer: Why Does Martha Misspell Her Messages To Donny?

Summary Martha's emails in "Baby Reindeer" were taken verbatim from Richard Gadd's real stalker, adding a chilling layer of truth to the series.

Martha's misspelled messages hint at her mental state, possibly related to a mental health crisis, adding complexity to her character.

The "Sent from iPhone" tag that Martha includes in her emails reveals her desire to create a fantasy persona, ultimately unraveling her facade.

In Netflix's new hit series, Baby Reindeer, Donny is being stalked by Martha in a variety of ways, including showing up at his work, lingering outside his apartment, and showing up at his comedy gigs, however another more subtle ploy that Martha also uses is sending Donny endless emails, all of which are mysteriously misspelled and strange. Created by Scottish comedian Richard Gadd, Baby Reindeer is not just a unique drama, unlike any other. Baby Reindeer is a true story as well, depicting what Gadd himself went through during the 2010s. In this way, each detail is meaningful in its own right.

From the very start of the series, Martha is characterized by her bubbly personality which hides a much stranger person underneath. At first, Martha's oddity is most apparent through the emails she sends Donny on a daily basis, and which often appear throughout the series. These messages are often romantic in nature, but other times, they can be angry, sad, and disturbing. The most compelling aspect of these emails though, is the fact that they are always riddled with spelling errors, and more than that, usually say "Sent from iPhone" at the end, despite Martha's lack of one.

Related 7 Biggest Differences Between Netflix's Baby Reindeer & Richard Gadd's Original Stage Show Richard Gadd's Baby Reindeer is a sensational hit show on Netflix, inspired by true events, and adapted from a stage show that played on the West End.

Martha's Messages & Emails Were Taken Verbatim From The Real-Life Stalker

Gadd's real stalker wrote those emails

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In order to understand Martha's emails in Baby Reindeer, it is first vital to know that the creative team behind the series did not write those emails themselves.

Every email that appears throughout the Netflix drama is a real message sent to Richard Gadd by his stalker in the 2010s, and is now being refashioned to fit the fictional Martha's story.

In this way, every spelling error and subtle threat is a real one, written by the real Martha Scott. This adds another layer of truth to Baby Reindeer beyond Richard Gadd's role as the lead actor.

The inclusion of real emails sent by Richard Gadd's stalker helps make Baby Reindeer even more riveting than if the emails were fake. If Gadd had chosen to craft new emails, then the series, though still interesting, would not have the same ring of truth to it. Furthermore, the emails are a massive help in understanding Martha. As previously mentioned, she puts herself out in public as a very friendly and funny person, however her real desires and feelings are highlighted by her emails. They shift the tone of the series, and also, put the audience in Gadd's shoes.

Possible Reasons Martha Misspells Her Messages In Baby Reindeer

Martha's spelling may hint at her mental state

Though Richard Gadd's stalker wrote the messages in Baby Reindeer, the question still remains: why are they so misspelled? This most likely has to do with the mental state of the stalker, otherwise known as Martha. In the series, it is shown that Martha did get a law degree, and through interactions, it is clear that Martha is an intelligent and thoughtful person. Therefore, the misspellings cannot be a lack of education. On the other hand, Martha's constant misspelling probably has to do with the state of mind that she is in when she is writing these emails to Donny.

According to an article by The Wall Street Journal, mental health can affect the way a person types. The author explains that before a manic episode, a person's typing may include more typos and faster typing. It is possible then that Martha is experiencing some type of mental health crisis when she is writing her emails to Donny, causing the typos to occur. This would also make sense considering the content of her messages, which is almost always emotional in nature. This also aligns with Gadd's view of Martha, which is that she is mentally ill and needs help.

Why Does Martha Add "Sent From My iPhone" To Her Messages?

Martha's iPhone add-ons show her hand

Despite the fact that Martha's messages include spelling errors from the very beginning, there is one part of her emails that does not begin to derail until the end of Baby Reindeer, when Martha and Donny's relationship sours. At the end of each message, Martha writes "Sent from iPhone," which is a normal part of any email sent from an iPhone. However, it becomes clear later on that Martha is typing this in herself when the "Sent from iPhone" tag is misspelled. Therefore, audiences are left wondering why Martha would include this tag to the end of her emails.

Martha Scott is played by Jessica Gunning in Baby Reindeer.

It seems most likely that Martha included the "Sent from iPhone" tag in her emails because she wanted Donny to believe that she was better than she was. Martha's other shocking acts throughout the series also accomplish this goal, but most obviously when she claims to be a high-profile lawyer who works with massive politicians and celebrities. Martha creates a fantasy to make herself seem a certain way, and the iPhone tag helps bolster this fantasy. However, it is promptly ruined when Martha's misspellings reveal her hand in Baby Reindeer.