MovieChat Forums > Baby Reindeer (2024) Discussion > The Guy In This Is Such A Complete Moron

The Guy In This Is Such A Complete Moron

posted 22 days ago by FootOfDavros (6916)
14 replies | jump to latest

I appreciate that this has been embellished for the telly but I really hope that includes his imbecilic behaviour of not telling anyone what's going on!

Sure, the man / woman of silence thing is a great device that lets many a drama / comedy go on. You sit there thinking - Why don't they simply tell whomever what happened and then none of this wouldn't be happening!

This show really takes the biscuit though. e.g. That scene where she's joined his landlord's baking class! Erm, just tell her that woman is stalking you and she'll chuck her out! But no, better to say nothing and just let the drama play out...

Anyway, as I said, I hope this sort of thing is just made up for dramatic effects and the guy wasn't really so dumb.

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 15 days ago

Have you even considered that you missed the entire point of how his own trauma prevented actions that most likely would have been carried out by those without his trauma?

It's like you missed the entire point of his monologue at the comedy competition where he explained why he was rendered inert by this woman's stalking and how it was based in his own experiences, i.e., the grooming.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 15 days ago

It's literally like I missed the monologue as I posted the OP after watching the first two or three episodes, so I hadn't seen the "amazing" episode six (?) monologue at that point...

However, neither had I seen his continued buffoonery at repeatedly going back to that guy's flat to get sexually abused! I guess we never saw the "trauma" which made him keep doing that either...

The only interesting thing about this sh-t show is how much exactly he made up for effect.

Oh, and also there is an interesting expect re the sexes being reversed here. For example, for me, he looks like an absolute idiot for his actions but I guess there's something in that, i.e. that I shouldn't really say this because if it was a woman, it would be unacceptable as it's in Weinstein territory.

But nevertheless, to my eyes (and actually the females watching it with me) we were cringing at his moronic behaviour...

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 15 days ago

Again, he explains it all in the monologue and in other bits and made his behavior decisions clear to those willing to listen.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 15 days ago

Eh, well clearly you weren't willing to read my previous post!

I explained that I subsequently saw the "amazing" monologue. You're clearly invested in the quality and plausibility of this show, so please do spell it out to me - What was the non moronic explanation given in the monologue for going back and allowing himself to be continuously drugged up and assaulted by that guy?

Please do not reply that it was because he was desperate to get his show made. I did say non moronic explanation. Thanks.

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 14 days ago

In his monologue and at other times, he made it clear that he kept doing things harmful toward himself because he was so full of self-hate and self-loathing that such behaviors were what he thought would bring him about to where he needed to be in life when instead he learned it was further victimizing him.

I would suggest reading up a bit about the aftereffects of victimization and trauma and how such things render a person almost inert in ways.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 14 days ago

.... because he was so full of self-hate and self-loathing that such behaviors were what he thought would bring him about to where he needed to be in life...

Exactly. And we get no explanation of why that was, so he just looks like he's acting like a moron.

You seem to adding to this with your last paragraph as well - He acted like an idiot repeatedly going back to the guy's place in the first place. There's no "after effects of victimization and trauma" to be reading up on there because he did that without any prior incidents.

Perhaps you are getting mixed up as the show revealed that after the Martha stuff, so you maybe lose the thread that there was no reason for him to be acting like an idiot in the first place...

Unless of course, you go back and pay closer attention to the monologue and accept the only reason which was actually given, that he was desperate to get on the writing staff of a show. Which, as I said in my previous post, is moronic.

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 14 days ago

I would either suggest you go back and re-watch it or read some interviews with the guy because in the series, he clearly portrays why he makes the decisions he does and especially the ones that continue to cause him harm.

All the indicators, big and small, are there and to me, clear as a bell, so I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. And again, I suggest you read up a bit on the things that go into trauma and how such things impact behavior and why people continue to behave in ways that are detrimental to them.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 14 days ago

Sure we can agree to disagree but I don't even know what I'm disagreeing with.

You've basically completely ignored my previous post by saying I should go and read up on trauma. As I said, there was no trauma to define his initial stupid behaviour.

You're simply choosing to ignore that as I've asked you twice now, namely what was this clear portrayal of why he wasn't acting like a moron, and you've offered no explanation...

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 14 days ago

His issue was his own self-hate and self-loathing that developed from his birth to adulthood, and from what I gathered, found quite a bit of it based on his issues with his sexuality and how all of this dovetailed into him becoming a manipulated and groomed "willing" victim.

Lastly, to me, anyone's victimization can and often does go way beyond "moronic" behavior. Calling it "moronic" is too simplistic and especially for this series. Not only that, he kept conducting his "moronic" behavior because it was almost in a way similar to that of one pursuing what one feels is their perceived self-fulfilling prophecy.

Also, I'm not ignoring your supposed point, it's just that I feel I am wasting my time discussing trauma and victimization with one who does not fully appreciate how complex and dangerous it is and how often, for a variety of reasons, it is almost impossible for a person to control behavior many believe to be precipitated solely due to their bad decisions.

And as I've previously typed, the reasons for his "moronic" behavior were clear to me and his behavior was clearly beyond the influences of simple "moronic" behavior.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 14 days ago

His issue was his own self-hate and self-loathing that developed from his birth to adulthood, and from what I gathered, found quite a bit of it based on his issues...

To be clear, you "gathered" that from the monologue? Because you began by telling me I'd missed the entire point of the monologue...

I'm not ignoring your supposed point, it's just that I feel I am wasting my time discussing trauma and victimization with one who does not fully appreciate...

Well, you're correct in that you're wasting your time "discussing trauma" but not because I don't appreciate it's effects. It's because - as I've repeated for three posts now - there was no initial "trauma" to blame for his moronic behaviour in repeatedly going back to that guy's house.

Now, as far as I'm aware, the version of the show I watched, and the monologue within it, placed the blame for that on desperation to be famous and recognised.

But you're saying you "gathered" that differently from the monologue, so perhaps I shall rewatch and see if there's any basis for that...

[–] TruMovieFan (1990) 14 days ago

Where did I suggest everything I "gathered" came only from the monologue? In fact, in my reply to your follow-up to my first posting, I mention other times how reveals what drives him. See above....

I can't recall every single fragment of information through the entire series and when each occurred time wise and it what episode.

And as for your need for a specific "initial" trauma, there was no singular event, it was a series or a culmination from all aspects of his life that fed into his manipulated willingness to be groomed. And to refer to his behavior as "moronic" is too simplistic.

In other words, it wasn't his "moronic" behavior that led him to be victimized, but his self-hate and loathing led to his "moronic" behavior that continued him down his destructive path.

With this, I think I've had about all I've had to say on this subject.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 14 days ago

I didn't have any "need for a specific "initial" trauma" whatsoever. It's just that someone said to me:-
"Have you even considered that you missed the entire point of how his own trauma prevented actions that most likely would have been carried out by those without his trauma?"

So I considered that and whether I'd "missed" something...

Seems like I hadn't though and so yes, I don't think there's anything further to add here.

As I said much further up, you're clearly invested in the show and it's plausibility so seemingly have decided to fill in the gaps yourself. And that's fine. But for me, based upon what was shown, he acted like a complete moron...

[–] whatwazdat (380) 8 days ago

I don't think you're appreciating the tough reality and complexities of humans. Or, perhaps you made this comment without finishing the show, because after a few episodes... I would agree with you. After watching the rest.. I get why he is how he is. Spoilers... don't read on if you haven't watched. Martha is not the biggest villain or demon in his life, it's Darrien. He explains it clearly why it took him so long to report Martha. It's because what Martha has done to him pales in comparison to what Darrien did to him. In his mind, his justification for apathy was that if he were to pick a battle, it would be Darrien first. He just wasn't ready to face Darrien... and so you have apathy and lack of action. He was ultimately forced into action because she started stalking his parents.

In the end, he does face Darrien, but he does it in a very Donny way... what both you and I would call stupid and spineless. Ideally, we all would have the strength to tell someone off, and maybe even beat them up for what they did to you. But Donny's reaction was not like that at all. But I do think it's very realistic. Donny is not violent, he's always cordial, cordial to the end. But there is definitely a power shift. Darrien knows he can be outed by Donny anytime now. So I do think Donny does get some control back in his life.

Anyway, If you mean he's a moron for why he was so slow to take action on Martha, then there is an explanation. If you mean he's a moron in general, for the life choices and decisions he has made... yes, I do agree. Allowing himself to get drugged and raped, is no different that those people who want to make it big in Hollywood and do all sorts of favors behind closed doors. These people sell their souls for the promise of success.

[–] FootOfDavros (6916) 8 days ago

... Or, perhaps you made this comment without finishing the show, because after a few episodes...

Well yeah, exactly that.

You can read through my dialogue with the other poster who replied earlier in the thread but yeah, I made the OP after watching maybe two or three episodes.

I still think his behaviour was pretty stupid re Martha and especially that scene I referenced - not saying anything to his landlady / former girlfriend's mum. But you can take his trauma into account to explain his repeat paralysis behaviour after we learn of his earlier rape. If you want to find an excusable reason.

Yeah, I agree re him being a moron with Darrien and selling himself out in the belief that it was going to lead to a shot at fame. I think I mentioned further up that it was an interesting spin on the sort of #metoo / Weinstein victim behaviour to see a male character make the same mistakes...

But I don't agree re the ending and his confrontation with Darrien being spineless.

It was a very open to interpretation scene I guess but I think, like you said, it showed a power shift. I mentioned in one of the other threads on here I saw it as a moment of empowerment. It's acknowledged between them that what happened to him is in the public domain but he hasn't named him yet. Maybe Darrien fearfully offers him a paid position to buy his silence and he takes it, not in a weakened way but because means he takes control over his abuser.

Like you said, he gets a measure of control back. So I guess it's a positive scene, even although it does play it slightly oddly and could look like the guy's got away with it, unless you really think about it.