The Baby (TV series)
The Baby is a British horror comedy limited series created by Lucy Gaymer and Siân Robins-Grace that premiered on HBO on 24 April 2022 and Sky Atlantic on 7 July 2022. The series consists of eight episodes.
The Baby | |
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Genre | Horror comedy |
Created by |
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Starring |
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Composer | Lucrecia Dalt |
Country of origin | United Kingdom |
Original language | English |
No. of episodes | 8 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producer | Lucy Gaymer |
Production location | United Kingdom |
Cinematography |
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Editors |
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Running time | 23–34 minutes |
Production companies |
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Release | |
Original network | |
Original release | 24 April – 12 June 2022 |
Premise
When 38-year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. Stinky, controlling, manipulative and with violent powers, the baby twists Natasha's life into a horror show. Where does it come from? What does it want? And what lengths will Natasha have to go to in order to get her life back? She doesn't want a baby. The baby wants her.[1]
Cast and characters
Main
- Michelle de Swarte as Natasha Willams: A 38-year-old who has never made long-term plans and is unexpectedly landed with a baby.
- Amira Ghazalla as Mrs. Eaves/Nour: The 73-year-old "Enigma" who has spent 50 years living in her car.
- Amber Grappy as Bobbi Willams: Natasha's younger sister, who wants nothing more than to be a parent.
- Albie Hills and Arthur Hills as ‘The Baby’ that turns Natasha's world upside down.
Recurring
- Patrice Naiambana as Natasha's father, Lyle
- Sinéad Cusack as Natasha's mother, Barbara
- Shvorne Marks as Mags
- Isy Suttie as Rita
- Tanya Reynolds as Helen
- Seyan Sarvan as Nour
- Karl Davies as Jack
- Divian Ladwa as Fooze
- Angela Yeoh as Yolanda
Episodes
No. | Title | Directed by | Written by | Original air date | U.S. viewers (millions) |
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1 | "The Arrival" | Nicole Kassell | Siân Robins-Grace | 24 April 2022 | 0.116[2] |
2 | "The Seduction" | Stacey Gregg | Siân Robins-Grace | 1 May 2022 | 0.130[3] |
3 | "The Bulldozer" | Stacey Gregg | Sophie Goodhart | 8 May 2022 | 0.170[4] |
4 | "The Mother" | Faraz Shariat | Susan Soon He Stanton | 15 May 2022 | 0.132[5] |
5 | "The Baby" | Faraz Shariat | Kara Smith | 22 May 2022 | 0.115[6] |
6 | "The Rage" | Faraz Shariat | Anchuli Felicia King | 29 May 2022 | 0.091[7] |
7 | "The Curse" | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace and Sophie Goodhart | 5 June 2022 | 0.087[8] |
8 | "The Possession" | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace and Anchuli Felicia King | 12 June 2022 | 0.093[9] |
Production
Development
In August 2020, it was announced HBO had given a series order to The Baby.[10] Robins-Grace, Jane Featherstone, Carolyn Strauss, and Naomi de Pear were confirmed as executive producers with Lucy Gaymer producing.[1][10] The Baby is produced by HBO, Sky Atlantic, Sister Pictures, and Gaymer's Proverbial Pictures. Nicole Kassell joined in December 2020 as a lead director and executive producer.[11] Stacey Gregg, Faraz Shariat and Elle Jones also serve as directors.[12]
Writing
Sophie Goodhart, Kara Smith, Anchuli Felicia King and Susan Stanton serve as writers on the series.[1][11] Bisha K. Ali serves as a consulting producer.[11][12]
Casting
In June 2021, Michelle de Swarte was cast as Natasha, while Amira Ghazalla was cast as Mrs. Eaves and Amber Grappy as Bobbi.[12] In February 2022, Patrice Naiambana, Sinéad Cusack, Shvorne Marks, Isy Suttie, Tanya Reynolds, Seyan Sarvan, Karl Davies, and Divian Ladwa joined the series.[13]
Filming
Filming began on 31 May 2021 in the United Kingdom.[14] The series wrapped in November 2021.[15]
Music
Lucrecia Dalt serves as the series' composer. Pete Saville and Zoe Bryant are the music supervisors, and Ed Hamilton is the music editor.[16]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported an 82% approval rating with an average rating of 7/10, based on 22 critic reviews. The website's critics consensus reads, "The Baby's tone can be as wobbly as a rocking crib, but its audacious nature of comedy and horror deserves to be nurtured."[17] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[18]
Ratings
No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) | Viewers (millions) | DVR (18–49) | DVR viewers (millions) | Total (18–49) | Total viewers (millions) |
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1 | "The Arrival" | 24 April 2022 | 0.02 | 0.116[2] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
2 | "The Seduction" | 1 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.130[3] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
3 | "The Bulldozer" | 8 May 2022 | 0.04 | 0.170[4] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
4 | "The Mother" | 15 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.132[5] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
5 | "The Baby" | 22 May 2022 | 0.01 | 0.115[6] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
6 | "The Rage" | 29 May 2022 | 0.01 | 0.091[7] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
7 | "The Curse" | 5 June 2022 | 0.01 | 0.087[8] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
8 | "The Possession" | 12 June 2022 | 0.01 | 0.093[9] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
Notes
References
- White, Peter (12 August 2020). "HBO & Sky Give Birth To Dark Horror Comedy 'The Baby' From Sister & Debut Screenwriter Siân Robins-Grace". Deadline. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Metcalf, Mitch (26 April 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (3 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.1.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (10 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.8.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- Salem, Mitch (17 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (24 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.22.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
- Salem, Mitch (1 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.29.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 1 June 2022.
- Salem, Mitch (7 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.5.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
- Metcalf, Mitch (14 June 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 6.12.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- Otterson, Joe (12 August 2020). "HBO, Sky Order Horror Comedy Series 'The Baby'". Variety. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Kanter, Jake (9 December 2020). "Emmy-Winning 'Watchmen' Director Nicole Kassell To Helm HBO/Sky/Sister's Horror Comedy 'The Baby'; All-Female Writers Room Assembled". Deadline. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Petski, Denise (7 June 2021). "'The Baby': Michelle De Swarte To Star, Two More Cast In HBO/Sky Horror Comedy Series". Deadline. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
- Petski, Denise (28 February 2022). "'The Baby': HBO/Sky Horror Comedy Gets Premiere Date, Teaser Trailer, First-Look Photos". Deadline. Retrieved 28 February 2022.
- "The Baby - Production List". Production List. 29 March 2021. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- Jackson, Leigh-Ann (10 June 2022). "In 'The Baby,' Killing With Cuteness". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
- Uitti, Jacob (18 April 2022). "HBO Composer, Music Editor, and Music Supervisors on How to Create Music for New Show 'The Baby'". American Songwriter. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
- "The Baby: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- "The Baby: Season 1". Metacritic. Fandom, Inc. Retrieved 12 June 2022.