| The Baby | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Horror comedy |
| Created by |
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| Starring |
|
| Composer | Lucrecia Dalt |
| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of episodes | 4 |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Producer | Lucy Gaymer |
| Production location | United Kingdom |
| Cinematography |
|
| Editors |
|
| Running time | 26–31 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Release | |
| Original network | HBO |
| Original release | 24 April 2022 – present |
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. The series consists of eight episodes.
Premise
When 38-year-old Natasha is unexpectedly landed with a baby, her life of doing what she wants, when she wants, dramatically implodes. 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: A 38-year-old who has never made long-term plans and is unexpectedly landed with a baby.
- Amira Ghazalla as Mrs. Eaves: The 73-year-old "enigma" who has spent 50 years living in her car.
- Amber Grappy as Bobbi: 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
Episodes
| No. | Title [2] | Directed by [3] | Written by [3] | Original air date [2] | U.S. viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Arrival" | Nicole Kassell | Siân Robins-Grace | 24 April 2022 | 0.116[4] |
| 2 | "The Seduction" | Stacey Gregg | Siân Robins-Grace | 1 May 2022 | 0.130[5] |
| 3 | "The Bulldozer" | Stacey Gregg | Sophie Goodhart | 8 May 2022 | 0.170[6] |
| 4 | "The Mother" | Faraz Shariat | Susan Soon He Stanton | 15 May 2022 | 0.132[7] |
| 5 | "The Baby" | Faraz Shariat | Kara Smith | 22 May 2022 | TBD |
| 6 | "The Rage" | Faraz Shariat | Anchuli Felicia King | 29 May 2022 | TBD |
| 7 | "The Curse"[8] | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace & Sophie Goodhart | 5 June 2022 | TBD |
| 8 | "The Possession"[9] | Ella Jones | Siân Robins-Grace & Anchuli Felicia King | 12 June 2022 | TBD |
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][12]
Music
Lucrecia Dalt serves as the series' composer. Pete Saville and Zoe Bryant are the music supervisors, and Ed Hamilton is the music editor.[15]
Release
The Baby premiered on HBO on 24 April 2022 and will consist of eight episodes.[10][12][13]
Reception
Critical response
The review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes reported a 79% approval rating with an average rating of 7.0/10, based on 19 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."[16] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned a score of 71 out of 100 based on 9 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[17]
Ratings
| No. | Title | Air date | Rating (18–49) |
Viewers (millions) |
DVR (18–49) |
DVR viewers (millions) |
Total (18–49) |
Total viewers (millions) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "The Arrival" | 24 April 2022 | 0.02 | 0.116[4] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 2 | "The Seduction" | 1 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.130[5] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 3 | "The Bulldozer" | 8 May 2022 | 0.04 | 0.170[6] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| 4 | "The Mother" | 15 May 2022 | 0.02 | 0.132[7] | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD |
References
- ^ a b c 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b "Shows A-Z – baby, the on hbo". The Futon Critic. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
- ^ a b ""The Baby," HBO and Sky Horror Comedy Limited Series from Sister, Debuts April 24". The Futon Critic. 6 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (26 April 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 4.24.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (3 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.1.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
- ^ a b Metcalf, Mitch (10 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.8.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
- ^ a b Salem, Mitch (17 May 2022). "ShowBuzzDaily's Sunday 5.15.2022 Top 150 Cable Originals & Network Finals Updated". Showbuzz Daily. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
- ^ "The Baby 07: The Curse". HBO. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ "The Baby 08: The Possession". HBO. Retrieved 4 April 2022.
- ^ a b c Otterson, Joe (12 August 2020). "HBO, Sky Order Horror Comedy Series 'The Baby'". Variety. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b c d e 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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ a b 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.
- ^ 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 25 April 2022.
- ^ "The Baby: Season 1". Metacritic. Red Ventures. Retrieved 23 April 2022.
External links
This page was last edited on 17 May 2022, at 22:29