"The Baby" Is A New HBO Horror Comedy — Here's Why You Should Be Watching

We all know that babies wreak havoc, but this baby takes things to the next level.

The Baby is HBO’s latest limited series. The horror comedy follows Natasha, a woman whose life is turned upside down when she’s suddenly landed with a baby. And this baby is no ordinary baby.

The six episodes see Natasha — played by Michelle de Swarte — try to get the baby off her hands and get things back to normal while her life implodes around her. 

So here’s why you should be watching:

First things first: The premise itself is amazing.

HBO

Having a baby is a scary step, but for expectant parents, it’s (typically) not quite horror territory. It’s a different story for Natasha. From the first scene, it’s clear that she doesn't want kids, and she isn’t thrilled that her friends are becoming parents, either. So from the moment she literally catches an apparent demon baby out of the sky, the tone of the series is set.

Natasha is unfiltered and hilarious.

HBO

Natasha says the stuff that everyone else is too afraid (or polite) to say. The phrase "Some things are better left unsaid" means nothing to Natasha, and while this doesn't go down particularly well with her friends and family, it makes her the best kind of main character. 

And it's got a whole cast of great characters with complex storylines.

HBO

Yes, Natasha's the protagonist, but she's not the only one going on a journey. There's Mags and Rita, Natasha's motherhood-loving friends; Bobbi, her sister who's desperate for a kid; Mrs. Eaves, a mysterious woman who knows an awful lot about the baby; and of course the baby himself, who has one hell of a backstory. 

It addresses truths about motherhood that aren’t always openly discussed.

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As much as I get how complicated motherhood can be in theory, watching Natasha attempt to care for a controlling baby with violent supernatural powers made me understand it more. 

And it explores the dynamics of complicated relationships without sugarcoating things.

HBO

With estranged mothers and daughters, torn-apart lovers, and a motherless baby, things are pretty damn complex. It's a horror comedy, so you probably weren't expecting picket fences and happy families, but still. 

The flashback scenes take the series to the next level.

HBO

Without giving any spoilers away, I can tell you that The Baby isn't one of those shows that leave you in the dark about how things came to be. You'll have about 78 questions after finishing the first episode, and the flashbacks come through to give us the much-needed answers about the lil' bubba's bleak origin story. 

And the suspense is unreal.

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The picture above should prove my point — don't you wanna know why they're holding the baby so close to the fire?! Each episode is a tidy 30 minutes, which I think is the perfect show length. But there are so many cliffhangers and questions to be answered that you could easily finish it in one four-hour sitting.

And finally, the baby is really, really cute.

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Deadly, yes. But still pretty damn adorable.

We spoke to Michelle de Swarte on our podcast, Seasoned Sessions — listen to the full interview below!

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The Baby is available to stream on Now TV, Sky, and HBO Max.

HBO / Via youtube.com