In an early scene from the first episode, “Eyes, Eyes, Eyes, Eyes,” Arabella’s literary agent, Julian (Adam James) sheepishly interrogates the young writer about her elusive manuscript-in-process, introducing the series’ driving question: “Where does it go?”įor Coel, the answer is down a path of healing and dealing with trauma. Rather, the show poses deeper questions, concerning what it takes to reckon with and begin to heal from trauma. Yet, the mystery is never a question of whether an assault occurred or even really who did it. It’s narrative is fueled by mystery, with the momentum of the show propelled by an ominous feeling that at any point something you weren’t watching for - a jacket, a quick glance, a forgettable face around a table - will suddenly offer a pivotal clue. Very much in conversation with cultural touchstones like Memento and Get Out, Coel uses deadpan humor and her deft understanding of human relationships and societal structures to reveal another level of Black interiority and personal terror.įrom its first episode, I May Destroy You submerges us in the act of processing. Through complicated and layered relationships shared by the show’s central characters, Coel lays bare the layered power dynamics and varied experiences of sexual violence. With the help of her eccentric, vivacious, sister-friend Terry (Weruche Opia) and confident, active gay bestie, Kwame (Paapa Essiedu), Arabella, played by Coel herself, must piece together what exactly has happened to her.
#I may destroy you season 1 series#
Best known for her breakout Netflix series, Chewing Gum, the British writer/actress has returned with a hilariously clever and explosive series about the thorny nature of consent, now streaming on HBO.Ĭhronicling a young writer’s experience in the aftermath of a sexual assault, I May Destroy You captures the pain, absurdity, and murkiness of rape culture. With the finale of I May Destroy You, Michaela Coel leads us away from finality and completeness in the most satisfying way. Michaela Coel in I May Destroy You (2020) (all images courtesy HBO Max)
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