I May Destroy You
I May Destroy You | |
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Created by | Michaela Coel |
Written by | Michaela Coel |
Directed by |
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Starring |
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Country of origin |
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Original languages |
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No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations |
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Cinematography | Adam Gillham |
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Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 28–35 minutes |
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Original release | |
Network | |
Release | 7 June 14 July 2020 | –
I May Destroy You is a British black comedy-drama television limited series created, written, co-directed, and executive produced by Michaela Coel for BBC One and HBO. The series is set in London with a predominantly Black British cast.[2] Coel stars as Arabella, a young writer in the public eye who seeks to rebuild her life after being raped. The series premiered on 7 June 2020 on HBO and on 8 June 2020 on BBC One.[3]
According to Metacritic, I May Destroy You was the most critically acclaimed television programme of 2020,[4] and was described by The New York Times as "the perfect show for an anxious world."[5] It won the BAFTAs for Best Mini-Series, Best Director: Drama, Best Writer: Drama and Best Actress, in addition to two RTS Programme Awards, two Independent Spirit Awards, a Gotham Award, a GLAAD Media Award, an NAACP Image Award and a Peabody Award.
The series received nine nominations at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series; it won two awards including Outstanding Writing for Coel.[6]
Premise
Arabella (Michaela Coel) is a young Twitter-star-turned-novelist in her late twenties who found fame with her debut book Chronicles of a Fed-Up Millennial and is publicly celebrated as a Millennial icon. While struggling to meet a deadline for her second book, she takes a break from work to meet up with friends on a night out in London. The following morning, she struggles to remember what happened to her, but recalls the events of the night with the help of her friends Terry (Weruche Opia) and Kwame (Paapa Essiedu).
Cast and characters
Main
- Michaela Coel as Arabella Essiedu, a writer
- Weruche Opia as Terry Pratchard, Arabella's best friend and a struggling actor
- Paapa Essiedu as Kwame, Arabella's best friend
Recurring
- Marouane Zotti as Biagio, a drug dealer based in Ostia, Italy, who has a casual relationship with Arabella
- Stephen Wight as Ben, Arabella's flatmate
- Adam James as Julian, Arabella's literary agent
- Natalie Walter as Francine, Arabella's financier
- Aml Ameen as Simon, Arabella's friend who works in the City of London
- Lara Rossi as Kat, Simon's partner
- Ann Akin as Alissa, Simon's secret lover
- Chin Nyenwe as Tariq, David's friend
- Lewis Reeves as David, from Ego Death
- Sarah Niles as Officer Funmi
- Mariah Gale as Officer Beth
- Rebecca Calder as Shirley, a rape victim who meets Arabella at the hospital
- Andi Osho as Carrie, Arabella's therapist
- Fehinti Balogun as Damon, Kwame's love interest
- Karan Gill as Zain Sareen, writer from Henny publishing
- Samson Ajewole as Malik, Kwame's hookup
- Tobi King Bakare as Nicholas, Arabella's brother
- Ellie James as Sion, Susy's assistant
- Franc Ashman as Susy Henny, Arabella's publisher
- Harriet Webb as Theodora, Arabella and Terry's childhood classmate
- Shalisha James-Davis as Loretta, a member of Theodora's support group
- Gaby French as teen Theodora
- Danielle Vitalis as teen Arabella
- Lauren-Joy Williams as teen Terry
- Pearl Chanda as Nilufer, Kwame's first female hookup
- Gershwyn Eustache Jnr as Tyrone, one of Kwame's hookups
- Tyler Luke Cunningham as Kai, Terry's love interest
Notable guests
- Katherine Jakeways as Jacki
- Juno Dawson as Scarlett
- Kadiff Kirwan as Officer Tom
- Antonia Clarke as Emily
- Vivian Oparah as Bisola
- Jonathan Slinger as doctor
Episodes
No. | Title [7] | Directed by [7] | Written by [7] | Original air date [1] | US airdate [7] | US viewers (millions) | |
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1 | "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes" | Sam Miller | Michaela Coel | 8 June 2020 | 7 June 2020 | 0.212[8] | |
Arabella is on a deadline to finish her second book. She decides to take a break by going for a drink with friends. At some point during the night, she is raped in a bar toilet. | |||||||
2 | "Someone Is Lying" | Sam Miller | Michaela Coel | 9 June 2020[a] | 14 June 2020 | 0.229[9] | |
Suffering traumatic memories of the rape, Arabella goes to the police. Meanwhile, Terry has a film audition. | |||||||
3 | "Don't Forget the Sea" | Sam Miller | Michaela Coel | 15 June 2020[b] | 22 June 2020 | 0.156[10] | |
A flashback to Ostia, Italy where Arabella and Terry have a wild night out, meeting local man Biagio. | |||||||
4 | "That Was Fun" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 16 June 2020[b] | 29 June 2020 | 0.098[11] | |
Arabella becomes close with fellow writer Zain. They later have sex and he removes the condom without her knowledge. Meanwhile, Kwame and Damon visit a man from Grindr, and this encounter turns violent after Damon leaves. | |||||||
5 | "...It Just Came Up" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 22 June 2020[c] | 6 July 2020 | 0.108[12] | |
Arabella exposes Zain's actions at a literary festival. Kwame goes to the police about his attack but is not taken seriously. | |||||||
6 | "The Alliance" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 23 June 2020[c] | 13 July 2020 | 0.128[14] | |
Arabella attends a support group hosted by Theodora, who was at school with her and Terry. In a flashback to the mid-2000s, Theo accuses classmate Ryan of violent rape, but Arabella and Terry provide evidence to the teachers that her story is not entirely true.[13] | |||||||
7 | "Happy Animals" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 29 June 2020[d] | 20 July 2020 | 0.102[15] | |
Arabella becomes an influencer for a vegan brand, and hosts a birthday party for Terry. At the party she attempts to matchmake Kwame with another man by locking them in her bedroom. There is tension between Theo and Terry. | |||||||
8 | "Line Spectrum Border" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 30 June 2020[d] | 27 July 2020 | 0.087[16] | |
After the police close the investigation, Arabella makes a surprise visit to Biagio who refuses to see her. Kwame hooks up with a woman (Nilufer) but it ends badly when he reveals he is gay. | |||||||
9 | "Social Media Is a Great Way to Connect" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 6 July 2020[e] | 3 August 2020 | 0.088[17] | |
It is Halloween. Arabella's increasing social media presence drives a wedge between her and her friends. | |||||||
10 | "The Cause the Cure" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 7 July 2020[e] | 10 August 2020 | 0.115[18] | |
Arabella's family meet up for her mum's birthday, prompting memories of her childhood spent between two parental homes. Meanwhile, Kwame meets Tyrone in an attempted hookup, but instead their relationship becomes more romantic. | |||||||
11 | "Would You Like to Know the Sex?" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 13 July 2020[f] | 17 August 2020 | 0.088[20] | |
Arabella's publishers drop her book as she has still not finished it, after she had reached out to successful author "Della" signed to the same publisher. It transpires that Della is a pseudonym used by Zain, who offers to help Arabella with her writing.[19] Terry finally gets an acting part and goes on a date with Kai, a trans man. | |||||||
12 | "Ego Death" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 14 July 2020[f] | 24 August 2020 | 0.121[21] | |
Arabella imagines multiple ways in which she and Terry could exact revenge on her rapist, but ultimately decides to move on. She uses these thoughts to finally complete her second book, and the episode concludes at her launch party. |
Release
The series premiered on 8 June 2020 on BBC One in the United Kingdom.[1] The first episode had already premiered in advance on 7 June 2020 on HBO in the United States.[22]
Production
Coel stated in a lecture at the 2018 Edinburgh Festival Fringe that she had been sexually assaulted while writing Chewing Gum, and that the experience provided inspiration for the series.[23]
Originally titled January 22nd, the series is produced by Coel's production company, FALKNA Productions. It is executive produced by Coel, Phil Clarke, Roberto Troni, and Jo McClellan for BBC One.[24] Coel is also co-director and writer for I May Destroy You. Coel turned down a $1 million (£800,000) offer from Netflix for the show because the deal would have taken full rights ownership away from the creator. Coel subsequently made a deal with the BBC which allowed Coel full creative control and ownership rights of her project and the BBC brought on HBO as a co-producer to help fund the project.[25]
The series was predominantly filmed in the London Borough of Hackney with some scenes filmed in Italy.
School interior and exteriors for the flashback scenes were shot at Acland Burghley School in the London Borough of Camden.
Critical response
I May Destroy You holds an average score of 86 out of 100 based on reviews from 25 critics on review aggregator Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".[4] On Rotten Tomatoes, 97% of 72 reviews are positive, with an average score of 8.55/10. The website's critical consensus is, "I May Destroy You is at once brave and delicate, untangling the trauma of sexual assault with dark humour and moments of deep discomfort all held together on the strength of Michaela Coel's undeniable talent."[26]
Writing for The New York Times, critic Mike Hale called the series "touching and quietly hilarious." He praised Coel and the show's willingness to push boundaries.[27] In her review for Time, critic Judy Berman noted the show's unique and complex telling of a story centred on sexual assault after the Me Too movement.[22]
French newspaper Le Monde includes I May Destroy You in its Top 10 of the best 2020 TV shows.[28]
The show featured heavily on year-end lists. Metacritic listed it as the best TV show of the year based on critic top 10 lists, with more than thirty #1 placements.[29]
Awards and nominations
Notes
- ^ "Someone Is Lying" was first released on BBC iPlayer on 8 June 2020, ahead of its broadcast on television.
- ^ a b "Don't Forget the Sea" and "That Was Fun" were first released on BBC iPlayer on 15 June 2020, ahead of their broadcast on television.
- ^ a b "...It Just Came Up" and "The Alliance" were first released on BBC iPlayer on 22 June 2020, ahead of their broadcast on television.
- ^ a b "Happy Animals" and "Line Spectrum Border" were first released on BBC iPlayer on 29 June 2020, ahead of their broadcast on television.
- ^ a b "Social Media Is a Great Way to Connect" and "The Cause the Cure" were first released on BBC iPlayer on 6 July 2020, ahead of their broadcast on television.
- ^ a b "Would You Like to Know the Sex?" and "Ego Death" were first released on BBC iPlayer on 13 July 2020, ahead of their broadcast on television.
References
- ^ a b c d "I May Destroy You - new drama by Michaela Coel for BBC One". BBC Media Centre. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
- ^ Huffington Post https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/i-may-destroy-you-review_uk_5edf4e1bc5b6bd09bd98e540
- ^ Obenson, Tambay (26 May 2020). "'I May Destroy You' Trailer: Michaela Coel's New HBO Series Promises to Be Bold and Provocative". IndieWire. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ a b "I May Destroy You". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Chocano, Carina (29 July 2020). "'I May Destroy You' Is Perfect TV for an Anxious World". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 7 June 2021.
- ^ "I May Destroy You". Television Academy. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
- ^ a b c d "HBO's New Half-Hour Series "I May Destroy You," Executive Produced, Co-Directed, Written by, and Starring Michaela Coel, Debuts Sunday, June 7". The Futon Critic. 21 May 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (9 June 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.7.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (16 June 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Sunday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.14.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (23 June 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.22.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 26 June 2020. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (30 June 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 6.29.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (8 July 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.6.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 10 July 2020. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
- ^ Digital Spy https://decider.com/2020/07/13/i-may-destroy-you-episode-6-theo/
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (14 July 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.13.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (21 July 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.20.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 21 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (28 July 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 7.27.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 29 July 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (4 August 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.3.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 7 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (11 August 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.10.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
- ^ Vulture https://www.vulture.com/article/i-may-destroy-you-season-1-episode-11-recap-would-you-like-to-know-the-sex.html
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (18 August 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.17.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 20 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
- ^ Metcalf, Mitch (25 August 2020). "Updated: ShowBuzzDaily's Top 150 Monday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 8.24.2020". Showbuzz Daily. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
- ^ a b "'I May Destroy' You Is an Explosive Account of Life After Rape". Time. Archived from the original on 24 July 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ White, Peter (22 August 2018). "Michaela Coel Reveals She Was Sexually Assaulted During Writing Of 'Chewing Gum' – Edinburgh MacTaggart". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 8 June 2020.
- ^ "I May Destroy You". HBO. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ "I May Destroy You's Michaela Coel Rejected Netflix's $1 Million Offer In Favor Of The BBC Because Of Ownership". Forbes. 7 July 2020. Archived from the original on 20 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "I May Destroy You: Season 1". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ Hale, Mike (4 June 2020). "Review: Michaela Coel Is Riveting in 'I May Destroy You'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on 5 June 2020. Retrieved 5 June 2020.
- ^ Audrey Fournier, Thomas Sotinel, « I May Destroy You », « Our Boys », « Laëtitia »… Les meilleures séries 2020 selon les critiques séries du « Monde », Le Monde, 22 December 2020.
- ^ "TV critic top 10 lists". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 26 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
- ^ "BAFTA TV 2021: Nominations for the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards and British Academy Television Craft Awards". BAFTA. 28 April 2021. Retrieved 28 April 2021.
- ^ "Costume Designers Guild Awards Nominations". Deadline.com. Deadline. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 4 March 2021.
- ^ Schneider, Michael (18 January 2021). "'Ozark,' 'The Crown' and Netflix Lead 26th Annual Critics' Choice Awards TV Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- ^ Ramos, Dino-Ray (28 January 2021). "GLAAD Unveils Nominees For 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards; Deadline's New Hollywood Podcast Honored With Special Recognition Award". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 28 January 2021. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
- ^ "Disclosure, Schitt's Creek, Sam Smith, Happiest Season, I May Destroy You, CHIKA, Veneno, Star Trek: Discovery, The Boys in the Band, The Not-Too-Late Show with Elmo among award recipients at the 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". GLAAD. 8 April 2021. Archived from the original on 9 April 2021. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
- ^ "Gotham Awards 2020". Gotham Awards. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
- ^ "Ted Lasso, The Handmaid's Tale, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist lead Inaugural HCA TV Awards Nominations – Hollywood Critics Association". Retrieved 11 July 2021.
- ^ Lewis, Hilary (26 January 2021). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: 'Never Rarely Sometimes Always,' 'Minari,' 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom,' 'Nomadland' Top Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 26 January 2021.
- ^ Erik Pedersen (1 March 2021). "Sound Editors Nominate 'Wonder Woman', 'Sound Of Metal', 'Tenet' & Others For Golden Reel Awards – Full List". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
- ^ "YOUR 2021 MTV MOVIE & TV AWARDS NOMINATIONS ARE HERE: SEE THE FULL LIST". MTV. 20 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- ^ Del Rosario, Alexandra (2 February 2021). "NAACP Image Awards Nominations: Netflix Tops List With 'Bridgerton', 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom' & 'Da 5 Bloods'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
- ^ Hipes, Patrick (13 July 2021). "Emmy Nominations: 'The Crown', 'The Mandalorian' Top List; HBO/HBO Max Edges Netflix For Top Spot – Full List Of Nominees". Deadline. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
- ^ Pedersen, Erik (8 March 2021). "PGA Awards Nominations: 'Borat', 'Ma Rainey', 'Chicago 7', 'Nomadland', 'Mank' & 'Minari' Among Pics Vying For Marquee Prize". Deadline. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
- ^ "Winners of the RTS Programme Awards 2021 announced". Royal Television Society. 16 March 2021.
- ^ "Screen Actors Guild 2021: The Complete Nominations List". sagawards.org. 4 February 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ Turchiano, Danielle (15 July 2021). "'Ted Lasso' Scores the Most 2021 TCA Awards Nominations". Variety. Retrieved 16 July 2021.
External links
- 2020 British television series debuts
- 2020 British television series endings
- 2020s British LGBT-related drama television series
- 2020s British television miniseries
- BBC Television shows
- Black British television shows
- HBO original programming
- Rape in television
- Television shows about writers
- Television series about social media
- Television shows set in London