I May Destroy You | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Michaela Coel |
Written by | Michaela Coel |
Directed by |
|
Starring |
|
Country of origin |
|
Original language | English [lower-alpha 1] |
No. of series | 1 |
No. of episodes | 12 |
Production | |
Executive producers |
|
Producers |
|
Production locations |
|
Cinematography | Adam Gillham |
Editors |
|
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 28–35 minutes |
Production companies |
|
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. [1] 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. [2]
According to Metacritic, I May Destroy You was the most critically acclaimed television programme of 2020, [3] and was described by The New York Times as "the perfect show for an anxious world." [4] 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. [5]
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).
No. | Title [6] | Directed by [6] | Written by [6] | Original air date [7] | US airdate [6] | US viewers (millions) | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 [lower-alpha 2] | 14 June 2020 | 0.229 [9] | |
Arabella suffers from memory flashes due to the trauma from the rape. While helping Terry with an audition, she tries to remember how her phone got smashed. She decided to go to Simon's place and question him only to get evasive answers. Trying to trace back the route using Simon's Uber receipts, she ends up at Alissa's place who confesses to being Simon's secret lover. Arabella goes to the police to report her assault with Kwame for company. | |||||||
3 | "Don't Forget the Sea" | Sam Miller | Michaela Coel | 15 June 2020 [lower-alpha 3] | 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 [lower-alpha 3] | 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 [lower-alpha 4] | 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 [lower-alpha 4] | 13 July 2020 | 0.128 [13] | |
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. [14] | |||||||
7 | "Happy Animals" | Sam Miller & Michaela Coel | Michaela Coel | 29 June 2020 [lower-alpha 5] | 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 [lower-alpha 5] | 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 [lower-alpha 6] | 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 [lower-alpha 6] | 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 [lower-alpha 7] | 17 August 2020 | 0.088 [19] | |
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. [20] 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 [lower-alpha 7] | 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. |
The series premiered on 8 June 2020 on BBC One in the United Kingdom. [7] The first episode had already premiered in advance on 7 June 2020 on HBO and HBO Max in the United States. [22]
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.
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". [3] 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]
In December 2023, Variety ranked I May Destroy You #94 on its list of the 100 greatest TV shows of all time. [30]
Year | Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | RTS Craft & Design Awards | Costume Design - Drama | Lynsey Moore | Won | [31] |
Director - Drama | Sam Miller, Michaela Coel | Nominated | |||
Make Up Design - Drama | Bethany Swan | Nominated | |||
RTS Special Award | I May Destroy You | Won | |||
2021 | British Academy Television Awards | Best Mini-Series | I May Destroy You | Won | [32] |
Best Actor | Paapa Essiedu | Nominated | |||
Best Actress | Michaela Coel | Won | |||
Best Supporting Actress | Weruche Opia | Nominated | |||
British Academy Television Craft Awards | Best Director: Fiction | Michaela Coel and Sam Miller | Won | ||
Best Editing: Fiction | Editing Team | Won | |||
Best Make Up & Hair Design | Bethany Swan | Nominated | |||
Best Writer: Drama | Michaela Coel | Won | |||
Costume Designers Guild Awards | Excellence in Contemporary Television | Lynsey Moore (for "Social Media is a Great Way to Connect") | Nominated | [33] | |
Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Limited Series | I May Destroy You | Nominated | [34] | |
Best Actress in a Limited Series or Television Movie | Michaela Coel | Nominated | |||
GLAAD Media Awards | Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series | I May Destroy You | Won | [35] [36] | |
Gotham Independent Film Awards | Breakthrough Series – Short Form | Michaela Coel, Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni | Won | [37] | |
Hollywood Critics Association TV Awards | Best Broadcast Network or Cable Limited Series, Anthology Series or Live-Action Television Movie | I May Destroy You | Nominated | [38] | |
Best Actress in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Movie | Michaela Coel | Nominated | |||
Independent Spirit Awards | Best New Scripted Series | Michaela Coel, Phil Clarke and Roberto Troni | Won | [39] | |
Best Ensemble Cast in a New Scripted Series | Michaela Coel, Paapa Essiedu, Weruche Opia and Stephen Wight | Won | |||
Motion Picture Sound Editors Awards | Outstanding Achievement in Sound Editing – Live Action Under 35 Minutes | Jim Goddard, Joe Beal, Tom Deane, Alex Sidiropoulos and Anna Wright (for "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes") | Nominated | [40] | |
MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Performance in a Show | Michaela Coel | Nominated | [41] | |
NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Actress in a Television Movie, Mini-Series or Dramatic Special | Michaela Coel | Nominated | [42] | |
Outstanding Directing in a Comedy Series | Sam Miller and Michaela Coel (for "Ego Death") | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series | Michaela Coel (for "Ego Death") | Won | |||
Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series | Michaela Coel, Phil Clarke, Roberto Troni, Simon Meyers and Simon Maloney | Nominated | [43] | |
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Michaela Coel | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Paapa Essiedu (for "That Was Fun") | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Directing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Sam Miller and Michaela Coel (for "Ego Death") | Nominated | |||
Sam Miller (for "Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes") | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Michaela Coel | Won | |||
Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards | Outstanding Casting for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie | Julie Harkin | Nominated | ||
Outstanding Contemporary Costumes | Lynsey Moore, Rosie Lack and Debbie Roberts (for "Social Media is a Great Way to Connect") | Nominated | |||
Outstanding Music Supervision | Ciara Elwis and Matt Biffa (for "Ego Death") | Won | |||
Producers Guild of America Awards | David L. Wolper Award for Outstanding Producer of Limited Series Television | Michaela Coel, Phil Clarke, Roberto Troni, Simon Meyers and Simon Maloney | Nominated | [44] | |
RTS Programme Awards | Mini-Series | I May Destroy You | Won | [45] | |
Actor – Female | Michaela Coel | Won | |||
Writer – Drama | Won | ||||
Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series | Nominated | [46] | ||
Television Critics Association Awards | Program of the Year | I May Destroy You | Nominated | [47] | |
Outstanding Achievement in Movies, Miniseries and Specials | Nominated | ||||
Outstanding New Program | Nominated | ||||
Individual Achievement in Drama | Michaela Coel | Won |
Ballers is an American sports comedy drama television series created by Stephen Levinson and starring Dwayne Johnson as Spencer Strasmore, a retired NFL player who must navigate his new career of choice as the financial manager of other NFL players. The series premiered on the American cable television network HBO on June 21, 2015, with a pilot episode written by Stephen Levinson and directed by Peter Berg. The fifth and final season premiered on August 25, 2019, and concluded on October 13, 2019.
The New York Times Presents is an American narrative investigative journalism docuseries produced by The New York Times for FX and Hulu.
Better Things is an American comedy-drama television series created by Pamela Adlon and Louis C.K. for FX, starring Adlon as a divorced actress who raises her three daughters on her own. FX gave a 10-episode order on August 7, 2015. The series premiered on September 8, 2016. The series was renewed for a fifth and final season which premiered on February 28, 2022. The series concluded on April 25, 2022.
Barry is an American black comedy crime drama television series created by Alec Berg and Bill Hader that premiered on HBO on March 25, 2018, and concluded on May 28, 2023, after four seasons and 32 episodes. Hader stars as Barry Berkman, a former U.S. Marine from Cleveland who works as a hitman; upon traveling to Los Angeles to kill a target, he finds himself joining an acting class taught by Gene Cousineau, where he meets aspiring actress Sally Reed and begins to question his path in life as he deals with his criminal associates such as Monroe Fuches and NoHo Hank.
Room 104 is an American television anthology series created by Mark Duplass and Jay Duplass, first broadcast on HBO between 2017 and 2020.
Insecure is an American comedy-drama television series created by Issa Rae and Larry Wilmore, and is partially based on Rae's acclaimed web series Awkward Black Girl. The series is about the awkward experiences of a contemporary African-American woman. The series premiered online on September 23, 2016, via HBO Now and HBO Go, before airing weekly on HBO from October 9, 2016.
Good Trouble is an American drama television series. It is a spin-off of the Freeform show The Fosters. Good Trouble began in January 2019 with a thirteen-episode first season and follows Callie Adams Foster and Mariana Adams Foster, following the earlier series, "as they embark on the next phase of their young adult lives working in Los Angeles."
Miracle Workers is an American anthology comedy television series created by Simon Rich for TBS. It is based in part on Rich's writings, with the first season being based on his 2012 novel What in God's Name, while the short story "Revolution" provided the basis for the second season. The series stars an ensemble cast comprising Daniel Radcliffe, Steve Buscemi, Geraldine Viswanathan, Jon Bass, Karan Soni, Sasha Compère, and Lolly Adefope. The show is a co-production between TBS and FX, whose in-house production company FXP is involved.
McMillions is a documentary miniseries about the McDonald's Monopoly promotion scam that occurred between 1989 and 2001. Directed by James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, the series details how the scam was perpetrated by Jerry Jacobson, the head of security for the agency that ran the promotion, and how he recruited a wide range of accomplices. The series premiered in the US on February 3, 2020, on HBO, and all episodes were made available in the UK on May 27, 2020, on Sky Documentaries. McMillions was nominated for five Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Documentary or Nonfiction Series.
David Makes Man is an American coming-of-age drama television series that premiered on August 14, 2019, on OWN. In December 2019, OWN renewed the series for a second season which premiered on June 22, 2021.
Breeders is a British dark comedy television series created by Martin Freeman, Chris Addison and Simon Blackwell. The series follows two parents who struggle with parenthood and is partially based on Freeman's own experiences. Freeman plays one of the two leads in the series and is also an executive producer on the show along with Addison and Blackwell.
Industry is a 2020 television drama series created by Mickey Down and Konrad Kay. The show follows a group of young graduates competing for permanent positions at Pierpoint & Co, a prestigious investment bank in London.
How To with John Wilson is an American television comedy docuseries created by filmmaker John Wilson. The series, executive produced by Nathan Fielder, Michael Koman and Clark Reinking, was ordered by HBO. It premiered on October 23, 2020.
Superman & Lois is an American superhero drama television series developed for The CW by Todd Helbing and Greg Berlanti, based on the DC Comics characters Superman and Lois Lane, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Tyler Hoechlin and Elizabeth Tulloch star as the title characters Clark Kent / Superman, Earth's greatest superhero, and Lois Lane, a world-renowned journalist. Jordan Elsass and Alex Garfin portray the couple's twin sons Jonathan and Jordan Kent, with Michael Bishop replacing the former in the third season. The series also stars Erik Valdez, Inde Navarrette, Wolé Parks, Adam Rayner, Dylan Walsh, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Tayler Buck, Sofia Hasmik, and Chad L. Coleman.
We're Here is an American reality television series on HBO featuring former Drag Race contestants. The series premiered on April 23, 2020, and documents drag queens as they travel across the United States to recruit small-town residents to participate in one-night-only drag shows. In June 2020, the series was renewed for a second season which premiered on October 11, 2021. In December 2021, the series was renewed for a third season which premiered on November 25, 2022. The first three seasons featured Bob the Drag Queen, Eureka O'Hara and Shangela. A fourth season was announced in 2023 with new queens Jaida Essence Hall, Priyanka, Sasha Velour and Latrice Royale.
Somebody Somewhere is an American comedy drama television series starring Bridget Everett and created by Hannah Bos and Paul Thureen. It premiered on HBO on January 16, 2022. In February 2022, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on April 23, 2023. In June 2023, the series was renewed for a third season.
FBI: International is an American crime television series that airs on CBS. It is the second spin-off from Dick Wolf's drama FBI and the third series in the FBI franchise. The series follows a team of FBI special agents who investigate crime and terrorism abroad. FBI: International premiered on September 21, 2021, and a full season was ordered in October 2021.
Birdgirl is an American adult animated superhero comedy television series. It is a spin-off of the television series Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law created by Michael Ouweleen and Erik Richter, which itself was a comedic spin-off of the original 1967 Birdman cartoon and Space Ghost Coast to Coast. The series stars the voices of Paget Brewster, Rob Delaney, Sonia Denis, Kether Donohue, John Doman, Negin Farsad, Tony Hale and River L. Ramirez. The series premiered on Adult Swim on April 5, 2021. Unlike in the original Birdman cartoon, the Hanna-Barbera-owned characters—including Birdman himself—are missing from the series.
Abbott Elementary is an American mockumentary sitcom television series created by Quinta Brunson for ABC. It stars Brunson as Janine Teagues, a perpetually optimistic second-grade teacher at the underfunded Abbott Elementary, a fictional predominantly Black school in Philadelphia. The ensemble cast includes Tyler James Williams, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, William Stanford Davis, and Sheryl Lee Ralph.
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.