The 10 best new television shows of 2020
By Shaun Stacy
Best new television shows of 2020: I May Destroy You
Platform: BBC One and HBO Max
Cast: Michaela Coel, Weruche Opia, Paapa Essiedu
The brilliant creative mind behind Netflix’s tragically underrated comedy Chewing Gum, Michaela Coel, returns to television in a dramedy about a young woman who works to rebuild her life after being sexually assaulted. Coel plays Arabella, a social media star-turned-novelist who achieves success with her debut book but is struggling to meet a deadline for her second book. She meets up with friends on a night out in London but is finds it difficult to remember what happened to her the next morning. With the help of her friends Terry (Opia) and Kwame (Essiedu), Arabella tries to recall the events of the night as well as come to terms with what she’s been through.
Coel previously stated in 2018 at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that she herself had been sexually assaulted while writing Chewing Gum and that I May Destroy You was inspired by that experience. The series is simultaneously brave and fragile, with a blend of dark humor and moments that are deeply unnerving. The show marks the first time that a series heavily involves sexual assault in the wake of Hollywood’s Me Too movement. Coel is, as always, a powerhouse, acting as lead actress, writer, and co-executive producer.