I May Destroy You

[Horatio]

The long promised thread is here ....

I think this show is important. I’m surprised no one else had made this thread yet but at the same time the show seems to be grazing just slightly further under the radar than it should be. I think simply because of timing -sunny weather and lockdown saturation after all these months. I think it will blow up at some point soon. That’s not to say there isn’t a fair amount of chat about It still.

on to the show, there’s so much to say. The way it shows the nuances of consent feels quite vital. It’s rarely just a yes or no situation. The condom incident is very relatable ‘Nice guy’ behaviour that it’s important to call out.

I think Michaela Coel is a special talent on the rise. Kind of reminds me of Donald glover in that mix of creativity, flexibility and charisma. Paapa Essidu who plays the ‘gay best friend’ is one of my favourite new actors too, I was glad to see he was in it.

please share any thoughts, I would love to hear them.

 

[DoctorWho]

I’ve been meaning to start the thread but haven’t got around to it.

the condom incident ? The scene with the 3 guys?

one thing that I found interesting was the main character taking coke, md & ket in the same night surely that’s not safe?

 

[GossWhore]

I need to watch this. I will start tonight.

Michaela is definitely a talent. Chewing Gum was a great show too.

 

[DoctorWho]

I need to watch this. I will start tonight.

Michaela is definitely a talent. Chewing Gum was a great show too.

Ahhh thats where I recognise her from!

 

[Nosey Moo]

Him taking the condom off had me fuming. Was crazy how un phased she seemed when he told her though. And then the guy rape scene. The episodes are such a rollercoaster

And thank you for starting the thread

 

[DoctorWho]

Him taking the condom off had me fuming. Was crazy how un phased she seemed when he told her though. And then the guy rape scene. The episodes are such a rollercoaster

And thank you for starting the thread

the condom removal (stealthing) happened to my friend recently. Absolutely appalling.

 

[Ineedmorecoffee]

the condom removal (stealthing) happened to my friend recently. Absolutely appalling.

And yet all the character was bothered about was he’d better pay for the MAP!
I’m telling all my friends about this show. It’s so well written and performed, just the best thing I’ve seen in a long time.

 

[Horatio]

the condom removal (stealthing) happened to my friend recently. Absolutely appalling.

The subtle gaslighting and dismissal of responsibility was so realistic “didn’t you feel it ? I thought you knew” like it’s her fault.

 

[Horatio]

Does anyone know why it’s called “I may destroy you“ incidentally ?
I’ve found the fact I don’t know how it relates to the show made it really hard to remember.
I had to search ‘coel’ on iPlayer a few times to find it . Maybe it relates to how much another persons actions can impact you ?

there's been a bit of chat about the value of showing black middle class people just living life without it having to be about race.
I agree but I also appreciate the portrayal of drug taking. That it’s may lead to bad decisions but not something immediately about to ruin your life. It’s something friends can do casually together all the time. I’ve especially never seen black women taking drugs so nonchalantly on tv before
This has reminded me I meant to respond to this post ..:

one thing that I found interesting was the main character taking coke, md & ket in the same night surely that’s not safe?

Trust me it may not sound safe on paper but it’s something that happens very regularly and is usually fine. In the same way someone might have one drink too many and black out or throw up , but most people won’t and no one intends to . A semi regular drug taker with a moderate tolerance could easily do all three spread across a night. Coke and K are relatively short highs plus most drugs are cut with so much other stuff , it’s hardly healthy and you’re going to feel rough the next day but you probably won’t end up in hospital.

 

[DoctorWho]

Does anyone know why it’s called “I may destroy you“ incidentally ?
I’ve found the fact I don’t know how it relates to the show made it really hard to remember.
I had to search ‘coel’ on iPlayer a few times to find it . Maybe it relates to how much another persons actions can impact you ?

there's been a bit of chat about the value of showing black middle class people just living life without it having to be about race.
I agree but I also appreciate the portrayal of drug taking. That it’s may lead to bad decisions but not something immediately about to ruin your life. It’s something friends can do casually together all the time. I’ve especially never seen black women taking drugs so nonchalantly on tv before
This has reminded me I meant to respond to this post ..:

Trust me it may not sound safe on paper but it’s something that happens very regularly and is usually fine. In the same way someone might have one drink too many and black out or throw up , but most people won’t and no one intends to . A semi regular drug taker with a moderate tolerance could easily do all three spread across a night. Coke and K are relatively short highs plus most drugs are cut with so much other stuff , it’s hardly healthy and you’re going to feel rough the next day but you probably won’t end up in hospital.

I thought the name ‘I May destroy you’ came from how the characters were being destroyed (if that makes sense)

I’ve taken them all individually but wouldn’t have thought doing them all together would end well

 

[Nosey Moo]

the condom removal (stealthing) happened to my friend recently. Absolutely appalling.

no way! Omg! Hope she kicked his ass.

Does anyone know why it’s called “I may destroy you“ incidentally ?
I’ve found the fact I don’t know how it relates to the show made it really hard to remember.
I had to search ‘coel’ on iPlayer a few times to find it . Maybe it relates to how much another persons actions can impact you ?

there's been a bit of chat about the value of showing black middle class people just living life without it having to be about race.
I agree but I also appreciate the portrayal of drug taking. That it’s may lead to bad decisions but not something immediately about to ruin your life. It’s something friends can do casually together all the time. I’ve especially never seen black women taking drugs so nonchalantly on tv before
This has reminded me I meant to respond to this post ..:

Trust me it may not sound safe on paper but it’s something that happens very regularly and is usually fine. In the same way someone might have one drink too many and black out or throw up , but most people won’t and no one intends to . A semi regular drug taker with a moderate tolerance could easily do all three spread across a night. Coke and K are relatively short highs plus most drugs are cut with so much other stuff , it’s hardly healthy and you’re going to feel rough the next day but you probably won’t end up in hospital.

I’m not sure why it’s called that tbh x

 

[Louanne]

Low this show. I think it’s such an important piece and quite educational too.
An important piece of tv that’s being overlooked, I feel

 

[Chablis1]

This programme is real cutting-edge stuff. BBC2 have really upped their game lately. I’m also enjoying watching different actors as opposed to the usual pool of 15-20 actors that seem to be on rotation for TV drama.

 

[Moe]

Sounds good another one to put on my watch list.

 

[Moe]

Well I watched it back to back episodes. Really enjoyed it but there must be more episodes so many unanswered questions.
Michaela Coel wrote it as well. What a talent.
The white girl/woman can’t remember her name now but was she just getting off on playing the victim?

 

[Chablis1]

Well I watched it back to back episodes. Really enjoyed it but there must be more episodes so many unanswered questions.
Michaela Coel wrote it as well. What a talent.
The white girl/woman can’t remember her name now but was she just getting off on playing the victim?

Yes, there are more episodes. BBC2 have been releasing two per week.

 

[Horatio]

Well I watched it back to back episodes. Really enjoyed it but there must be more episodes so many unanswered questions.
Michaela Coel wrote it as well. What a talent.
The white girl/woman can’t remember her name now but was she just getting off on playing the victim?

The one with the support group and the 2004 flashback? That was an interesting scenario for sure. I guess it was showing learned behaviour. Her mother had lied and made her lie about her father to get what she wanted so she was copying that for.. attention ? Sympathy? Because the dynamic of the situation.... hooking up with that boy... it was very unpleasant, and he was as treating her like a piece of meat, even if he wasn’t forcing her. But the show was also good at showing how damaging an accusation like that could be, especially from a white girl about a black boy.

 

[DoctorWho]

I’m guessing episode 8 was the last one?

 

[Imadreamer]

No I think there are 12 total

 

[Dizzy]

Just watched 4 back to back and really enjoying it although the scenes in the Italian nightclub made me feel ill - been there, done that many times in my youth