No Spoilers x
I May Destroy You (IMDY) was written and directed by, and stars, Michaela Coel, a black actress, screenwriter, producer, director and singer who was born in London. She is of Ghanaian descent. It is a comedy-drama that follows a young woman, Arabella (Michaela Coel),
in London, who realises that she was taken advantage of and her drink was drugged, on a night out with her friends. The series follows her life and the lives of her friends, Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) and Terry (Weruche Opia), who have also been taken advantage of.
IMDY is the rawest and most honest show I have ever watched. Despite it being a show that may cause some viewers to remember awful and personal incidents, I am grateful that issues such as consent, sexual assault, mental health, racism and queerphobia were addressed and portrayed in the UK. Attaching characters to such issues makes them personal and doesn’t allow others who may not face these issues to detach themselves from said problems.
Other linked themes such as friendship, black people within the LGBTQ+ community and careers, are highly topical in the real world. Seeing these manifested in the show made me feel seen as a young black woman in London who is about to enter the adult world. The reviews and comments about IMDY on social media revealed that I was not the only one who felt this way. The show put these topical conversations in the spotlight, especially on social media, which raises awareness and becomes a form of education. This is why it is the best British series I have ever watched. Michaela Coel’s ability to capture the reality of different Londoners' lives and weave them into the three main characters is a work of art.
We, as an audience, are given the space and time to explore the lives of Arabella, Terry and Kwame and watch how they intertwine. Their friendship group is played so well, it was quite hard for me to believe that they are acting. From each person behaving as a support system, allowing criticism to flow through the group, as well as having days where they argue, I was taken on that journey of what a real friendship can and cannot look like.
I was not only drawn to the realism and topics that were brought up during each episode. I was also drawn to the way comedy is intertwined so well, despite the intensity of the topics that are communicated, offering the audience a sense of release. Some episodes were very intense and raw I felt it would be difficult for me to continue watching, yet there were always points after such scenes that allowed you to relax, breathe and let go of the tension.
I love how this series can educate us on the different identities and people within the UK. We are able to see in depth how certain Londoners, who are not your stereotypical Brits, live and tackle what it means to be a Londoner and a minority.
AUTHOR: Olamide Taiwo
My name is Olamide Taiwo and I’m 18. I have always loved to write whether it be poetry, reviews, essays etc. Becoming a blogger allows me to write and publish issues that I see and go through. So I hope the readers hold on because this will be a pleasant but bumpy ride😊.
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