MANILA, 22 MAY 2020 – HBO’s new half-hour series I May Destroy You, executive produced, written by and starring Michaela Coel, debuts same time as the U.S. on Monday, 8 June at 10.30am exclusively on HBO GO, with a same day encore at 11.30pm on HBO.
The episode will also be available on the same day at 11.30pm on HBO. This fearless, frank and provocative series explores the question of sexual consent in contemporary life and how, in the new landscape of dating and relationships, we make the distinction between liberation and exploitation.
Starring Michaela Coel (“Chewing Gum”), the cast also includes Weruche Opia (“Inside No9”), Paapa Essiedu (“Kiri”), Aml Ameen (“Yardie”), Adam James (“Belgravia”), Sarah Niles (“Catastrophe”), Ann Akin (“Philip K. Dick’s Electric Dreams”), Harriet Webb (“Plebs”), Ellie James (“Giri/Haji”), Franc Ashman (“Peep Show”), Karan Gill (“Flesh & Blood”), Natalie Walter (“Horrible Histories”), and Samson Ajewole.
Episodes Include:
Episode 1: “Eyes Eyes Eyes Eyes”
Debut Date: Monday, 8 June at 10.30am on HBO GO
After visiting her aspirational long-distance boyfriend in Italy, burgeoning writer Arabella (Michaela Coel) returns to London, where she’s greeted by a deluge of frantic messages from her literary agents. With a matter of hours left to finish a draft of her second book, she plans to pull an all-nighter – but is soon tempted to join a friend on a night out. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller.
Episode 2: “Someone Is Lying”
Debut Date: Monday, 15 June at 10.30am on HBO GO
Lunch with Terry (Weruche Opia) gets Arabella (Michaela Coel) thinking about the hazy events of the previous night, prompting her to probe Simon (Aml Ameen) for answers. Growing increasingly desperate to put together the pieces, Arabella drops by Simon’s apartment – and, later, finds herself at an unwelcoming doorstep. Meanwhile, Terry has a lousy audition, and a concerned Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) rushes to Arabella’s side. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller.
Episode 3: “Don’t Forget the Sea”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 23 June at 9am on HBO GO
Three months earlier, Terry (Weruche Opia) visits Arabella (Michaela Coel) in Ostia, Italy, where she’s living large on her agents’ dime. After procuring party favors, Arabella and Terry each have a wild night of their own. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller.
Episode 4: “That Was Fun”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 30 June at 9am on HBO GO
Back in London and two months after the incident, Arabella (Michaela Coel) meets with a therapist who encourages her to find relaxing and creative ways to cope with her trauma. Still anticipating the first draft of Arabella’s book, her agents assign another client, Zain (Karan Gill), to help her with the writing process. Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) introduces his modest new love interest, Damon (Fehinti Balogun), to a stranger he met online. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 5: “…It Just Came Up”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 7 July at 9am on HBO GO
A tumultuous day finds Arabella (Michaela Coel) reassessing a sexual encounter with Zain (Karan Gill) and, following a promising new lead in the investigation, opening up to Biagio (Marouane Zotti) about her assault. Later, after a meeting with Susy Henny (Franc Ashman), Arabella threatens to break the internet when she goes off script at a writing summit. Meanwhile, Kwame’s (Paapa Essiedu) prompted to report his own assault to the police. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 6: “The Alliance”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 14 July at 9am on HBO GO
Much to Terry’s (Weruche Opia) disapproval, Arabella (Michaela Coel) attends a support group for rape and sexual assault survivors run by their high school acquaintance, Theo (Harriet Webb). In a flashback to 2004, teenage Arabella and Terry intervene when a resourceful, troubled young Theo attempts to flip the narrative on consensual sex gone sideways. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 7: “Happy Animals”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 21 July at 9am on HBO GO
Strapped for cash and still unable to produce a draft of her book, Arabella (Michaela Coel) takes a job working alongside Theo (Harriet Webb) at a vegan delivery start-up. Birthday girl Terry (Weruche Opia) takes covert measures to ensure Simon (Aml Ameen) won’t make a surprise appearance at her party. The festivities find Kwame avoiding reminders of his assault while Terry airs her suspicions about Theo. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 8: “Line Spectrum Border”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 28 July at 9am on HBO GO
Reeling from a demoralizing development in the investigation, Arabella (Michaela Coel) hatches a risky plan to “spark joy” – and convinces an adverse Terry (Weruche Opia) to bankroll it. Still navigating the fallout of his own assault, Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) challenges himself to explore the full spectrum of his sexuality. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 9: “Social Media Is a Great Way to Connect”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 4 August at 9am on HBO GO
Arabella’s (Michaela Coel) bloated social media presence finds her more glued to her phone than ever, perpetually internalizing the stress of her followers. At a Halloween “paint and wine” organized by Terry (Weruche Opia), Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) opens up to the girls about his recent sexual experiment – and Arabella’s reaction lands her in an emergency session with Carrie (Andi Osho). Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 10: “The Cause the Cure”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 11 August at 9am on HBO GO
After Simon (Aml Ameen) inadvertently drops a bomb on Arabella (Michaela Coel), she heads to her mom’s birthday dinner, where painful, long-forgotten memories bubble to the surface. Kwame’s (Paapa Essiedu) no-strings-attached hookup bender leads him to Tyrone (Gershwyn Eustache Jr.), a stranger in search of a different kind of connection. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 11: “Would You Like to Know the Sex?”
Debut Date: Tuesday, 18 August at 9am on HBO GO
Arabella’s (Michaela Coel) obsession with a fellow young author, Della, leads to unexpected progress on her book, despite a devastating setback. Kwame (Paapa Essiedu) wades into uncharted waters with Tyrone (Gershwyn Eustache Jr.) and attempts to make amends with a disgruntled ex-flame. Terry (Weruche Opia) has some luck in work and romance – and joins Arabella in staking out the bar where she was spiked. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
Episode 12: “Ego Death” (Season finale)
Debut Date: Tuesday, 25 August at 9am on HBO GO
When Arabella’s (Michaela Coel) memory of January 22nd comes rushing back to her, she drags the last of her demons out from under the bed – once and for all. Written by Michaela Coel; directed by Sam Miller and Michaela Coel.
