EntertainmentBefore Baby Rena, I May Destroy You already went from drama to humor to address sexual violenceCreated by Michaela Coel, from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, the series addresses the personal experience of the actress, screenwriter and producer today at 10:00

One of the most talked about series in recent weeks, the dramedy Baby Reindeer has been successful on Netflix for using drama and humor to tell the story of Donny Dunn, a bartender who dreams of making it as a comedian. One day at work, he does a kindness for a lonely woman and, unintentionally, ends up cultivating a stalkerwho starts harassing him day and night.

The miniseries is based on a personal experience of Richard Gadd, creator, screenwriter, producer and protagonist of the production. Despite focusing on this event, Baby Reindeergained even more prominence due to its fourth chapter, in which it is revealed that Donny He was raped by a comedy producer, which led him to display self-destructive behavior.

The revelation is shocking – so much so that many internet users claimed to have been traumatized after watching the episode -, but it serves as a guiding thread to reflect, within the context of the story, how sexual violence can shape the lives of its victims.

In addition to self-destructive behavior, Donny He suffered from guilt and confusion about what had happened to him, which prevented him from identifying that he was getting involved in a dangerous situation again when meeting and forming a relationship with the stalker that he met through his work.

However, four years before the premiere of Baby Reindeeractress, producer, screenwriter and director Michael Coelknown as Chewing Gun (2015-2017), Black Mirror (2011- ) and, more recently, Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (2022), already used tools such as drama and humor to address sexual violence in I May Destroy You.

In the miniseries, which is also inspired by its creator’s personal experience, Coel interprets Arabella, a writer with good friends and a promising career. However, while suffering from a blockage while trying to write her new novel, she decides to go out with friends to a club, where she is drugged and raped in the bathroom.

Arabella ends up forgetting the traumatic situation, but soon begins to have memories of what happened to her and needs to start rebuilding her own life in the midst of the trauma. Over the course of twelve episodes, I May Destroy You addresses the writer’s rape, but also explores other forms of sexual violence, from taking off a condom without the partner’s consent to the completed act.

Despite the heavy subject matter, the miniseries, which is written, produced, directed and stars Coeluses punctual and very well-crafted humor to deal with the situation in which the protagonist is involved, as is the case with Baby Reindeer. Launched in 2020, I May Destroy You is available in the Max catalog. Watch the trailer below:

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