Forget Baby Reindeer, the Wildest Miniseries about Assault Was Already Made in 2020

Summary:

• 4 years ago, HBO released the miniseries, following the life of a victim of sexual assault and abuse, just like Netflix ’s Baby Reindeer.
• It was received positively and praised for its mix of high-class humor and drama.
• It’s also a must-watch for the fans of Fleabag.

Netflix’s new black dramedy continues to reign supreme in the platform’s global chart, even though it was aired almost a month ago. Baby Reindeer, following Richard Gadd's real-life experience of being stalked and sexually assaulted in his twenties, gained recognition for artful and razor-sharp exploration of the socially painful issues.

However, 4 years ago HBO already released the miniseries, quite reminiscent of Baby Reindeer. Its decent score of 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and the audience’s extreme excitement are fair reasons to recall it and to compare it to the recently hyped show.

The plot of the 2020 series revolves around the young writer Arabella, who gets sexually assaulted in a nightclub. After such a devastating incident she starts to reassess all aspects of her life, including her family, career and relationships, to rebuild them.

Just like Richard Gadd's show, it blends dark humor and deep drama, demonstrating the traumatic experience of the assaulted people. It also examines the motives of the abusers, who can be guided by their own good intentions within themselves.

Another aspect that unites the two shows is the fact that HBO’s one was also written and starred by the same person. it was the British actress and filmmaker Michaela Coel, whose own experience of being raped served as a base for the 2020 dramedy’s plot.

Famous mostly for starring in the sitcom Chewing Gum (2015–2017), Coel managed to display extremely remarkable writing and acting in the show. Her undeniably talented screenwriting made the viewers explore the intricate concepts of morality and consent.

The show can also seem similar to another British series, balancing between drama and comedy, Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag, as it also focuses on the inner conflicts of a lonely woman, trying to find her own redemption in the streets of London.

Titled I May Destroy You, the dramedy appears to be a solid must-watch for all fans of the genre.

“Really great show. Dark and witty. Explores consent in a way that (especially if you’re male) challenges & confronts,” concludes Redditor @thronesandglory about it.

Check out whether it can really beat Baby Reindeer, as I May Destroy You is available for streaming on HBO Max .