If you’ve been anywhere near the internet lately, there is one person that is currently being talked about a lot and that is Michaela Coel. You may know her from previous works such as Chewing Gum, Black Mirror, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Black Earth Rising or Top Boy. She’s being so rightfully praised for her newest work, I May Destroy You. You can find it on BBC Three or HBO (depending on where you are in the world.) The story follows Arabella, a young woman who goes out one night and is assaulted and her journey trying to piece together what happened. Many have crowned it the TV Show of the Year, so here are 4 reasons why you should watch I May Destroy You…

• It covers important sexual topics in great depth

I May Destroy You is loosely based on Coel’s own experience with sexual assault. Sexual assault is one of the many heavy subjects the show covers. It takes in-depth looks at rape culture, consent and sexual freedom. All of these are approached in a nuanced way rarely seen on television. The audience gets a closer look at aspects of these issues that aren’t always openly addressed, especially in terms of the experiences survivors go through after. It also features some amazingly realistic sex scenes, such as episode 3’s, which is one that will definitely be educational to many.

• Michaela Coel is a genius

Not only does Michaela Coel star in I May Destroy You, she also created, wrote and directed the series. Her work is refreshing. You’ll find yourself laughing, crying or going into introspective deep thinking afterwards. To me, what makes I May Destroy You such stellar television is that nothing seems exaggerated. It’s all incredibly realistic in ways that will touch the hearts of many. You’ll find that within the subplots, even if you haven’t had those same experiences, you may know someone who has. Arabella is shown having a full life, not as a character defined as being a victim throughout the show. This is also a more positive change, when you look at how other shows have dealt with characters who have experience sexual assault.

• The representation

I May Destroy You could not have come at a better time, especially with the Black Lives Matter movement reaching such global support. Online, there are many sources with materials to read and watch to better understand why the movement is important. While those are essential reading, I would also say it’s just as important to see works that are just about the experiences of black people just living. The series does a fantastic job at showing what it’s like to be African and British, living in London for example and I found myself relating a lot. It also goes into a lot of detail about gay culture and black men’s experience in a truly developed way that needs to be seen more.

• Brilliant, nuanced storytelling

There has been a lot of talk about how I May Destroy You is structured. The storytelling isn’t linear and each episode could actually, in many ways, be their own standalone story. It’s slightly different to how you would expect a series to unfold, but it strengthens the narrative. It makes the audience even more engaged. It’s as if you’re really living Arabella’s life. This gives viewers a deeper understanding of the confusing times she’s facing in a very natural way.

So, there you have it. 4 reasons why you should watch I May Destroy You. If you haven’t seen it already, what are you waiting for?! Go, go, go!