Ep 3. Don't Forget the Sea

In the third episode of the highly acclaimed drama series I May Destroy You, titled "Don't Forget the Sea," we continue to follow the story of the brilliant and compelling writer Arabella Essiedu (played by Michaela Coel), who has recently become a victim of sexual assault and is struggling to come to terms with what happened to her.

As the episode begins, we see Arabella trying to write her next book, but she cannot concentrate due to her trauma and the medication she's been taking to cope with it. She also tries to ignore a message from a guy she had sex with the night before, who she doesn't remember anything about.

Next, we see Arabella meeting up with her best friend Terry (played by Weruche Opia) who has just come back from her romantic trip to Italy with her boyfriend. Terry tells Arabella that she forgot the thrill of feeling in love and that she's not ready to settle down yet. Arabella, on the other hand, seems to have lost her faith in love and relationships after her assault.

As the episode progresses, we learn about Arabella's childhood and how she used to spend time at the beach with her family, which also happens to be where her mother's ashes were scattered after her death. We see Arabella going to the beach with Terry, and the two friends are having a great time until they run into a group of men who start to behave aggressively towards them.

Arabella and Terry try to ignore them, but the men continue to harass them, and Arabella eventually decides to confront them. The scene is tense and uncomfortable, and we can feel Arabella's fear and anger as she tries to stand up for herself and her friend.

Meanwhile, Arabella's publishers are getting impatient with her, as she's behind on her book deadline. They ask her to come up with a title for her book, but she's struggling to find one that represents what she's going through. She tries to get inspiration from her therapist, but their session doesn't go very well.

Later, Arabella meets up with Zain (played by Karan Gill), a guy she used to date, but who she's been avoiding since her assault. Zain tells her that he's missed her and that he wants to be with her again, but Arabella is hesitant. She's not sure if she's ready to be in a relationship, or if she even wants to be with him.

The episode ends with Arabella going back to the beach, alone this time, and scattering a box of her mother's ashes into the sea. She's emotional and tearful, and we can see how much she misses her mother. As she stands there, looking out at the waves, we can feel the weight of her trauma and the struggles she's been going through.

Overall, "Don't Forget the Sea" is a powerful episode that explores themes of trauma, healing, and resilience in a nuanced and sensitive way. The writing is sharp, and the performances are brilliant, especially Michaela Coel, who continues to impress with her raw and authentic portrayal of Arabella. This is a must-watch show for anyone who's looking for thought-provoking and challenging drama that doesn't shy away from difficult topics.