Over two years ago now, the first season of "I Hate Suzie" was, for me, a bravely performed black comedy, but occasionally too fond of a flight of fancy for my taste. This second season though, harnesses those flights of fancy for a what is one of the most extraordinarily uncomfortable, moving and odd limited series I've ever seen.
Suzie Pickles (Billie Piper) takes part in a limited Christmas run of Dance Crazee, a reality show. She has agreed to the show partly at the behest of her new agent, Sian Bellingham (Anastasia Hille) and partially because her first husband, Bailey Quinn (Douglas Hodge) is also taking part. Her second husband, Cob (Daniel Ings) is refusing to stick to the terms of their divorce settlement, particularly around Christmas and their son. He is also about to release a tell all interview about his marriage.
That performance.
That the first season of the show didn't elevate Billie Piper to all of the best roles in the world is strange, if this doesn't, then it's because she's turning them down. It is staggering. In three episodes she takes us through the complete mental breakdown of her character is such a way that you can't help but be overwrought and even genuinely upset yourself. The writing, by Piper herself and Lucy Prebble, makes you feel the pressure that she's under, juggling the show (rehearsals, judgement, feedback) and the divorce proceedings, whilst various other aspects of her personal life implode. It wrings you out as a viewer. Interesting, isn't it, that Suzie has a gregarious first husband she's still friendly with, and an arrogant, needy, worthless second husband.
But it's funny too, it's still a black comedy and it punctuates the darkness with occasional moments, not of levity, exactly, but with a moment to make you laugh before diving back into the visceral panic attack that the show is.
For the record, I too spent time thinking about "Joker" in relation to the series, so I'm glad that I wasn't the only one.