I Hate Suzie,” the BAFTA-nominated semi-autobiographical series, sees Billie Piper play Suzie Pickles; a singer-actress who rose to fame in the noughties and currently lives a carefree and quiet life in the countryside with her husband and their son. Suzie’s idyllic life involves cashing in on her fame as a lead heroine in a sci-fi series, and bagging countless meaty roles that include a Disney princess.
All of these come crashing down with a phone hacking that leaked Suzie’s compromising photos to the public. The sex scandal that ensues snowballs into a witch-hunt; all of which threatening to turn her life upside down, inside out, and completely in chaos.She is labelled a problematic diva and a slut in the press which also puts her career and marriage on the line. It doesn’t take long for the nosy journalists to line up at Suzie’s doorstep and send her into hiding. With her mental health spiraling, she finds solace in the only place where no one knows much about the scandal: the comic conventions dedicated to her sci-fi television show career. That, and cocaine.
When Something as Big as Fame Can Be Claustrophobic
As someone who did achieve fame in her teens in real life and spent most of her life in the public eye, Piper effortlessly slips into the skin of the show’s flawed protagonist. She plays Suzie with a whimsical eccentric energy that reminded me of Helena Bonham Carter; while also reeling in that eccentricity for a raw and visceral performance in the emotionally draining scenes.
Apart from the cast alongside Piper that include Daniel Ings and Leila Farzad, “I Hate Suzie” also benefits from the use of artistic mise-en-scène. These include the claustrophobic atmosphere created around the protagonist by using some clever camera angles, and narrow sets such as a house with low ceilings that’s featured in the first episode. There, Suzie finds herself stuck in the house with a soon-to-be traumatized deaf son, a possessive husband, and the clamoring paparazzi clicking away in her backyard.
On the other hand, the soundtrack by Johnny Lloyd and Nathan Coen eerily captures the chaos of Suzie’s multiple breakdowns; an example of which being a slowed-down version of Marilyn Monroe’s “Bye Bye Baby” playing in the background. That scene, showing Suzie’s cocaine and sleeping pill-induced stupor, plays as if her personal struggles parallel those of the late Monroe.
‘I Hate Suzie’ and the Aptly Titled Episodes
The episodes are also titled aptly, apparently borrowing from the Stages of Grief. The episode titles—ranging from ‘Shock’ and ‘Denial’, to ‘Guilt’ and ‘Fear’—depend on how Suzie or the people around her like her husband Cob or her publicist/bestie Naomi choose to cope or retaliate with her shortcomings or with their own. The show also benefits from great editing seen in the scenes wherein Suzie’s anxiety and mental breakdowns run parallel to scenes of her filming chase sequences involving zombie Nazis on the sets of her latest horror show; or when Cob’s obsessive investigating into Suzie’s infidelity and drug use begin to feel like a mystery noir movie.
Occasionally, there’s even a short musical number (which I found reminiscent to the show “Toast of London“) which further helps one to delve more into Suzie’s psyche. “I Hate Suzie” also boasts of some great writing, thanks to Lucy Prebble who co-created the show with Piper. The series explores themes including the double standards that exist in the film industry and in the media, slut-shaming at a young age, and trolling both online and offline, among others.
“I Hate Suzie” is a gritty trip that feels surreal but also rooted in reality that dares to traverse across the ups and downs of stardom, particularly early stardom. Furthermore, it deserves praise for its ability to tell a tale of women working and surviving in a ruthless industry. Whether it’s Naomi the publicist or Suzie herself, women are constantly in the public glare; and yet they manage to meticulously balance the professional and the personal. Indeed, this is a show that’s worth your time.
Season 1 of “I Hate Suzie” is now available on HBO Max.
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