*Spoiler Warning for Season 1 and 2*
During the Winter break, I binged both seasons of the Netflix Original series “You.” I had heard about “You” through social media (obviously), my sister, friends, and coworkers, but I never got around to watching it. With the release of the second season, “You” reemerged in my life and I finally began to do some research on the show. I read the synopsis and saw the trailer, and I
was a little hesitant to start, but after a surge of courage here are my thoughts on “You.”
Season 1
(Photo Courtesy of Vox)
“You” starts in New York City where the main character, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) is the manager of Mooney’s book store. Joe sees a new customer enter the store, Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail), and he over-examines her appearance. From this first encounter, Joe becomes obsessed with protecting Beck and tries to learn as much as he can about her from stalking her. Throughout season one, we are introduced to more characters like Paco, Joe’s kid neighbor who is in the middle of his mom’s toxic relationship, Benji, Beck’s ex-boyfriend who is kidnapped and murdered by Joe, and Peach, Beck’s best-friend also murdered by Joe. By the end of the season, Beck finds out what Joe has done to the people she loved and Joe eventually murders Beck and frames her therapist, Dr. Nicky (John Stamos), as her murderer.
Season 1, overall, had dark and realistic themes that resonate with modern times. For example, Joe learns a lot about Beck and his victims from social media and online. This theme is relative to us because most of us publically post our lives and thoughts online. “You” basically tells us to be wary of what we post because anyone and everyone has access to our lives and that can be dangerous. On a more positive note, the highlight of season 1 for me was Paco’s storyline with his mother and Joe. Despite Joe being a dangerous, disruptive and complex character, his relationship with Paco exhibits a softer and more realistic side to his personality as he provides Paco a means of escape from his home life.
Season 2
(Photo Courtesy of Digital Spy)
In “You” season 2, Joe Goldberg has come to Los Angeles to hide from his ex-girlfriend Candace (Ambyr Childers). While hiding, Joe takes up a new name, Will Bettelheim, and a new job at the book store/cafe/supermarket Anavarin. In Los Angeles, Joe finds a new obsession – Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), a chef working at Anavarin. However, Joe’s life also gets tangled with Forty Quinn (James Scully), Love’s troubled brother who also works at Anavarin, Delilah (Carmela Zumbado), Joe’s new building manager and an investigative journalist, and Ellie (Jenna Ortega), a fifteen-year-old aspiring film director and producer, and Delilah’s younger sister. Unlike season 1, Joe tries to turn his life around and become a “good” person, but this does not go according to plan. Joe continues to follow his “protective” instincts and murder’s Henderson (Chris D’Elia), a pedophile comedian who is hanging out with Ellie and abused Delilah. Throughout the season, Joe entertains and almost murders Forty who is “co-dependent” on Love. However, the final two episodes of “You” are the most surprising yet.
Season 2 of “You” continues to explore dark themes such as kidnapping, murdering and stalking; this season takes these themes and applies it to a new cast and in a new setting for a refreshing twist. Again, the highlight of season 2 for me was Ellie who has huge aspirations and brings a fresh perspective to the show. The ending of “You” season 2 is also a highlight as it captivates us to continue to watch and wonder is Joe will ever change.
(Photo Courtesy of Marie Claire)
Ultimately, both seasons of “You” are emotional rollercoasters with shocking plot twists that will keep you hooked to your screens. Season 1 was an emotionally heavy but entertaining introduction to the world of Joe Goldberg. Although I think Season 2 had a slower pace, I still could not predict the shocking finale and I hope “You” gets a third season. And I hope Joe becomes a better person.