Ever since the release of its first season in 2018, You has captivated audiences as a chilling and gripping first-person narrative from a serial killer. Joe Goldberg makes audiences particularly uneasy because he is charming and funny despite all of his worst traits, reminding the viewer that the most nefarious members of society sometimes blend right in among the rest of us. Because it is in his point of view, we furthermore are privy to the sympathetic aspects of his character as he rationalizes and justifies his heinous doings. The self-pitying narrative keeps the audience engaged in Joe’s story no matter how twisted it gets, challenging the viewer to overcome any temptation to cut the character some slack. You reminds us that two things can be true at once; a criminal’s deeds can be inexcusable and horrifying, and the killer can be a human being grappling with trauma of his own. While the show depicts Joe as a dynamic and nuanced character, it walks the line so as to not romanticize or glorify who he is and what he does. The same grace of thoughtful and well-rounded characterization is equally extended to his victims.
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You is unique in its genre in that it does a spectacular job of portraying multidimensional characters who are imperfect humans, bringing a level of humanity that characters in crime stories tend to often lack. The perpetrator is often depicted as a one-dimensional psychopath, while the victims are reduced merely to what happens to them rather than who they are. These layered portrayals of characters have been one of several factors keeping the show fresh as it continually reinvents itself.
Overview
Netflix
You revolves around the deadly romantic exploits of Joe Goldberg, a lonely young man who has spent most of his life finding solace in books. At the library in which he works, he meets aspiring writer Guinevere Beck. His crush quickly descends into what is clearly an all-out obsession, something that proves to be a pattern for Joe. He considers himself a protector of women, which is what he tells himself to justify the ways in which he endlessly meddles into their personal lives, meddling that often escalates to cold-blooded murder. When women like Guinevere Beck uncover the truth about him, he sees himself as having no choice but to take them out. Despite this, Joe genuinely believes he is a good guy that is merely cornered into making extreme decisions, and continues his search for true love.
On the heels of the murder of his former girlfriend, season two finds Joe Goldberg starting anew in California. Joe quickly sets his eyes on a new love interest, except this time, Joe has truly met his match. The sweet and seemingly innocent pastry chef Love Quinn turns out to be as deluded and unhinged a murderer as Joe, something he surprisingly finds disturbing about her despite his own inclinations. His unconventional relationship with Love escalates until season three finds him in a suburban misery with his now-wife and child.
Drastic Changes Between Seasons
As Joe’s exploits take him from one coast to another, the nature of the show continually evolves. What starts out as the story of a disturbed young man with troubling ideas about women and relationships becomes the story of a deadly couple assimilating into an unsuspecting and almost annoyingly idyllic community. As per the season four trailers, the story will further evolve as Joe’s new life in Europe is disturbed by a mysterious stalker and killer in his midst. In the upcoming season, it’s Joe’s turn to be the victim, subverting the dynamic that has now dominated three seasons. Of course, Joe has long seen himself as the victim in his marriage to Love, but he has never really been on the receiving end of the sort of terror he has subjected others to.
Dynamic Characters and Slow Escalation of Plot
It would have been very easy for a show like You to quickly grow old and lose the interest of audiences. There are only so many times we can watch a creep stalk and murder his girlfriends until it becomes redundantly sickening. Along with its ability to keep its characters engaging and refusal to glamorize tragedy, You has escaped predictability by constantly reinventing itself while adhering to one singular, linear timeline. While the murder of Guinevere Beck feels like a distinctly different story to the suburban woes of Joe in season three, everything has been a directly connected domino effect of events.
Escaping what he did to Beck is what prompts Joe to move to California, leading him to meet Love, which gives way to the unique dynamic and ultimate violent end of their relationship. This all leads us to Europe, where Joe has assumed a new name and a new life which will soon become haunted by his past. In this way, You keeps its essence while constantly providing fresh settings and scenarios. After three seasons of getting away with murder, season four now promises to challenge a character that has previously gotten extremely lucky in his devious endeavors. The series has extended the shelf life of what would otherwise be a quickly repetitive premise, securing enthusiasm and support for its upcoming season.
