This time around, there is marriage, parenthood, and some amount of social commentary thrown into the mix, as the two sociopathic killers, Joe and Love, try and fail to settle into a domestic, suburban life without piling up dead bodies one after another.
Netflix‘s dark, psychological thriller, You, is known to captivate the audience in ways that haven’t been seen before. It is bloody, messy and gives you a peek into the mind of a serial killer who can do anything for his object of attraction.
This time around, there is marriage, parenthood, and some amount of social commentary thrown into the mix, as the two sociopathic killers, Joe and Love, try and fail to settle into a domestic, suburban life without piling up dead bodies one after another. The third season of the series is undoubtedly at par with the previous two, if not better than.Â
THE PREMISE
Season 3 of You picks up after Season 2’s cliff-hanger where Love reveals to Joe about her murderous tendencies as well as her pregnancy. Love and Joe have moved to the fictional suburban town of Madre Linda, where they decide to raise their infant son, Henry.
Just when it seems like things are taking an ordinary direction with the domesticity of life and child care responsibilities, the characters relapse into their old habits. They seem incapable of restraining their murderous urges.
WHAT WORKS
The best aspect of the show is its writing. It is no easy feat to take such a difficult subject matter and create a show with screenwriting that is almost flawless. The attention to detail is at its level best.
With references to movies and books, which is an absolute treat and foreshadowing of events which is evident if you pay close enough attention, this show has cracked the code for not faltering with subsequent seasons after the first one. There is no the fact that the performances are phenomenal.
Victoria Pedretti stole the show with her portrayal of the impulsive and passionate Love Quinn. Pen Badgley perfectly balances Joe’s charisma as well as his creepiness, as he has always done. Some standout supporting characters include fame-hungry Sherry, played impeccably by Shalita Grant and her hyper-masculine husband Carey (portrayed by Travis van Winkle).
WHAT DOESN’T WORK
The ten-episode season felt too long for a show that could have easily been wrapped up in eight. The pacing felt slightly dragged at some points, and the climax has left the audience divided. Some felt things could have ended differently this season, while others felt this was the perfect ending to the season.Â
I, personally, feel like more could have been done with the character arcs. There was no sign of redemption or maybe the horrific actions of the characters catching up to them till the very end. Apart from that, the writers could have cut back on some of the corniness as well.
FINAL THOUGHTS
You are an incredibly compelling TV show. Despite the flaws, it makes for an enjoyable watch that would keep you hooked until the end. If you enjoy dark psychological drama mixed with humour and an unreliable narrator, this would be a perfect match for you.Â
The show confuses you with Joe’s masterfully written internal monologue. The dilemma of whether you should root for the lead pair or want them to pay for their horrific deeds is real.
The manipulation and gaslighting involved in the way Joe narrates his ordeals has everything to do with making the audience realize how people justify the acts of a good-looking white young man no matter how criminal-mind he might be.
You’s season 3 has been one of the most enjoyable watches this year. It will be fascinating to see how things escalate again now that season 4 has been confirmed. Is there any way for the characters to redeem themselves, or do they keep getting away with their crimes as usual? Will they be held accountable at all? Although highly unlikely, it will definitely be worth the wait to find out.
“You” seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Netflix.
