Hey you…

I see you there, watching me. You’re practically begging me to press play, taunting me even.
You’ve been waiting in “my list” on Netflix for months.. but I’ve been too scared to make a move. But now that season 3 is out, fine.

I’ll bite.

——————
Ok, enough with my sorry and cringeworthy attempt at creepy internal monologue. On Friday, the new season of the Netflix original, You finally dropped! The show features some familiar faces, like ex “Gossip Girl” star Penn Badgley and even an appearance by Tati Gabrielle, whom you might recognize if you’ve seen The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina on the CW. There’s way more talent within the show, but you’ll have to watch to find out.

You revolves around Joe Goldberg, a seemingly normal man on his quest to find “the One” he’s meant to be with. The only thing is that he will stop at nothing to find her. And, I mean nothing. Lying, killing, stealing, stalking, and other elaborate criminal schemes are all in a day’s work for Joe as he tries to find the love of his life. In the new season, Joe is convinced he’s a changed man, not one who does any of those awful things, and has to face many situations that put his newfound self to the test. The events of his tragic past play a major role in his view of the world, making him mentally unsound.

Part of the show’s genius lies in the perspective. The story is told through Joe’s mind. The viewer is constantly listening to his internal monologue. Eighty percent of the time, Joe can sound like a normal, anxious guy. But Badgely does an incredible job of delivering all of his lines with just the perfect tone. One moment, he’s talking about his hatred for suburban America, and the next about how to perfectly dispose of a body— and the viewer barely bats an eye! Watching the show through his point of view makes the viewer understand Joe’s motivations for doing the terrible things he does. And, in true anti-hero fashion, we can even sometimes empathize with him.

“I just think it’s cool how the show frames him to be a guy that you root for by giving you his perspective, but then really makes you reevaluate.. WHY?” said Senior Caitlyn Gil.

Badgely’s costar, Victoria Pedretti, also does an terrific job of playing the troubled Love Quinn. The two of them were cast the hard roles of bringing to the small screen two insane individuals, and do so with grace. We can find ourselves rationalizing how to make them not seem like terrible people to us, even though they are responsible for the deaths of…. oh, who can keep up anymore?

“I like that they are both so crazy,” said senior Allison Perez. “It made the show splendid to watch.”

The shows cinematography mustn’t be cast aside either. Netflix truly came through for this series. Joe is usually a person in search of power and control. However, in many scenes, he is depicted as helpless, looking up to whomever is speaking with him, backed into a corner by his own actions, like a little kid.

“In most shots when it comes to women, he is shown looking up to them, showing that they actually have the power in the dynamic,” added Gil.

Another shot I personally found myself enjoying were those that involved Joe and Love’s new baby. The two could quite literally be burying a body in the woods, and would bring their newborn along rather than risk leaving him in a hot car. The shot has the baby in his seat, with his parents shoveling away behind him. The scene, combined with Joe’s insane yet calm lines, actually had me laughing out loud. I don’t know if this was the intention, but the irony was very solid.

But my favorite part of You is actually the usage of the word “you.” When a major character begins saying “you” in every sentence, it means it’s serious. It means something unsettling or important is about to happen. After all, it is the title. “You” in the show could be anyone, but that person is always pivotal. It brings the viewer back to the shows central theme— obsession.

If you’re interested in watching You, seasons 1-3 are on Netflix now. I really could write way more about the show, but I’ll leave it up to you, dear reader, to watch. The series is actually based on the books by Caroline Kepnes, so if you enjoy reading, it might be something you should look into.

As a disclaimer, You deals with many heavy themes. Suicide, domestic abuse, murder, drug use, addiction, sexual assault, divorce, abandonment, and other such topics are explored in great detail within and throughout the show. If you plan to watch, I would not do so with a much younger sibling; I’d use the phrase “viewer discretion is advised.” All that aside, the show is perfectly addicting, and one of the most interesting Netflix originals I’ve ever seen.

Well, goodbye for now, “you”…