The same friend that recommended that I watch ‘Friends from College‘ recently suggested that I watch ‘You,’ Netflix’s new thriller series that was released on Christmas. I’ve been watching a lot of comedy series recently, so I decided to add some variety to my viewership and watch something a little more intense. I’m very glad I did.
(Before you continue, please note that there are spoilers ahead.)
‘You’ tells the story of Joe Greenberg (Penn Badgley), a bookstore manager who meets a fine arts grad student named Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) in his store and immediately becomes obsessed with her. By using the internet, he’s able to find out where she lives, who she hangs out with, and just about anything else he wants to know. Eventually, he and Beck start dating, and he proves that he’s willing to do anything to prove his love for her – including torturing and killing people who stand in his way of being with her.
The show is highlighted by a roller coaster story line in which the viewer is almost constantly convinced that Joe will be caught and exposed as a stalker/abuser/murderer, but he manages to convince everyone of his innocence at every turn. The season’s final two episodes were full of unexpected twists that made it nearly impossible for me to stop watching. It’s not a perfect plot; there are some open ends that are tied up a little too easily for my liking, but the story still draws the viewer in.
The acting performances in ‘You’ are another strong point in the show. Badgley plays a great sociopath, flipping between psychotic narration and acting like a caring boyfriend without a hitch. Lail does a good job as Beck, and Shay Mitchell turns in a strong performance as Beck’s best friend/Joe’s worst enemy, Peach. Luca Padovan also does a good job of making the audience care about the show’s B plot as Paco, the kid growing up in a broken home next door to Joe.
I would recommend this series to anyone looking for an exciting series that’s also a quick watch. I finished the first season in three days, but people who (unlike me) have things going on in their lives could finish it within a week. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely an enjoyable watch and a fun show to discuss if you watch with others.
ReJoyce 