Grace Dietz
Copy Editor
The art of stalking is taken to extremes with the newest season of “You,” as Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, wishes to reinvent himself in Los Angeles.
“You” is not afraid to push boundaries with its new season, as it is filled with a riveting storyline and thrilling performances from its actors. The plot never fails to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, and the diverse relationships between characters makes the season one of a kind.
Based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel of the same name, “You” was created by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble. The second season stars actors Victoria Pedretti as Love Quinn, Jenna Ortega as Ellie, James Scully as Forty Quinn, Ambyr Childers as Candice Stone and Robin Lord Taylor as Will Bettelheim.
The second season of “You” tells the story of Joe Goldberg as he reinvents himself as alias Will Bettelheim in Los Angeles. After taking the identity of the real Will Bettelheim, Joe soon finds another woman, Love Quinn, to transfix on, and he attempts to insert himself into her life. However, Joe soon finds that the past has a tendency to follow him wherever he goes, and he must do what he can to avoid being detected as a liar and serial killer.
It’s not easy to play the role of a sadistic, murderous character, but Badgley acts this part as if it were natural to him. There is no doubt in the audience’s mind that Badgley is meant to play this part, and he manages to keep viewers on the edge of their seats. He has the ability to fool viewers while he lies to other characters, and moves audiences as they see a man who is trying his hardest to change for the better. In addition, the narration from Joe’s perspective in the background of the scenes carries significant weight, as it successfully attempts to explain the thought process of the notorious killer.
The series is almost single-handedly famous for its wildly unexpected twists and turns in the storyline. Just as the chaos begins to settle, another event happens that stirs and excites audiences yet again. In addition, many of the characters in this season are not who audiences expect, and their true intentions and personalities are exposed at the most unexpected times, which surprises viewers and keeps them coming back for more.
Audiences fully believe that Joe is trying to be a better person with his new life, as he attempts to protect a 15 year old girl named Ellie, played by Jenna Ortega, from the cruel trials and tribulations of life. In the season, Joe acts in a fatherly, nurturing way towards Ellie, which shows the good side of a man who kills for love. For example, Joe prevents a child predator named Henderson, portrayed by Chris D’Elia, from raping and taking nude pictures of Ellie. It is clear that even though Joe may have some major flaws, he still knows that hurting a child is wrong, which humanizes him among audiences.
There are also flashbacks in the season that showcase memories from Joe’s childhood, and audiences understand why Joe may be the way that he is. The memories show the abusive parenting style from Joe’s parents, which may contribute to why Joe murders people in cold blood. By including these flashbacks, audiences have the ability to side with Joe and see how his past may have affected the way he lives in his present.
A strong central theme in the second season of “You” is sibling love and dependency, specifically between Love Quinn and Forty Quinn. In the show, Forty is a recovering addict that depends on his sister many times for stability and order in his life. The bond that Forty and Love share pulls at viewers heartstrings and makes them feel for the siblings. Additionally, Pedretti does a fantastic job at acting in these scenes, as she acts as though her character’s brother is her own family. Although the show prides itself on the topics of murder and stalkerism, there are also relevant aspects of unconditional love that make “You” humble.
The second season of “You” is abnormally better and more exciting than the first season. This season prides itself on unexpected plot surprises that leave viewers on the edge of their seats and keep them wanting more with every episode. Viewers are anxious to be away from the show at the end of the season, but they can always rewatch the series and hope that another season will be produced in the near future.
Released on December 26, both seasons of “You” are currently available to stream on Netflix.
Leave a Reply