SummaryBookstore manager Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) becomes obsessed with an aspiring writer (Elizabeth Lail) in this psychological thriller based on the Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name.
SummaryBookstore manager Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) becomes obsessed with an aspiring writer (Elizabeth Lail) in this psychological thriller based on the Caroline Kepnes novel of the same name.
Spectacular third season. ... At its best—that is, much of the time when it isn’t needlessly flashing back to Joe’s generically awful childhood—the show does more than simply flatter its pop-culture-savvy audience. It challenges us, too.
The final three episodes make this season worth it, but we spend a lot of time going in circles for this season. Characters love each other and then don't and then **** realize a lot of the writing is paper thin. That said, it's fun and interesting at the end. We need a new formula for season 4.
Throw in more revelations about Joe’s childhood, a side storyline (that we won’t reveal here) that could have been copied from recent newspaper headlines, and this season of You quickly becomes a binge-watching treat.
It stays true to the expectations it has set in the previous seasons and moves at a delightfully breathless pace. There are a lot of moving parts, but they are dealt with in a clear, energetic way that never allows the plot to meander. Pedretti and Badgley have each perfected the art of embodying their mercurial characters.
You is the best it’s ever been — every bit as dark and stinging and cheerfully willing to screw with its audience, but now outfitted with a glorious foil for Joe’s monstrousness.
The third season continues to balance that delicate juggling act, with a wife, baby and life in suburbia merely adding to the chaos, and for the most part, macabre fun.
“You” remains discursively watchable for its mercenary willingness to plow through story and lard on details in setting. But in pushing not just to humanize but vindicate a character whose monstrousness was his whole point, “You” has lost the plot.
The echoes of early seasons of Dexter are still evident in You, with the ongoing voiceover narration and our rooting for an obvious sociopath/serial killer. I believe someone actually name checks Dexter in season two. But season three doubles down with Joe marrying and settling down, with child, with his "soulmate" Love. Whereas Joe tries to control his urges and wants to be the best he can be, especially regarding son Henry, he wants to be the loving father he never had. What parent doesn't want to learn from their own parents mistakes and thereby raise a better version of themselves? He is matched by Love, who is carrying her own parental issues, trying to create the white picket fence suburban life dream. Ah, but Love proves to be just as dangerous as Joe, and their back and forth provides the thread that runs through the season. A definitely binge worthy season.
An interesting worthwhile third act with highlight performances from Love&Joe. But the aforementioned isn't enough to excuse the bland yellowed cinematography or the cyclical storylines. All deaths felt predictable and unnecessary. The urgency of the 1st 2 seasons where it would feel difficult watching a good character trapped in their glass cage is gone. You feel disconnected to their plight. Even the body clean ups are too easy. Gone is the anxiety of a injured Joe pissing in a jar or a frightened joe with a missing finger, nope niw it's just black plastic bags and bad narration's. It's jarring. And the pacing is very heavy handed compared to previous seasons.
This season is a complete **** show, it is very expected and cheesy. Should not even be renewed for another season. I could easily predict everything that was going to happen since the beginning.