Episode Guide
Pilot: Maybe the captain living with the enemy amour fou everythingship you got me, babe Candace Bluebeard’s castle.
You is a riveting and well-written thriller that takes the conventional romcom beats we’ve come to expect and distorts them into one of the more unique thrillers seen in quite some time. There are definite moments that mirror those seen in fairy tales but instead off the cutesy Disney animation and feel-good singing, You leans in hard to something closer to Grimm’s tales. And boy does it do a good job of it! ..
But as their relationship deepens, Joe begins to question the things he thought were just simple questions like who she was dating and what she did for fun. He starts to worry about her mental health, her ability to handle stress and how much she’s willing to share with him. The more Joe investigates, the more he realizes that Guinevere is anything but simple. She’s complex, complicated and full of secrets that could potentially hurt Joe if revealed.
Joe’s obsession with Beck quickly turns into an obsession with her. He breaks into her apartment, tracks her phone, and even tries to get close to her. His actions are deceptive but rationalized through his calm narration, which occupies almost all of the season. There are a few chapters that shift the perspective over to Beck but largely this is the Joe show.
The season follows the trials and tribulations of Joe and Beck’s relationship, following all the usual romcom tropes along the way. You’ve got your misunderstanding trope, winning over Beck’s friends, meeting the parents and even the inevitable break-up and make-up sex. All of this is cleverly parodied with a self-aware tone, as Joe comments numerous times how their actions mirror those seen in books. The “running in the rain” trope is even outright referenced toward the back-end of the season too.
Ultimately, You is a story of a dangerous obsession that gets wildly out of hand. However, the supporting characters around Joe all serve a specific purpose to diversify the story and give the tale a lot more depth. Joe’s neighbours, Claudia and Ron, for example, are the abusive neighbours constantly fighting and arguing. This ultimately alienates their son Ron, who spends a lot of time out in the hallway. ..
Joe and the boy have a mutual understanding, which is reflected in the way Joe deals with the boy. The subplot shows how domestic abuse affects kids, contrastingly to Joe’s manipulative ways that are arguably just as bad.
The story of Beck and Joe’s romance is given a definitive closing chapter, but the teasing glimpses at the end of the final episode hint that season 2 may be about to go in a whole new direction.
The show is perfect for those who enjoy a well-crafted, dark romance that takes common and cliched tropes and turns them upside down. While the season may be a little too long, the riveting narration and clever storytelling make it an enjoyable watch.
