Table of Contents Show
Despite my love for Penn Badgley, I must remind everyone in this Joe era that he is not merely attractive because he’s a stalker but because he’s Penn Badgley. (i.e., Joe is not attractive in and of himself, but because Penn portrays him.) In light of this, I am resuming my obsession with Joe with the release of You season three. It is as if his entire personality is a science experiment, and I enjoy watching his exploits for some bizarre reason. Please be aware that there will be significant spoilers if you have not watched the previous two seasons.
The Books
Although the first two seasons were adapted from the books, the third may not be — or is not known. Therefore, the synopsis of the books will be presented first, and the show will follow.
You By Caroline Kepnes (2014)
Guinevere Beck is a future writer and employed as a teaching assistant while pursuing a master’s degree. Upon entering the East Village bookstore where Joe Goldberg works, she immediately captures his attention — it is love at first sight. Almost everything Joe could ever desire in a woman is in Beck, who is beautiful, thoughtful, intelligent, and sexier than he could have ever imagined.
Although Beck is unaware of it, she is the perfect match for Joe. And vice versa, since she finds herself unable to resist her feelings for a man who seems to be tailor-made for her. Goldberg, however, is a very different person than Beck realizes, and there is much more to Beck than her oh-so-perfect façade. This mutual obsession quickly snowballs into a whirlwind of horrifying consequences.
Hidden Bodies By Caroline Kepnes (2016)
Joe Golberg has arrived in Los Angeles from New York in order to start over and seek out Amy Adam, the woman who broke his heart. As well as wanting to leave behind his dark past, Joe also wants to leave behind his girlfriend, Guinevere Beck, whom he murdered. However, plans abruptly change when he falls in love with aspiring actress Love Quinn while staying at Soho House. It is unlikely that Love will ever find out anything about his past — however, hidden bodies do not necessarily remain hidden.
You Love Me By Caroline Kepnes (2021)
As a result of a major change in his life, Joe Goldberg leaves Los Angeles for the Pacific Northwest. When Joe meets Mary Kay DiMarco, he is instantly smitten. Trying to demonstrate that he is a different person, Joe attempts to court her without his usual obsessive behavior. With a new job and the desire to prove that one does not have to interfere in order to be happy, he attempts to find his happily ever after. But, does Joe possess the capacity for change and the ability to find true love? Could he be setting the stage for another repeat of historical events, which, in the end, will lead to violence and destruction?
Netflix’s Hit Series: You (2018-)
Let us now turn our attention to the Lifetime and Netflix series. The series is loosely based on the books after its first season. After the second season, it is more of an original project than an adaptation. Although the first book and the first season are very similar, the first book contains far more gore than the first season.
You Season 1 (( Lifetime, 2018 ))
A Lifetime television series (( Yahr, Emily. “‘You’ Was Ignored on Lifetime. Then It Blew up on Netflix. What Does It Mean for TV’s Future?” Washington Post. The Washington Post, January 18, 2019. )) airing in 2017, You follows exactly what is described in the book. The basic synopsis is followed, but we get to know Joe Goldberg and Guinevere Beck personally. In the story, Joe is this recluse who is in love with Beck the moment she walks into the bookstore, while Beck is the exact opposite, being outgoing and friendly many times where Joe is not.
Through the course of the first season, we meet Joe and his neighbors, as well as Beck and her friends. Joe becomes obsessed with meeting Beck and becoming her perfect boyfriend, but along the way, he becomes so obsessed that he kills for her safety, or so he believes, and out of love for her. Beck and Joe are the central characters of the first season. Their spiral relationship is the main plot of the first season. Both going as far as murder, but in very different ways.
You Season 2 (( Netflix, 2019 ))
The show becomes more topical in the second season. The series is based on Caroline Kepnes’ novel Hidden Bodies. In an effort to escape his past, Joe Goldberg has relocated from New York to Los Angeles. He begins a new life as a reformed person, a different person. His series of neighbors are acquainted with his new persona, which includes Delilah and Elle Alves and Forty and Love Quinn, as well as a few others who will not live to see the next scene.
At his new job, he meets Love Quinn, the love of his life, and his patterns of obsession and violence begin to manifest once more. While Joe attempts to reform himself for good and for Love, an old romance resurfaces and makes his life even harder. Can Joe and Love simply be happy?
You Season 3 (( Netflix, 2021 ))
Joe’s life with Love and their newborn child is the focus of You‘s third season. In this season, much of the content focuses on the pandemic, is topical, and politicized – to a greater extent than in the previous season. Additionally, this seems to be the only season that does not adapt a previous novel;
“A third novel written by Kepnes was published on April 6, 2021, but it is unclear if the plot of that novel will influence the third season of You.”
With the arrival of their newborn Henry Forty Quinn, Joe Goldberg and Love Quinn live in a suburban neighborhood. They are no longer murderers, but instead, they are welcoming parents. This season is more topical than the previous two seasons and focuses on the fatherhood and husbandhood of Joe, as well as the wifehood and motherhood of Love. Unfortunately, despite their efforts, they ultimately become their worst perfect match.
In a way, it appears to be a dream from heaven, but in reality, it is seen as two opposites that cannot be merged into one. Having a baby is merely an additional burden that Joe and Love must deal with. During the third season of the television series, we observe the progression of the couple’s love, the trauma they have experienced, and the lengths they go to in order to protect one another and their family after degenerating into toxic behavior.
Married Life With Joe Goldberg And Love Quinn
Joe and Love’s marriage is given a great continuation in the third season of You. There is much to like in this series, and it is made up of many parts that create an exciting murder thriller. According to the description, this season does not follow the third book, but it does give the show its own interpretation of the book series and the character, Joe Goldberg. There are indications that the show could depart from the book and take this overall series even further into madness. The show does contain some truly great moments, as well as some moments of maturity and uprightness; however, it also contains many of the toxic behaviors that erupted during season two.
We have Joe, who is capable of stalking nearly anyone, as well as Love, who is well-versed in manipulation. Because of this, Love has become even more manic than before by adopting Joe’s obsessive nature and behaviors. The concept of Love has taken on a life of its own, as revealed at the end of season two. In this third season, these heights will only be expanded.
Several themes are explored, such as the anti-vaxing movement, the idea of a pandemic, and the moral choices determined by Love and Joe. The end of the series reveals a lot about both of these characters and not much good. In comparison to season one, season three appears to be more of a satirical examination of serial killers rather than a genuine warning against stalking. It has now become an examination of Joe’s downfall.
The Surburban Neighborhood Of You
In the context of this satirical suburban world, the series creates a space where similar shows, such as Search Party, are able to flourish. In addition to the anti-vaccine element, pandemics are also discussed, vaccine drops are mentioned, and a great deal of discussion is made about vlogging and being a mom-vlogger. Even though it can get tedious, it is somewhat amusing to play around with the moral codes of Love and Joe. There are many instances of murder that occur in areas where it is technically acceptable for Love to be so upset, although not necessarily murderous. Additionally, it has an element of marriage counseling, which I believe works wonderfully.
Conversations were had, truths were revealed, and this season’s heartfelt and emotional plot is excellent. We learn much about how Joe and Love got to where they are in the story, and it answers some of the previous season’s questions: What do you do regarding the fact that Love Quinn almost perished at the hand of her husband, Joe Goldberg? In the series finale, Joe is holding a knife to her neck and almost goes there before the shocking incident. As the series develops, it creates a powerful dynamic between the two, ultimately leading to an exciting plotline for the third season on an emotional level. That is perhaps the most significant aspect of the season.
The Politicial Plight Of You Season Three
In spite of these hyperpostmodern themes contributing to the overall narrative of the zeitgeist, such as last season’s substance abuse, sexual assault, and Narcissistic Personality Disorder themes, they feel overstuffed in this third season. There is too much content in the show, despite its lengthy duration. Even having ten episodes at the same length as the previous season adds for too much content to be inserted — too many plots to be attempted. The political element of the season would be fine if that was all it consisted of.
Yet, the focus of an episode may be one theme, while the focus of the next episode might be a different one. It constantly changes; maybe that is the point — the manic environment. The series provides some humorous moments; Shalita Grant (Sherry Conrad), who has also appeared in Search Party, is an excellent addition to the cast. It is a joy to watch Tati Gabrielle (from Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) in her role as Marianne. Players who are new to the season are a lot more enjoyable and entertaining than those from last season.
Even though much of the plot is repeated from episode to episode (in the first few), the show is entertaining enough to hold your interest if you want another season of Joe but marriage-murder-bonnie-and-clyde-style. Some terrific one-liners are said, and it makes it feel today. The dialogue is engaging. There is also an exciting play on parenting and morality that can be found in the overuse of shallow focus and the adventures of taking your son to bury dead bodies. (Millennials, am I right?) Obviously, the infidelity and trauma in the past with Joe and Love create a muddy situation from the outset; but, in the third season, it occurs more frequently.
It is just presently Joe and Love are attempting to do ‘couples counseling’ alongside it — or save their marriage. A central theme of the series is to continue to ask the question: “Who will Joe become obsessed with next?” Due to Joe’s marriage, Joe is enamored with anybody who is willing to smile at him it seems because he is tied down to Love. Thus, it creates this ability to want to get out of it. At times, this characteristic becomes a nuisance rather than a threat; throughout the third season, it seems more tedious than thrilling.
While the third season creates the excitement around both Love and Joe’s murder-moral-love-twisted story, it never elevates itself beyond that. Victoria Pedretti is wonderful as Love Quinn and Penn Badgley is always great as Joe Goldberg. But, while their performances might have been spectacular, the plot seems to be… how long can Joe keep getting away? At this point, it seems forever, but where does the verisimilitude lie?
Where Can Joe Goldberg Go Next In You Season Four?
As You has been renewed for a fourth season, it begs the question as to how much Joe and we can handle. How long will it be until we see what Joe Goldberg is truly capable of if this is the downfall of Joe Goldberg? Has it already occurred? I guess not even we know what to expect from You season four…