Review: Netflix’s You

Madeline Williams and Jenna Harper, Staff Writer and Editor-in-Chief

   Psychological thriller and Netflix original You has officially released its second season, and it’s just as captivating and suspenseful  as the first. With endless surprises and twists, it’s nearly impossible to watch just one episode of this overwhelmingly interesting show.

  Season one began with Protagonist Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, desperate and willing to do nearly anything to captivate the love of Guinevere Beck, played by Elizabeth Lail. According to IMDb, Goldberg is “A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man, [who] goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by” (imdb.com). But when the relationship takes a rather chilling turn, viewers are left gripping the edges of their seats with whitened knuckles. 

   While this suspense factor is exciting, it might just be a little too exciting. Certain scenes may leave viewers with so much secondhand anxiety that they need to pause and take a couple of deep breaths to relax. “It gets you feeling really suspended because you never know what direction the characters will go in or how much more messed up it will get,” explained Senior Zeke Cotsirilos. No doubt that’s what the director and the cast was going for, but it might be just a little over the top.

   In terms of the plot, it flows nicely and for the most part follows the typical storyline structure, with a beginning, middle, and end, as well as rising action, a climax, and falling action. However, between the two seasons there seems to be a few mild plot holes, and the abrupt change of setting makes it somewhat confusing for the viewer to follow. Furthermore, flashbacks between the characters’ early lives and other scenarios makes it hard to keep up with each branching storyline. 

   A final point regarding certain scenes in the show: sometimes it is a little hard to watch. From literal torture to aggressive and violent acts, You has a few scenes that are a little over the top and almost gag-inducing. However, the show is rated TV-MA, so definitely take this into account when considering watching.

   As a whole, You is exciting, enthralling, and  of course, entertaining. The show not only lives up to it’s genre title of “psychological thriller,” but significantly surpases it. Despite minor plot holes, gruesome scenes, and a mildly confusing storyline, You earns a high rating of 8 out of 10 in our book.