Looking for a new show to binge-watch over Spring Break? “You” is a must- watch psychological thriller that fits the bill.
The name of this title may sound familiar because “You” originally aired on Lifetime. Netflix turned it into a part of their Original series this year. The show is based on a novel by the same title by Caroline Kepnes.
In this show, bookstore manager Joe Goldberg becomes obsessed with customer Guinevere Beck as she is browsing the selection of books in Joe’s store. After Joe has a couple of more run-ins with Beck, he begins stalking her through her location on social media.
He starts following her in his spare time and learns pretty much everything about her. Joe successfully ropes Beck in and develops a romantic relationship with her, and viewers are along for the ride on the rollercoaster of Joe and Beck’s relationship. After all, Joe will do anything to protect Beck and his relationship with her.
Joe Goldberg is played by Penn Badgley, who is best known for his role in Gossip Girl, which originally aired on The CW network. Badgley’s performance in this show is perfection. He grasps the complex role of obsessed lover and villain with ease.
What intrigues me the most about this character is his ability to be seemingly normal to everyone he knows except for his neighbor’s abusive boyfriend, who claims to know Joe’s “type” based on the knowledge he has gained through being a parole officer.
Viewers hear Joe’s commentary throughout the entirety of the shows. This narrative strategy gives the viewer significant insight into Joe’s motivations and thought processes.
He honestly believes he does the things he does because he is in love with Beck, not because he is creepily obsessed with her.
Elizabeth Lail, who plays Guinevere Beck, is best known for her previous role in “Dead of Summer,” which originally aired on Freeform. Lail masters the role of hopeless romantic and starving writer as her character obliviously falls in love with her own stalker. It is easy to fall in love with Lail’s character because of her love for life and poetic abilities. All she wanted to do was fall in love and skip off into the sunset with Joe.
It’s too bad that the guy she hoped to do that with is crazy. Her best friend Peach Salinger, played by Shay Mitchell, tried to warn her many times that there was something “off” about Joe, and she was right, but Beck wouldn’t listen.
I highly recommend watching “You,” especially if your top picks on Netflix all consist of crime dramas and psychological thrillers. Every episode leaves viewers intrigued and wanting more. Season one of “You” is available to watch on Netflix.