By: Elena Donatone
The psychological thriller You (2018-Present), praised both by critics and viewers, has claimed a considerate fanbase over the last two years. The mystery, the suspense and the toxic romances Joe (Penn Badgley) experiences every season are surely both fascinating and addictive for fans.
While we all know Joe is a serial killer and a toxic person to have around, the TV series digs into his past and his painful childhood to make us understand why he behaves the way he does. And that is what turns You into a series you won’t forget!
While season one was a great watch, with many twists and shocking moments, season two was even better for me!
And the main reason why the quality of season two was superior is because of the relationship between the protagonist Joe and his new love interest, Love (Victoria Pedretti).
When Joe moves to New York to escape his past and the events occurred in the previous season, he needs to change his identity completely. His name is now Will and he decides to move to Los Angeles until things get better. Joe, like any other born and bread New Yorker, hates Los Angeles and its lifestyle, but finds a reason to go on when he meets his soon to be co-worker, Love.
“The last time I loved someone, well, I can’t risk repeating history.”
Joe and Love talk for the first time in the café/library where they will be working together. Their connection is powerful and explosive. Joe instantly feels attracted to her and her bubbly personality. It seems like Joe really wants to change his ways, as he is very sweet to Love from the start. But as we find out at the end of the first episode, Joe already knew who Love was before they officially met. He had been stalking her for a while and even got a flat close to hers to keep an eye on her!
As the show goes on, we understand Joe is still the same person he was back in New York: controlling, toxic and extremely dangerous.
But somehow, we can feel he really cares about Love and is trying to protect her from himself. While he was obsessed with Beck in the first season, to the point of killing her, we understand that he would never do that to Love.
“We’re all a little broken, yet some pieces manage to fit together.”
His bond with Love is clearly stronger than what he experienced with Beck. The couple has so much in common and they understand each other on a deeper level. Love, just live Joe, has experienced deep pain in her life. From her husband’s death to her demanding relationship with her twin brother, Forty (James Scully), Love can relate to Joe’s pain and she seems more mature than Beck, who seemed quite entitled and arrogant at times.
Love is always there for him and she would do anything for him.
I wasn't surprised to see, although it was a great plot twist, that Love is actually just as toxic and dangerous as Joe is!
In the last few episodes, we discover that Love was stalking Joe from the start as well and it turns out she was obsessed with him, before they started dating. Even to the point of killing people to save their love story…
“My whole life I’ve been doing what it takes when I love someone. And I love you. I love you.”
Joe is shocked and confused… he has always been the one in control of his relationships and he comes to understands how painful it is to be on the other side. It seems like Joe is the “Beck” in Love’s life.
While Joe and Love’s relationship is destructive and dangerous, it is clear it is very different from anything Joe has experienced before. He really loves Love and he would do anything to protect her, just as much as she would for him. In a toxic and sickening way, Joe and Love are the perfect match, almost like soulmates who are destined to be together.
Although they should not be together, their relationship is addictive and they can’t live without one another.
As You has been renewed for a third season, will their toxic love last? Or will Joe and Love’s destructive relationship come to a dramatic end? Only time will tell…
“What is life without Love?”
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