The latest – but not greatest – season of the dark and twisted television series “You” was released on Netflix in two parts, one month apart from each other on Feb. 9 and March 9, each including five episodes.
Spoilers Ahead.
Part one (episodes one through five) is set in London and follows the recurring main character, Joe Goldberg, operating under the new name Jonathon Moore, while he attempts to leave behind and change his old ways of falling in love, murdering those close to his love interest and finally making his way to end his lover’s life as well.
The internal struggle Joe, played by heartthrob Penn Badgley, faces – attempting to break his habits and question if his actions deem him unredeemable – is both satisfying and intriguing to watch since seasons one through three depict Joe constantly justifying his behavior by villainizing those he kills.
The mystery element encountered in part one also proves to be a breath of fresh air from the formula of previous seasons. The “you” Joe speaks to in his ongoing inner monologue is no longer his current infatuation, but an anonymous stalker/murderer who continues murdering the people Joe finds himself surrounded by.
The reveal of the season’s biggest plot twist was found in part two: even though Joe figures out who has been stalking him and sending him anonymous messages confessing to the murders, Joe discovers he himself has been the one murdering the people around him all along.
A figment of his imagination, or his personified dark side was an imagined Rhys Montrose (played by Ed Speelers), a prominent author and political candidate in London at the time with who he had no real connection outside his imagination. Joe’s mind did somersaults to protect himself from the truth and allow him to believe he was still largely innocent.
From this point on, the Rhys that Joe has imagined begins following him around everywhere, muddying up dialogue and distracting from scenes otherwise well-written.
Part two was also sloppily and hastily wrapped up into a neat bow, which meant loose ends in the plot were rushed to be tied up.
Joe teams up with his imaginary friend to kill this season’s love interest’s father, Tom Lockwood played by Greg Kinnear, which unravels everything Joe has stood for the entire rest of the season.
Character Nadia, played by Amy-Leigh Hickman, refusing to come to her own defense when framed by Joe for stabbing her love interest Edward (Brad Alexander) goes against everything her character was built to do the whole season. She was driven by her desire to figure out Joe’s eerie past and connection to the murders that keep making news around her.
The side plot in part two – one of Joe’s previous lovers Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) being locked in a cage by him – does prove to be an effective segue from his plea for innocence to the harsh reality that he is still the same cold-blooded killer audiences know.
However, part two reversed all critical character work that part one set up for the main character. The end of season four depicts Joe returning to his old ways while being “honest” that he enjoys murdering others; it ruins any chance audiences might even remotely sympathize with his character. At least the Joe of previous seasons believed he was earnest in his attempt to find his one true love, his soulmate.
Rating: 4/10
