‘You’ is back and better than ever

NETFLIX

NETFLIX

If you’re in a relationship and you find yourself feeling “crazy” over your significant other, don’t worry, it’s normal—typically. Love can make people do crazy things, but Joe Goldberg takes crazy to a new extreme in the hit Netflix series “You.”

“You” follows Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) who masquerades as the typical sweet, charismatic boyfriend that everyone yearns for, but he’s not as ideal as he seems. He conveys himself as a hopeless romantic in pursuit of finding “the one”: his soulmate who he’ll have his happily ever after with.

While this seems like a typical desire, Joe manipulates people and his surroundings in order to obtain his picture perfect relationship, and it’s not limited to simply spreading lies — his idea of manipulation involves stalking and murder.

In season three of “You,” Joe moves to Californian suburbia with his wife, Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), after she gives birth to their son Henry. Marriage was not on Joe’s agenda, but the pregnancy forced him to settle down with Love, who is just as monstrous as him. The baby wasn’t planned, but despite Joe’s mal tendencies, he wants to be the perfect father and raise his son in a healthy environment.

This alleged “healthy environment” is quickly tarnished shortly after they’ve settled in their new home because Joe has his eyes set on their new neighbor, and despite her married status, she seems just as interested. Joe has the tendency to fall for women easily, and in tandem, he loses interest just as quickly.

Joe believed Love would be the eternal apple of his eye, but after she kills one of his friends, he grows weary of her, and his love morphs into extreme distaste.

He’s able to keep his desire for their neighbor outwardly concealed, but like him, Love is just as calculating — Joe’s interest in their neighbor doesn’t go unnoticed.

Love is not one to sit idly by when she feels threatened; she takes matters in her own hands, eliminating her competition in the way she knows best.

This complication is the first out of many, and Joe wants to set a good example for his son, but he has his own internal struggles and desires — not to mention a wife who’s equally as insane as him. Will they be able to maintain their relationship and provide the ideal life for their son, or will they let their imperfections get the best of them?

Season three of “You” does not disappoint; in fact, it’s my favorite by far. It’s every bit as dark and compelling as it’s always been, but this season has elements that change the show’s ambiance.

 Seasons one and two display Joe’s recklessness due to his impulsiveness and naivete, whereas in season three, Joe is more responsible about his decisions because Henry is always at the forefront of his mind. If anything, Love is the one manipulating him to partake in unnecessary violence despite Joe’s efforts to improve himself.

Badgley’s ability to deliver internal dialogue with a heinous gaze remains unchanged and is undeniably the most prominent feature of the show. “You” deploys the unreliable narrator trope tenfold, and despite Joe’s immoral ways, you can’t help but support his bizarre endeavors.

In this season, there is an evident shift in Joe’s internal dialogue and actions. Seasons one and two exemplify his one-track mind and his evident lack of care for others. He’s not suddenly considerate of those around him, but unlike the past two seasons, those who impede the progress of his plans aren’t automatically killed. Joe makes an effort to manipulate them in a way that is not so vile—at least compared to his usual ways.

These changes in Joe signify his character development, but trouble always seems to claw its way into his life, and that comes in the form of his wife, Love Quinn.

 Love tested my patience every episode; her impulsiveness is unnerving. She’s foolish and continuously victimizes herself despite her being the true perpetrator in most cases.

She comes from a wealthy family and because of this, she’s never been punished. Her incidents have always been overlooked, but her family quickly collapsed after her brother died, and now she’s left to her own devices. As a result, she forces Joe to help her cover up incidents, but in actuality, Joe is left to do most of the work.

Despite their toxic and chaotic dynamic, they’re able to establish a seemingly manageable relationship. Joe grew up in Brooklyn and lived in an orphanage for most of his life. Love grew up in Los Angeles and comes from a family with wealth dripping from their seams. Their differences are tangible, but they complement each other in an unexplainable way. They refer to themselves as soulmates, and if they weren’t so murderous, I would agree wholeheartedly.

Besides Joe and Love, there are many characters introduced that are strong additions to this season. Most of them are unlikeable, but there are certain qualities they have that make this season so contrasting yet enjoyable. They range from gluten-free blog mothers to college kids who are too ambitious for their own good. Joe and Love are definitely the most interesting characters, but a lot of these new characters piqued my interest despite their annoying tendencies.

“You” is one of my favorite shows, and this season is distinct and emanates a new era for this show; my anticipation continues to grow as the show progresses. I loved the fact that Joe was still with Love in this season because it created a rupture in the show’s usual “Joe falls in love with a woman and then moves on” trope.

The switch from restless cities to privileged suburbia was also interesting because it softened the atmosphere while also amplifying its intensity at the same time. The fact that their neighborhood is such a tight-knit community makes Joe and Love’s actions all the more dangerous, and my nerves were even more frayed than the past two seasons.

“You” will have you questioning your morals and is able to deliver the trope of “serial killer in love” in one of the most deranged ways. This season is exciting and psychotic and will have viewers in disbelief with all the unexpected twists and turns.

If you liked the past two seasons of “You,” you’re bound to enjoy season three and are in for more Joe Goldberg insanity. He’ll surprise you in positive ways, but Joe is still Joe, so expect a few killing sprees.