If you're into psychological thrillers, I bet you've at least heard of the Netflix TV series called YOU. If you haven't watched it or if you're planning to watch it, please be warned that this post may contain some spoilers.
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The series have 5 seasons in total, so let me give a short overview of each season:
- Season One: Joe Goldberg, the main character in the series, manages a bookshop in New York City. There, he met the aspiring writer Guinevere Beck and later fell in love with her. Hard. He became too obsessed with her to the point of stalking her. He wanted her for himself, so he tried removing the obstacles that came between them, including her ex-boyfriend and even her friends.
- Season Two: Trying to escape his past, Joe moved to LA and met Love Quinn. Although he was trying hard to stop himself, his real self started resurfacing. As he struggled to keep his relationship with Love, the latter also has some dark secrets that Joe is yet to find out.
- Season Three: Joe and Love got married and started living as a family with their son, Henry. Despite this, Joe started with his obsession and stalkerish behaviors once again... but not with Love. He found new targets, his neighbor Natalie and the librarian, Marienne.
- Season Four: Following yet another tragedy, Joe switched identities as Jonathan Moore and became a university professor. But somehow, his past continued to haunt him as he saw himself in the middle of serial killings. He was framed and blackmailed by the killer. In this season, he found another love interest in Kate.
- Season Five: Joe came back to New York with his wife Kate. Everything seemed perfect for a couple of years. He's living the life... he even got his son, Henry, to live with them. But everything seemed to be temporary as his past and his desires started haunting him once again.
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To be honest, among all the characters and love interests, LOVE QUINN from the second and third seasons is my favorite.
I believe Joe Goldberg wasn't really in love with any of the women he got involved with. Obsessed? Yes! But in love? I don't think so.
What I think is that... Joe is in love with the idea of being needed by someone. He loves playing the Knight, and he thrives on the illusion of being someone's savior, a protector.
But as you may know, it has always been about him. He's a selfish manipulator who is in dire need of validation and control... and the moment his fantasy halts, he goes berserk!
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In my opinion, Love Quinn was both Joe's perfect match and his worst nightmare. Yes, she started as Joe's new obsession. He thought she was the princess who needed him. Someone who couldn't live without him, but he thought wrong. Love wasn't a princess; she was a dragon!
The "knight" in Joe was taken aback. He couldn't control her. The situation became something way different from his fantasy, and all that was left to do was eliminate her.
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I finished watching the final season a couple of days ago. I like how Joe's reign ended, but I've been thinking of an alternative way to get to that same ending.
I thought it would have been better if Love had survived the fire. Her family was loaded, so she could recover and take on a new identity. She could have been Bronte!
We know how Love's mind works. She's like the female Joe, but this time a better version. Not the impulsive Love we all know from season three, but more calculated and wise to orchestrate a slow-burning revenge. Yes, Joe is a predator, but Love... is a hunter!
I think if it were her, the ending would have been more impactful. I could be totally biased since I like her character in its twisted entirety. I love myself some psychological battle...
Then of course, Joe would realize it was Love, but it would be too late. He'd try to manipulate Love just like he did to Bronte, but the new Love would be steps ahead of the game. Every move he makes would be outplayed... the master becomes the puppet.
This experience would destroy Joe completely so that he'd be too scared to chase another obsession ever again. But oh well, it's just my preference, what do you think?
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The ending may not be as satisfying as I wanted it to be, but I enjoyed the journey following this series from the beginning. This will always be among my favorite psychological thrillers. I enjoyed the twists and turns, as well as uncovering and understanding every character's psyche.
Congrats to the cast and everyone involved in creating this series. I'll miss it, for sure! ^^
Thanks for reading, and see you around! (^^,)/