You is a thriller about a man who watches his victims online before he meets them in person. The show follows Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, as he stalks and manipulates women across two seasons. It is not subtle about its darkness, and it knows exactly what it wants you to feel.
Trailer, via Netflix.
Joe Goldberg
Badgley plays Joe as a charming, intelligent man with a serious problem. He collects information on his targets before he ever speaks to them. His behavior is terrifying, but Badgley sells the charm so well that you can see why women fall for him. The show never excuses his actions, but it also never fully condemns them, which is the point.
The Two Seasons
The first season focuses on Joe’s obsession with Beck, a young woman he stalks online before meeting her at a coffee shop. The second season moves to Los Angeles, where Joe targets Mariana, a woman he finds through her social media posts. Both stories follow the same pattern: he watches, he waits, he acts.
The show raises the stakes in the second season by making Joe’s targets more aware of him. That tension drives the finale, which is both satisfying and unsettling.
What Works
- The performances, especially Badgley’s central turn.
- The writing, which keeps the psychological game tight.
- The pacing, which builds real suspense even when the outcome is predictable.
What Falls Short
The show repeats itself too often. The formula — Joe watches, Joe manipulates, Joe hurts — gets worn down by the second season. Some episodes feel like filler, existing only to keep the clock running.
The show raises the stakes in the second season by making Joe’s targets more aware of him.
That is a fair trade-off, but it is still a trade-off.
Final Score
You is a strong, disturbing watch that leans on its lead performance to overcome its structural weaknesses. The show earns its reputation as a binge-worthy thriller, even if it does not always live up to its own ambitions.
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