Eerie feelings and gore have been at the forefront of Netflix’s original series “You” since it first released in 2018. The newest season, released on Feb. 9, follows Jonathan Moore (previously Joe Goldberg) as he becomes a professor in England and gets into even more trouble.
The series picks up a few months after it left off. Jonathan (Penn Badgley) has created a new life after following Marianne (Tati Gabrielle) to Europe. Though things didn’t work out as he planned, he decided to turn over a new leaf rather than slip into his old habits. However, he is eventually drawn back in due to being framed for a murder.
The murder mystery aspect is a welcome change to the show; however, with the second half of the season not releasing until later, I can’t help but wonder if it will be able to continue. Ten episodes of the same suspicion from Jonathon brought to light by his inner monologue would be a bit much without the action of previous seasons.
Last season, they seemed to turn a page by introducing the murderous side of Jonathon’s wife Love and having them raise a child together. Looking back, the leap that has been made in one season seems like it is an entirely different show. Of course the main character is very similar in every season, but at the same time, his identity is changing as he tries to forget his past.
A random moment in episode two that stood out to me, because of Penn Badgley’s past, was when they first re-introduced the suspect group that was there the night of the murder. He is surrounded by a lot of rich people and feels out of place very similarly to Badgley’s gossip girl character, Dan. Even though these characters are almost nothing alike, it is a fun callback to his major breakout role.
One of the most interesting things about the show is that it is supposed to show the mind of a killer. While this changes for parts of the season, it is a very good substitute for the increasing amount of true crime shows that are being pushed out today. “You” is able to create suspense without the controversy.
I enjoyed watching the first part of the season, but unless there is a dramatic reveal after the next set of episodes, it feels like the show has run its course. Overall, season four of “You” is worth the watch for previous fans of the show, but should be the last chapter of the story.
Rating: B
