When You Season 2 dropped on Netflix the day after Christmas, all the nice girls and boys have been nestled on their couches watching Will Bettlehim nee Joe Goldberg begin a brand new life in Los Angeles.
A few of his season highlights included grinding up a person in a meat grinder (I’ll by no means take a look at floor beef the identical), getting a job at Anavarin (Nirvana spelled backward), and falling in love with a girl named Love regardless of swearing off romance following the turmoil he endured from his earlier relationship.
At first-glance — and after binge-ing in nearly a full sitting (lavatory and snack breaks have been obligatory) — the collection was an exhilarating follow-up to Joe’s first murderous escapades in New York Metropolis that resulted in Beck’s demise and Candace’s return from the lifeless.
Looking back, and after the adrenaline of Will/Joe’s antics wore off, I noticed the second season didn’t reside as much as my expectations the best way that I had hoped.
My greatest gripe with the season was that it was unbelievable.
The primary season engulfed audiences (properly, after it hit Netflix because it was not as broadly obtained when it aired on Lifetime, sadly), due to how relatable it was.
Whereas many people doubtless aren’t being stalked by a sociopath (hopefully and fortunately), there are parts from Joe and Beck’s poisonous relationship that we may all connect with.
For starters, loads of 20-somethings live a life solely constructed for the ‘gram whereas concurrently being a muddle of insecurities and feelings similar to Beck.
The rise of on-line courting additionally makes us conscious of the potential for occurring a date with a serial killer, although it hasn’t stopped us from placing ourselves on the market and looking for a soulmate but.
We additionally know a Beck or we’ve all been a Beck, a girl who is just too determined for love and a focus and is courting a man that’s all mistaken for her.
And, there’s a excessive likelihood that we’ve all positively dated an individual who turned out to be somebody they’re not.
It’s doubtless the individual wasn’t a psychopath who was method too snug with completely eliminating his issues and obstacles, however you get the thought.
With all that in thoughts, not a lot in regards to the first season appeared impractical or unrealistic. Briefly, Beck acquired stalked by a man, she was oblivious, she knew the connection was poisonous, however she saved going again to him, and it ended up together with her 10 toes below.
She additionally didn’t know tips on how to correctly shut her blinds, however that’s an editorial for a special day.
The purpose is — this Beck may exist in real-life, and sadly, we all know that this Joe, or a model of Joe, exists in actual life.
Penn Badgley’s portrayal of Joe was by no means the issue.
Even in Season 2, he’s performed with the identical harmful perfection that you end up drawn to him, rooting for him, and regarding him whereas concurrently being frightened of his each transfer.
And regardless of being barely extra likable and humanized within the second season nearly to the purpose of a stereotypical reformed dangerous boy a la Damon Salvatore on The Vampire Diaries, there’s nonetheless a relentless tug-and-pull the place you suppose Joe is changing into a greater individual just for him to remind you that he’s a killer beneath all that charisma and occasional compassion.
Many of the issues with the season stem from the plot, which regularly turns into contrived and unrealistic to repeatedly increase the stakes and maintain the viewers in a state of suspense and worry.
First off, Joe re-built an underground bunker, which most likely made you go, “critically?” How did he get his palms on all that cup? How did he get the design completely just like the one he had in his bookshop? Who is aware of. And don’t get me began on the shortage of safety cameras on the storage facility.
Then, Joe steals Will Bettleheim’s identification, which isn’t fully out of the realm of risk.
Id fraud occurs on a regular basis, however, on this case, Joe retains Will a prisoner and depends on him for recommendation. The true Will isn’t phased by the scenario and easily hangs round till pretend Will decides to launch him. They even keep up a correspondence, which is simply absurd.
Candace’s return was an epic cliffhanger for Season 1 that left followers desirous to know the way she survived, what she knew, and what revenge she had deliberate, however Candace’s entire storyline fell flat in Season 2.
As an alternative of constructing Joe pay, she popped in-and-out of his life with none concrete plans and will by no means ship the gut-punch due to her PTSD.
It could have been extra promising had she gone to the police or tried to show him ultimately as a substitute of toying with him for no motive.
Ultimately, she acquired killed by Love, which can have been most unbelievable a part of all of it.
The revelation that Love was simply as loopy, if not crazier than Joe was a twist that few so coming.
That’s as a result of there weren’t any clues suggesting there was one thing basically mistaken together with her.
The change got here so abruptly as she went from somebody we have been involved about to somebody who involved us.
It nearly felt just like the writers used the Love twist to justify Will’s actions as a result of, don’t be concerned, there’s somebody on the market that’s worse than him.
Don’t get me mistaken, it was an excellent plot twist and even higher payback for Joe as he’s now caught in relationship hell, however what are the chances that two killer’s teamed up in such a method?
My verdict is not based mostly in science, however I’m saying the possibilities are slim.
Will’s wrestle to change into higher and quell his murderous tendencies additionally would not precisely painting what it is wish to date somebody with obsessive or serial killer tendencies in the identical method Season 1 did.
It glosses over his “darkish aspect” as a result of hey, not less than he’s attempting to get higher.
It additionally doesn’t correctly depict unhealthy relationships or warning indicators. And worse, it forces you to marvel how a lot you would be keen to forgive for love even when it’s fully mistaken and harmful.
And lastly, the truth that Joe didn’t get caught regardless of so many close-calls is downright ridiculous.
He floor up our bodies at Anavarin, and nobody seen; he killed Henderson after which gave his one-of-a-kind headphones to a cop, and nobody batted an eyelash, and Ellie took his phrase about her sister and skipped city, and there have been no questions requested.
It’s unlikely that at this level in his journey, nobody would have figured it out, suspected him, or related him to the crimes. And when Forty tried to, Joe merely caught one other fortunate break.
It’s not unusual for serial killers to go undetected for years and rack up a excessive physique rely (lookin’ at you Ted Bundy), however there’s often somebody (or an entire police pressure) that is attempting to take them down.
Even when Joe nonetheless has some extra escapades up his sleeve, it might be extra plausible if somebody was on his path by this level and easily ready for him to slide up so they may get the mandatory proof.
As an alternative, he retains getting away with it, which can simply be probably the most unrealistic a part of the season.
You Season 1 left you considering “holy crap, this might occur to me,” whereas YOU Season 2 assured you that “this is able to by no means occur.”
With YOU Season three already in manufacturing if we’re fortunate, Joe, Will, or no matter identify he goes by now, will hopefully get what’s coming to him sooner slightly than later.
Lizzy Buczak is a workers author for TV Fanatic. Observe her on Twitter and skim her private weblog at CraveYouTV.