Over winter break, Netflix released an original series “You,” based on the 2014 novel by Caroline Kepnes of the same name. The show follows bookstore manager Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley from “Gossip Girl,” who instantly falls for an aspiring poet as soon as she walks into his store. The infatuation starts off innocent enough with light Instagram-stalking and locking eyes, but it quickly develops into dangerous stalking territory. Narrated by Goldberg himself, we get a firsthand look at his thoughts, including how he justifies his actions. As the humor darkens and the plot thickens, viewers are only left to ask a few questions: Why am I watching this? Why am I enjoying this, and most importantly, what is the point of making a show like this?
To answer the first two questions, the show is easily digestable for any audience. It has drama, stellar acting ability and just enough mystery to keep it interesting. But it also calls attention to the serious issue of stalking and how real life situations like this could escalate. As someone who has experienced stalking, I can see the appeal from a cinematic perspective. Murders, serial killers and the truly dark, scary experiences of life are extremely popular with viewers of many successful shows like “Law and Order” and its spinoffs. So, why not take on stalking? Afterall, it’s riddled with mystery and danger as well as a realistic component. It’s safe to say everyone is aware of stalking, either through celebrities or personal stories and experiences. Still,as a society, we don’t understand why stalkers do what they do which is why I believe this show was created.
“You” came with impeccable timing as well, amid the social movements of #MeToo and “Time’s Up” which both focus on sexual harassment, this show definitely earned a seat at the table for these conversations. It’s a deep-dive into the dark and evil inside humanity and of what we are capable. If it came at any other time, this show would probably be lost in translation and come off as more of a PSA not to “fall too hard” on a crush, or some similar write off. Because our society has become more aware of these issues, viewers will have a harder time accepting the main character’s actions.
The creators and actors of the show have commented on this aspect of the show before, with the star Badgley at the helm. Based on numerous interviews and online activism, he makes it obvious that he doesn’t in any capacity excuse his character’s actions. He even goes so far as stating on his Twitter account, “People wanna talk about problematic/interesting dimensions of the show which is a positive thing.”
So if it is a “positive thing” to talk about these issues from the perspective of the stars, then that’s the overall point. There have been some discussions on the show regarding need for trigger warnings or how some fans on social media are expressing crushes on Goldberg, despite his inexcusable actions. I feel those issue are part of the discussion that “You” intends and why larger audiences accept it.
The show is well-written, digestible and easy to follow, even more during the darker points. As a viewer, seeing the show through Goldberg’s eyes and occasionally, his victim’s, you might find yourself rooting for him and this relationship in a sick, twisted way. I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, especially if you are aware of how gruesome he truly is. As long as audiences watch “You” with a critical eye and for the right reasons, there’s no telling where this story might lead. What we can tell is that the success of the show will only skyrocket.
