While the whole world is recovering from « », we'll tell you how the third season of «You» became the best and took the top spot in viewership in the US, displacing the South Korean project after 24 days of leadership. The show could already make it into the ranking of the most popular streaming projects.
So, let's start with the fact that the series «You» moved to Netflix from Lifetime and immediately found its audience. The project was initially compared to «Dexter», and fans of «Gossip Girl» immediately noticed the familiar Dan Humphrey in a new, more terrifying role as a psychopathic stalker.
The first season gradually drew everyone into the story, the second season turned up the heat, even giving a bit of a scare, and the third became the strongest drama that could be spun in this genre. Considering that usually each new season of a series can 'bury' it and viewers might lose interest, the third season of «You» is a perfect example of how to avoid this and rehabilitate the story.
We won't talk about the plot to avoid spoilers, but we will touch on important themes and hooks that the creators focus on.
Characters
Let's start with the characters. «You» is a project where you won't truly empathize with any character. They are so repulsive yet at the same time so captivating that you simply cannot look away. This is an example of toxic individuals committing terrible acts without any remorse. It's hard to name even a few series where a completely negative sociopathic character is the key hero of the story from start to finish.
This can be easily traced with a simple example: the attitude towards murder. If in the first seasons the characters felt remorse about committing a crime, then in the third season it's more of a mild concern that things didn't go as neatly as they would have liked. And the viewer is more surprised that he hasn't snapped and killed his wife yet? Just an iron will.
Did you think that family and a child would stop Joe from further murders? Pfft. I never believed that thought crossed your mind. Season 3 immerses us more in the character's backstory: where his fears originated, his motivations, and where his childhood traumas led him.
Themes
Infatuation, love, obsession, marriage, and relationships – these remain important themes for the narrative. The stalking and the search for 'true love' do not cease but only take on new shades. While watching, you can't help but wonder: is someone stalking you like that? Are they stalking your social media? What information about you can be found online? And after watching, side effects are possible in the form of strange glances at guys or girls in caps.
Atmosphere
Despair, tension, and anxiety – that's what not only the characters but also the viewers feel. Dialogues and monologues play a significant role in this. We see how a couple tries to save an unhappy marriage through therapy and even more lies. Words help to further reveal the typical tropes and clichés of romantic comedies, which are to some extent even mocked here.
Joe thinks he's falling in love, then he likes this image of the girl more and more, then he 'loves' her, which leads to the phrase 'madly in love.' And we observe how he ensnares his object of love. Will the girl uncover his true nature? What will she see? Will someone from his surroundings find out a bit more truth about him and be killed? What could his carefully crafted plans lead to?
Social Media
The third season goes beyond typical 'cyberstalking,' inviting reflection on the topic of influencers online. It shows how people can manipulate situations and audiences through the internet, what information they actually reveal, and what others might see.
This fully references real life, where TikTok and Instagram stars set trends and can turn almost anyone into a celebrity. But we shouldn't forget that behind influential figures are ordinary people who are not so flawless.
Relationships
We are further immersed in the concept of successful and healthy relationships. Love – the heroine of the series – complains that her husband doesn't pay enough attention to her, that he isn't interested in her life and doesn't know what she wants. Sound familiar, doesn't it? On top of that, there's postpartum depression, the feeling of being unwanted and unhappy. Ultimately, we are made to understand that after marriage comes a new stage of the relationship, which both partners must work on if they want to be happy. In no way repeat the methods of the strange couple from the series.
Pandemic
The season was filmed under difficult lockdown conditions, and perhaps this served as the choice for another important theme. The third season mentions the pandemic and vaccination. Discussions about them once again show how our world is changing and what positions different people might have on these issues.
Still, the story is planned to conclude with season 4, which has already been announced. Now the question remains: will the characters learn anything? Will they get away with their crimes? Will they be held accountable? Will there be redemption and realization? Who exactly will be able to stop Joe? Now we'll wait together.
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