'You' S2: Quinn Family is the Missing Link 'You' Needed (All Spoilers)
- iAmMizz!
- Jan 21, 2020
- 8 min read

I never actually reviewed season one, because I watched it before this blog existed, but I thought the Netflix reboot (starring Penn Badgley as Joe, the obsessive serial killer we find ourselves rooting for most times) to be very good (not great). I figured there would be a season two, based on the cliffhanger ending which revealed the return of Candace (Joe's ex-love and worst nightmare), but you never can be 100% sure until the show is actually renewed. When I saw that 'You' 2 placed Joe in Los Angeles, I have to admit that I had my immediate doubts. LA is probably the only place on this planet that attracts people more outwardly vain and ignorantly modernized than NYC (and I'm born and raised in NY), and as we know, Joe hates these sorts of people... but also seems to have a soft spot for them. Why would Joe go to LA of all places? Is this some desperate attempt by the show to recapture the magic of the initial season, except in a new location? How will any of this make sense?? Then I remembered pretty quickly that my doubts were all for naught, because not only does 'You' always seem to wrap around and make sense in the end, everything that happens in the show happens for a reason. The reason for the relocation was quickly explained, as most things are in this show (even if some more surprising explanations take longer than others). You might say the creators are as meticulous as Joe Goldberg himself.
The Creators: The show is based on a book series by Caroline Kepnes. I have never read 'You' or 'Hidden Bodies,' so I cannot comment on how closely the show relates to the novels. I will say that I have heard the first season relates more closely than season two. The TV developers are Greg Berlanti (Dawson's Creek, Riverdale) and Sera Gamble (The Magicians, Supernatural). Now I'm not sure who is responsible for the clever writing, intelligent plot and dialogue, and intriguing character arcs of 'You' season one and two out of these three creators (or possibly even someone not listed above), but I applaud whoever that may be. The style of this series (which features a heavy internal monologue by Penn Badgely throughout), is uniquely quick-witted in its own right, even if it gives off a hopelessly romantic 'Dexter' sort of vibe.
Even so, to reiterate, season one was good but not great. Sure I enjoyed Joe picking apart the idiocy and entitled self-worth of these millennial Manhattanites who flock to NYC from all over the world, I also enjoyed his back-story and character arc (which begin to take shape throughout). A lot of the first season was too predictable though. Peach's obvious tendencies as a thorn in Joe's side, the classic abusive step-father neighbor that Joe cannot help but get involved with (more on this in season two), Beck claiming she's not sleeping with John Stamos (Dr. Nicky) only to later admit yeah by the way I was sleeping with John Stamos... I mean who can resist Stamos right? Even as an older creepy pothead psychiatrist. I also couldn't stand Beck quite frankly, and thought the supporting cast of actors and actresses were sorely lacking in season one. The dumbest aspect was easily her constant decision to have sex with her gigantic windows wide open on a first floor apartment in the heart of the city that never sleeps. That is the one part of 'You' that made absolutely no sense, and was actually never explained other than, Beck liked to be seen.
Anyhow, I digress, because season two redeemed the series in every way that season one was lacking. First off, in terms of the plot they really didn't try to do too much. I'm aware that most of season two was a carbon copy of season one, except I'd argue each copycat moment was refined and upgraded on from one to two. For example, Joe starts season two by stealing Will Bettelheim's identity (a low-life like Benji from season one, played by Robin Lord Taylor who you might remember from his role as Penguin in 'Gotham') and trapping him in a brand new glass cage. The similarity in plots was so in your face that it had to be purposeful. The difference was, while Benji had no redeemable qualities whatsoever and eventually fell victim to Joe's killer streak, Will was very likable and even helpful towards the plot (with his hacking abilities). Then there's always the kid that Joe feels determined to save. In S1, it's Paco, the shy next door neighbor that witnesses abuse and enjoys a nice read. We learn in S2 that Paco must have reminded Joe of himself as a child, with almost identical upbringings. Independent-minded early teens filmmaker Ellie takes on the role of Paco in season two. Although she is older than Paco, she tends to act like she's older than the adults in the room, making it more challenging for Joe to "save" her from the Hollywood comedian Henderson, a "me too" themed sexual predator. Joe falls for a new girl, Love Quinn, he stalks her like he did Beck. They get together, they briefly break up and each get side-pieces, there are complications and there are moments where Joe truly believes everything will finally work out for him. The surface plot was all the same, he even works at a bookstore again (except this time in a boujee cafe owned by his new girlfriend's parents).

So why did this season feel so much better than the first one? I think it was just executed better. The acting (besides Badgley) was top-notch and the characters felt more redeemable (night and day from S1). Victoria Pedretti (Love Quinn... The Haunting of Hill House, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood) and James Scully (Forty Quinn... Heathers) were particularly captivating in their roles as wealthy twin siblings and heirs to an influential Los Angeles family. This was really a slam dunk home run breakout performance by Scully, who plays the spoiled Hollywood legacy better than maybe anyone I've ever seen in the past. His character arc reminds me of Jaime Lannister's in 'Game of Thrones.' You start out hating Forty; he's obnoxious, arrogant, unworldly despite thinking of himself as "woke," and really just downright cringe-worthy to be around. That's what the writers want you to feel. I mean he uses the Gatsby expression "old sport" constantly for God sake (that was just a brilliant touch by the way). As the season goes on, you start to understand why Forty is the way he is, and you even see the good buried deep inside him. He still annoys you, but in a pleasant way where you smirk and say, "aw shucks, there goes Forty again causing trouble." You don't really say shucks, but you know what I mean. He was also the only person that would ever call out Joe for creepily pausing in deep thought all the time before speaking (again, the creators enjoyed making fun of their own silly moments from S1 at times, humility is always welcomed in film). By the end, I don't know about everyone else, but I truly found myself wanting Forty and Joe to stay best buds. Unfortunately, that was never in the cards, and season two could take on the nickname: the tragedy of Forty Quinn.
Clever plot devices also separated season two from one. The LSD episode was by far one of the smartest I've seen in any television series in recent memory. To have Forty's eccentric nature strip Joe of his controlled thoughts and calculated personality, that took creativity, but it was also completely believable for those of us that have ever met someone as self-serving as Forty Quinn. That set the stage for a "Hangover" type episode nine, where Joe has to figure out what the F happened to Delilah, his landlord slash booty call. It also set the stage for the major reveal, that Joe is not the only evil psycho-killer in LA (when I say it like that, it's not surprising at all).
I have spoiled already, but the biggest spoiler of all is below if you would like to turn back now.
I have to admit, my girlfriend called it from the beginning, so maybe it wasn't as shocking and well-done as I had thought (I guess you can be the judge). Not to say she didn't enjoy the big reveal, she loved the entire season as much as me, maybe more... but she did accurately predict it would happen in like episode two. Just when Candace finally has Joe dead-to-rights, locked in his cell with a bloody victim he believes to have murdered, she makes the ever-fatal mistake that people always seem to make in TV and film. Candace does not call the police. Instead she calls Love Quinn, to reveal Joe for the soulless plague he really is. At this point I was on board with my girlfriend's dope call, that Love was just as crazy as Joe, or possibly crazier. Then Love gets to the scene of the crime and puts on a tremendous performance. Like I said before, Pedretti impressed again in this role, just like she did in Netflix's Hill House. Her acting actually convinced me that she wasn't crazy after all. Then when you least expect it and she runs off crying to go throw up (Candace chasing after her to console), she slits Candace's throat and reveals that she IS and WAS in fact as insane and stalk-happy as Joe all along. She even explains how she orchestrated their dating despite Joe's uncertainty, murdered Forty's au pair when they were young, murdered Delilah, and attempted to bring the inner killer out of Joe by introducing the good-looking but dull rebound, Milo. Now was this the most mind-blowing twist ever? No, it wasn't quite Christopher Nolan level mind-blank. It was a solid twist though. Paired with Delilah's death at her hands, which conflicted with Joe's duty to protect Ellie, it made for an intriguing finale.

In the end, Forty seeks out Dr. Nicky based on a tip by Candace before her death. In doing so, he learns the truth about his old sport Joe, and decides that for once in his life he must do the honorable thing. It may have felt undeserved, but I do think it was a just end in an awesome character arc to have Forty finally rest easy in a moment of heroism. He doesn't realize he is attempting to save another murderer in his sister, but either way he actually becomes the closest person to stopping Joe once and for all. He just has to pull the trigger, but he never does, and in the end Officer David Fincher (this name couldn't have been a coincidence, could it?) shoots the wrong man in a honest attempt to make sense of this whole mess. The Quinn family then quickly sweeps everything under the rug with their corrupt LA power reigning supreme, which works great for Joe who again slips away unnoticed. As for Joe himself, he finally seems to realize the meaning of true love, and having someone who will do anything for you by your side. With Love pregnant with his child, he decides to stay with her and love her, even if she isn't the pure angelic being that he had hoped she was. They even wrap up Ellie's plot nicely with a long distance blackmail sort of allowance situation. I was pleased with this ending... up until the final thirty seconds.
The fricking season three teaser. They always have to do these! And I really couldn't stand this one to be honest. The whole season was close to perfect up to this point, and then you bring in the random suburban neighbor who Joe is now enthralled by, despite living with a very pregnant Love. I get that Joe's obsessive personality is probably more intoxicated by the idea of the perfect soulmate, than the actual thing right in front of his eyes (or maybe he just enjoys the thrill of the chase), but that final scene made it feel like that whole season was all for nothing. Will Love become the new Candace, with the boring desperate housewife replacing her? Will her mother Dottie Quinn become the new Peach Salinger? Is this going to become one of those series that doesn't quit while they're ahead, forever pedaling around in circles only to return to our starting point? 'You' has proven me wrong for doubting them once already, and I hope they do again... but it will be hard to top the introduction of the Quinn twins.
Season 1 of 'You'- 7.6 out of 10
Season 2 of 'You'- 8.4 out of 10
I'll just leave you with this...

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