You is an engaging thriller that will get you thinking about how manipulation can be done so easily and sometimes go without any recognition at all.

The show follows the storyline of a seemingly charming bookstore worker, Joe,  who forms a crush on an aspiring writer, Beck after she enters the bookstore. What starts as a cute and innocent crush becomes an all-consuming obsession with her. It shows their relationship progressing, and his obsession growing. It shows the struggles Beck goes through with finding the right men, problems with her friends, and her struggle to become a better writer, all through the eyes of Joe. He does everything in his power to find anything and everything out about Beck. It also shows exactly how far he will go to keep her in his life, no matter who or what gets in the way.

The show is filmed in a way that makes the viewer feel as though they are right there inside the mind of Joe. Although Joe may be very dangerous and sketchy, the viewer is still drawn to him and may even feel sympathetic for him. This proves how easily people are manipulated into feeling bad for someone who doesn’t deserve it.

Along with the intriguing plot that will keep you watching nonstop until the last episode, the filming was clearly thought out very well. The lighting techniques used set the mood really well, and the setting of the show almost makes it seem dreamy despite its dark undertones.

Netflix released its first season of You in December of 2018 after buying it from Lifetime. Since the show only has one season consisting of ten episodes, it’s no doubt that an avid Netflix watcher could finish it in a day. Its intriguing psychological plot and overall feel will suck you in until you realize you’ve already finished it.

Briana Zermeno, a senior at Sauk Rapids, had this to say about the show: “I think that the show does a really good job at what it’s supposed to do: psychologically manipulate you. It’s supposed to make you sort of reason with Joe and justify what he does to Beck and just sort of brush off all of the lying and abuse that happens, but then as you keep watching you realize like wow…  maybe this is creepy. Towards the end it makes you realize that he was a stalker, that was abuse and manipulation, and she didn’t do anything to imply or indicate that she was any bit interested.”

She liked how season one ended because “it will open up on season two with his first ex-girlfriend, and I hope it goes more in-depth on why he is the way he is.”