Introduction
Well why has Netflix decided to do another season of You? Probably money because the show really didn’t need another one. Despite replacing the lead actress for Seasons 2 and 3 (for obvious reasons), You still managed to keep the same level of consistency up which is very impressive. So before I get properly into the list, here is some history about the show.
History
You first debuted on Lifetime in 2018 and has since moved to Netflix where all three seasons currently reside. The show’s seasons are all based on books by Caroline Kepnes and follows Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager, who becomes obsessed with girls he is attracted to. The show also has a couple of location changes which is very evident given the events of Season 1. Anyway, You has some phenomenal performances, especially Penn Badgeley and Victoria Pedretti in the second season, and also some great moral dilemmas which I’m sure I’ll touch on in later entries. So without further ado here are the best episodes of You.
10: So I Married an Axe Murderer (S3, E2)
Kicking off the list of the best episodes of You is So I Married an Axe Murderer. Now what makes this episode so good? Well, it starts with Joe and Love attending couple therapy to talk through their many, many problems. Oh one of these problems is what to do with a dead body they’ve killed. So some very normal couple problems they’ve got to work through….
9: Farewell My Bunny (S2, E6)
Now if you’ve seen You, you’ll know Joe has no problems when it comes to obsessive partners. So after accompanying Love to Henderson’s funeral, Candace once again resurfaces into Joe’s life. Despite Love hiring a private investigator to try and ward off Candace, she still finds out about the accusations made against Joe in New York. So despite all of this Joe and Candace still end up having sex at the end of the episode. That says a lot about them to be honest….
8: Living with the Enemy (S1, E5)
Now this episode is great because it explores how bad Peach is for Joe to be out of Beck’s life. So when Beck hears all about Peach’s horrible secrets, Peach fakes a suicide attempt to bring her back under her influence. Naturally, Joe also trying to control Beck leads to two very controlling people being in love with a very innocent girl which only leads to happiness for everyone…..
7: Red Flag (S3, E9)
I mean there’s so many potential red flags that Joe and Love’s relationship which I’m sure this episode addresses. So what makes this episode so good? Well, there’s some serious problems between Love and Joe which leads to her bludgeoning him with a fire extinguisher. There’s also a lot of problems which involve Joe’s alleged domestic abuse and also possible staged suicides. So really there’s a lot of issues to work out here….
6: Love, Actually (S2, E10)
Again what is it with You referencing other films in episode titles? Anyway the Series 2 finale is another very good episode. So what makes it that good? Well, it sees Love finally reveal a secret to Joe which offers a really nice twist on the series arc up to this. Also, it pays off massive amounts of story arcs like Forty being worried about Love’s growing love for Joe. Oh and it also sets up the next series which is always a massive positive.
5: What is Love? (S3, E10)
At the halfway point of the best You episodes.is the Series 3 finale and most recent episode: What is Love? Well hopefully they don’t hurt me, no more… Awful segue aside, what makes this episode so good? Well the complete 180° switch from series 2 which confirms Love is massively more unstable than Joe ever dreamed of. It also sets up Love as the new Candace figure and leaves the show in a very interesting place for its fourth series….
4: Fear and Loathing in Beverly Hills (S2, E8)
So apart from having a great reference to a film as a title, what makes this episode so good? Well, firstly Joe and Forty arrange a self kidnapping. Now that’s weird enough until you realise the reason they decide on this option because they are trying to finish off a script. Oh and there’s also a ticking clock as Joe has definitely not locked Delilah in a vault to help him finish the script in time. Now that does lead to a wonderful setup to the next episode which always helps an episode’s quality.
3: Candace (S1, E9)
Kicking off the top three best episodes of You is Candace. Now this episode sees a very nice role reversal as Beck is determined to dig into Joe’s previous partner: Candace. Now naturally Joe is resistant to this which makes the truth at what Joe did to Candace and her partner who she cheated on Joe with even worse. Oh and the fact that this sets up the series 1 finale makes this episode even better.
2: P.I Joe (S2, E9)
Narrowly missing out on the top spot in the best You episodes is P.I Joe. Apart from creating a very funny jingle in my head, what makes this episode so good? Well, this episode sees a climactic confrontation between Joe, Love and Candace. Determined to prove he didn’t murder Delilah, Joe retraces his steps like a drunk uni student. Unfortunately for him, this leads him into the arms of Candace who is determined to make Joe tell the truth to Love. Oh and this sets up a brilliant finale because of what Love does to Candace. So overall another really good episode…
1: Bluebeard’s Castle (S1, E10)
And the best episode of You is…. Bluebeard’s Castle. So what makes the Season 1 finale the best episode of the show? Well, firstly it deals with the aftermath of Peach’s death as her family hired a private investigator to look into her mysterious death. Also, Joe is having to deal with the consequences of kidnapping Beck and locking her up which is definitely not how to show your partner you love them. And if that’s also not enough there’s the culmination of Joe’s feud with his abusive next door neighbour and one hell of a cliffhanger with the return of someone from Joe’s past. So yeah this is one hell of an episode…..
What are your favourite episodes of You? Let me know in the comments below!
