You Season 4 Part One Review

After the disappointment that was Season 3, fans are rightfully anxious in Season 4’s arrival, hoping that it would return to its usual tense and shocking roots. Thankfully, Season 4 delivers everything fans loved about the first two seasons, and so much more. You Season 4 is certainly ambitious, yet it’s a thrilling and refreshing return to form for the series in perhaps its best season yet.

This latest installment follows Joe Goldberg as he roams the streets of London as his new identity, Professor Jonathan Moore. After murdering his wife and abandoning his son with a loving family, Season 4 puts Joe at the center of a deadly murder mystery. Joe must solve this mystery before Joe’s darkest secrets and mysterious past, come to light.

Part 1 quickly cements itself among the best season’s so far with its immersive mystery and surprisingly ambitious turn that takes the series back to its roots. That said, Season 4 is inherently refreshing, offering a story mostly disconnected from the previous series, making it feel like a great spin off, which is by no means a knock. Placing Joe as the stalkee leads to many interesting moments, that only factor into why this season feels so refreshing.

Centering around a murder mystery (which seems to be an incredibly popular sub genre at the moment) allows for many great twists and turns, that are mostly predictable, yet the season makes these twists and reveals feel earned, leaving audiences satisfied no matter how predictable a twist may have been. The constant twists and turns make the show much more immersive and thrilling and as soon as audiences start the show, its incredibly difficult to stop. Meanwhile, the stakes for Joe throughout the course of the season are incredibly high which adds plenty of undenying tension that make this season so thrilling.

Badgely is once again deliciously creepy, endearing and charming as Joe, delivering more spine chilling and insanely cool monologues which fans can’t get enough of. Meanwhile, the rest of the supporting cast are great, with the likes of Charlotte Ritchie, Ed Speleers and Ben Wiggins playing awesome parts. Most of the new cast play detestable privileged right wing idealists, that leads to much great social commentary that once again seems to be a popular sub genre at the moment. The characters are well and truly detestable yet, audiences will find their eyes fixed to the screen the entire time Joe spends any time with them, Hearing Joe insult them in his genius monologues is a definite highlight.

As mentioned, Season 4 comes with a surprisingly fair share of social commentary. Focusing on the rich unworthy of their status, as well as some commentary on how impure both relationships and friendship groups can be, which are essentially the main focal points of the series.

With only 5 episodes that don’t overstay their welcome, its possible to binge part 1 in just one night. Be warned this season is so incredibly enthralling that audiences will most definitely be forced to not stop watching.

In the end, You Season 4 Part 1 is an unexpected, refreshing and ambitious turn, and after the disappointing third season is a return to form. Penn Badgley is once again perfect as Joe Goldberg and his inner monologues are as spine chilling as ever. The characters are detestable yet its social commentary undoubtedly forgives it. Fans of the series are sure to fall back in love and won’t be able to wait for part 2.

If you liked this, please read our other reviews here and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter or Instagram or like us on Facebook.

Olly Dyche

Journalist, Writer, Film Critic and Professional Nerd. You will probably find Olly at the cinema chomping down on some popcorn and taking in the glorious visuals of the latest theatrical release.