When You returned for its third season in October 2021, I wondered how the show could sustain its tension after the explosive twists of season two. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) and Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) had gone from star-crossed lovers to an unsettling power couple, bonded by their shared capacity for violence and manipulation. Now, they were moving to the suburbs—hardly the setting you’d expect for a show rooted in psychological thrillers and obsessive intrigue.
But season three proved once again that You thrives on reinvention. By diving headfirst into Joe and Love’s toxic dynamic, shifting its focus to themes of marriage and parenting, and delivering some of the show’s darkest twists yet, season three was both familiar and refreshingly different. As we approach the fifth and final season in early 2025, it’s clear that season three was a critical turning point in Joe’s ever-unravelling story.
Joe and Love: A Marriage Made in Hell
Season three picks up with Joe and Love settling into life as a married couple in the affluent suburban enclave of Madre Linda, now parents to their newborn son, Henry. From the very first episode, it’s clear that their relationship is hanging by a thread. Joe, ever the romantic in his own twisted way, is already disillusioned with Love and fixating on their neighbour, Natalie (Michaela McManus). Love, meanwhile, is as volatile as ever, and her impulsiveness quickly sets the tone for the chaos that follows.
The show’s exploration of their marriage is one of its most compelling aspects. Rather than painting Joe and Love as equals in their crimes, season three delves into the ways their darkness manifests differently. Joe is cold and calculating, convincing himself that his murders are justified. Love, on the other hand, is driven by emotion and impulsivity, often acting out of jealousy or rage. Together, they’re a dangerous mix—both for each other and for anyone who crosses their path.
Penn Badgley continues to deliver an exceptional performance, portraying Joe’s inner conflict with chilling precision. But it’s Victoria Pedretti who truly shines this season. Love is unpredictable, passionate, and increasingly unhinged, and Pedretti balances these extremes with remarkable nuance. Watching Love’s descent is both tragic and terrifying, as we see how her desperation to hold onto Joe pushes her to even darker places.
Parenthood and Paranoia
One of the most intriguing shifts in season three is its focus on parenthood. The addition of baby Henry forces Joe and Love to confront their own childhood traumas and grapple with what kind of parents they want to be. For Joe, Henry represents hope—a chance to break the cycle of abuse and give his son a better life. For Love, Henry is a lifeline, someone to love unconditionally even as her marriage crumbles.
But parenthood doesn’t soften either of them. If anything, it amplifies their flaws. Joe’s fixation on Natalie and later on librarian Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) shows that he hasn’t truly changed, while Love’s inability to control her emotions leads to increasingly reckless behaviour. Their attempts to present a picture-perfect family life to the outside world only heighten the tension, as their carefully constructed facade begins to crack.
Madre Linda: A Suburban Nightmare
The suburban setting of Madre Linda provides a stark contrast to the gritty urban landscapes of the first two seasons. But behind the white picket fences and pristine lawns lies a world of privilege, hypocrisy, and moral decay. The show’s satire of affluent suburban culture is sharp and often darkly funny, skewering everything from social media influencers to wellness culture.
Joe and Love’s new neighbours provide plenty of drama, particularly Sherry (Shalita Grant) and Cary Conrad (Travis Van Winkle), a seemingly perfect power couple who turn out to have their own secrets. Sherry, an influencer and self-proclaimed marriage expert, initially seems vapid, but as the season progresses, she becomes one of the most unexpectedly compelling characters. The Conrads’ entanglement with Joe and Love leads to some of the season’s most tense—and bizarrely hilarious—moments, particularly when the pair find themselves locked in Love’s basement.
The Obsession Evolves
Joe’s pattern of obsession takes a slightly different turn in season three. His fixation on Natalie is cut short early in the season (in a shocking moment that sets the tone for what’s to come), and his attention shifts to Marienne, a single mother and librarian who represents the idealised love he’s always chasing. Tati Gabrielle brings a quiet strength and vulnerability to Marienne, making her a stark contrast to Joe’s previous obsessions.
What makes this season particularly interesting is how Joe’s own delusions start to unravel. His obsession with Marienne is tinged with guilt, as he recognises the destruction he’s brought to others’ lives. But his inability to break free from his own cycle of control and violence ultimately seals his fate—and hers.
Love’s Descent and a Shocking Finale
If season three belongs to anyone, it’s Love Quinn. Watching her try to navigate her marriage, her role as a mother, and her growing sense of betrayal is both fascinating and heartbreaking. Her impulsive actions—murdering Natalie, attempting to frame others, and eventually poisoning Joe—show just how far she’s willing to go to protect her family and her vision of happiness.
The final episodes of the season are nothing short of explosive. Joe and Love’s relationship deteriorates into full-blown warfare, culminating in a deadly confrontation that leaves Love dead and Joe on the run. Love’s final moments are devastating, not just because of her death but because of what it represents: the destruction of a woman who, like Joe, was a product of her trauma but never truly escaped it.
Joe’s decision to fake his own death, leave Henry in the care of another family, and flee to Paris sets up a tantalising cliffhanger for season four. It’s a chilling reminder that no matter how much carnage he leaves behind, Joe always finds a way to start over.
Themes of Control and Self-Delusion
Season three deepens You’s exploration of control, morality, and the lies we tell ourselves. Joe’s belief that he’s a good person doing bad things is challenged at every turn, as he begins to see how destructive his actions truly are. Love, meanwhile, grapples with her own need for control and validation, often to catastrophic effect.
The season also explores the idea of cycles—of abuse, obsession, and violence—and whether it’s possible to break free from them. For Joe and Love, the answer is ultimately no, as their inability to confront their own darkness leads to their undoing.
Final Thoughts
Season three of You is a masterful continuation of the series, combining sharp social commentary with the show’s signature blend of suspense and dark humour. By shifting the focus to marriage, parenthood, and suburban life, it adds new layers to Joe’s story while delivering some of the most shocking twists yet.
Looking back now, it’s clear that season three was a turning point for the series, setting the stage for the increasingly chaotic events of season four and beyond. As we approach the show’s final season, I’m eager to see how Joe’s story will end—and whether he’ll finally face the consequences of his actions.
For me, season three solidified You as one of the most compelling dramas of the past decade. It’s not just a show about obsession; it’s a chilling exploration of the lies we tell ourselves to justify our darkest impulses. And as Joe Goldberg’s journey nears its conclusion, I can’t wait to see how this twisted tale will finally unravel.
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