The show follows Joe, a bookstore manager, as he obsessively pursues a graduate school student, Guinevere Beck. His obsession blossoms after encountering her just once. But theirs isn't a typical love story and things begin to get quite scary and dangerous. The New York City-based series quickly gets dark as murders and other mysteries begin to arise.
But if you haven't seen the show yet, you might not get the memes or understand why people are so obsessed with the series. If that's the case, read on for everything you need to know about "You."
"You" is based on a book of the same name
The book, written by Caroline Kepnes, was published in 2015 , which means it wasn't out in the world very long before it was turned into a TV series. If you've already read the book or have watched "You" and are dying for more there's a sequel to "You" called "Hidden Bodies," which picks up with Joe where the first book left off.
It originally aired on Lifetime
Netflix Many fans have discovered the show thanks to Netflix, but it wasn't initially one of the streaming service's original series. "You" is actually a Lifetime show that just recently made its Netflix debut in December. All of the series' episodes first aired on the Lifetime network in fall 2018.
Its getting really good reviews
Currently, "You" has an 89% score from critics and an 86% from audiences on Rotten Tomatoes. It also has an 8.1/10 on IMDb .
In September, Entertainment Weekly's TV Critic Kristen Baldwindubbed the show a "snappy new thriller," giving it a B+ grade. She called it "a lot like social media itself: perhaps not the most edifying way to spend your time, but very, very hard to quit."
The show is about some seriously dark issues
Netflix Ultimately, the show gives readers a glance into the dark side of obsession. Throughout the first season, "You" gives viewers insight into the dark and twisted mind of Joe Goldberg, the man who is stalking the woman he loves. His thoughts and actions can be unsettling throughout the entire series, but Joe is also quick-witted and sardonic, giving him some shockingly likable qualities. Because of this, the viewer sees just how easy it is for Joe to seem trustworthy.
Beyond that, one of the most unsettling parts of "You" is the way it shows just how easily one's privacy can be invaded. The series shows how simple it could be for someone to use modern-day resources to work their way into your life.
"You" takes its viewers into uncomfortable places that anyone could find themselves in while dating online, leaving their windows open, or even just sharing too much on social media. It shows how dangerous common activities can be under certain scary circumstances.
"You" is filled with gray area and many viewers feel conflicted about who theyre really rooting for
Overall, the gray area about who you are rooting for versus who you want to be rooting for is part of what's been creating such a buzz around the show.
Its already been renewed for a second season
Considering the popularity that "You" has amassed, it's no surprise that it's already been renewed for more episodes. Lifetime passed on a second season, according to The Hollywood Reporter , but Netflix picked up the series. They have yet to announce a premiere date for the new episodes.
