Where can I begin with this one? I watched season one early last year and found myself pleasantly interested in the many twists and turns that the show took as we followed Joe (played by Penn Badgley) as he stalked the object of his affections, Beck (played by Elizabeth Lail) and the people around her., gradually infiltrating her life.
As an avid fan of the Gossip Girl series, it was strange seeing Penn Badgley playing such a deeply dark character, a huge contrast to the role of Dan Humphrey, which was how I had become familiar with him. But he lays the role so well, I often find myself thinking “wow, Dan really is a weirdo,” then I have to catch myself and remember that he’s Joe/Will now.
But at the same time, considering Dan was revelled to have been Gossip Girl in the series finale (sorry if you didn’t already know this lol but this show ended in 2012 and was in Netflix for some time so you have no excuse!) this isn’t necessarily such a far cry from this new characteristic they’re both good at hiding their true selves. And keeping a stalkerish eye on people.
I think the show is very well written, with unexpected twists and turns all along the way long with some great acting, I can see why so many people like it!
Season 2 starts off with Joe now trying to turn over a new leaf and give up his stalker ways; but it seems like this is something he will never truly be able to give up. He tries to do good and be a good guy but he has a deluded sense of being a hero which is often what leads him into the madness. I guess you could say he has a saving people complex.
This new season introduces a whole new set of characters, each with their own stories that are revealed (intentionally and unintentionally) throughout the season. The introduction of sisters, Delilah (Carmela Zumbado) and Ellie (Jenna Ortega) brings more emphasis to Joe’s obsession with saving people and “dealing with” people who hurt those who he cares about.
His new love interest, ironically is named Love (played by Victoria Pedretti), is revealed to not be what we thought all along in the last two episodes of the season, but I think the message behind her character is so important. Many of us go through life, searching for love, and when we find it (or think we’ve found it,) we ignore the reality of that person or the situation and instead focus on a fantasy that we’ve created in our heads. Not many people can look at someone and see the reality of what the person in front of them is.
I definitely recommend this show, I just wish I had re-watched season one before starting season two as there were some bits I had forgotten about but still, I enjoyed it. If you don’t have a strong stomach for gory/gruesome scenes then definitely watch this with your eyes half closed!
I give this show a 9/10, only because I feel like there could have been more episodes and there was a few points that confused me a little but nothing major.
By Natallie2008
NOA World Entertainment 