As an avid viewer of the show “You” and long time Penn Badgley fan due to “Gossip Girl” (2007), I was extremely excited to pick back up the most recent installment of the series. I couldn’t wait to dive back into the sick and twisted mind of Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) and listen to his creepy (but charming) voice narration. 

Every season, audiences get to settle down onto their couches to watch Joe (Penn Badgley) stalk and obsess over a new love interest, which eventually turns upside down. This season, the show takes a 180. Joe, now known as Jonathan Moore, is seen with a brand new beard in London as a college professor after ditching his old life back in Los Angeles. 

Filled with an eccentric cast of characters, Joe finds himself surrounded by the type of people he hates most — filthy rich snobs who inherited fame and fortune without moving a muscle. The plot turns dark quickly (per usual) after “friend” Malcolm (Stephen Hagan) gets murdered and the rest start dropping like flies. 

My favorite aspect of the plotline is Joe’s persistent and ominous stalker, who somehow knows his entire background, true identity and murder history. This makes for a lot of opportunities for hilariously ironic commentary from Joe while the mystery unfolds. 

While the show has originally released all episodes for each season at a time, creators decided to release the series in two parts— the first part premiering on Feb. 9 and the second part premiering on March 9. Personally, I think it was a well thought out plan because it allows viewers to sit with the story they just digested, but also come up with the many extravagant and fun fan theories that every season seems to bring. 

Even though I was a bit worried that this season would bring a lot of repetitive and overdone themes to the plot, the writers did an exceptional job in incorporating new scenarios and murder tactics. My only critique this season so far is Joe’s love interest, Kate (Charlotte Ritchie). I found her the least captivating from the rest of his past love fixations and much rather preferred Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti) from season three. 

All in all, season four of “You” kept me entertained and restless throughout the first released part of the season. Due to the later release of the second half of the season, I am even more excited to watch the rest of the show unravel.

‘You:’ ★★★★☆