Synopsis
In this report on You (2018) episode 3, “Maybe” marks the continuation of revealing elements of unseen psychological control and fixation that surround Joe Goldberg’s character. As he establishes a charming yet dangerous persona in the first two episodes, this one now shifts towards the uneasy foundation of a relationship composed of secrets, lies, and dark motives.
In the previous episode, Joe killed Beck’s Boyfriend Benji, which creates the opportunity for him to further mold Beck’s life to fit his delusional fantasies. “Maybe” showcases what can still be considered one of the more romantic parts of Joe’s plans — the admiring and secret manipulating stage comes to an end, and now he must become her romantic partner. The social commentary made in the episode stems from Joe’s sociopathy and cast behind a curtain of faux vulnerability and charm.
As the episode begins, Joe resumes his narration, contemplating the significance of a “maybe” in relationships. He recognizes that “maybe” is not simply a word; it can either be a moment that pauses progress or advance a relationship toward either motion or stagnation. For Joe, Beck’s “maybe” is the moment he has been awaiting to step through into her life. To her, he is merely the considerate bookstore clerk that aided her through a rough patch. To Joe, their relationship is already profoundly intense, although Beck barely knows the true him.
In his mind, he creates elaborate plans to morph into the man he believes Beck desires. He examines her social media engagements, her written works, and even her menstrual cycles using the stolen phone’s data files. This information is not only helpful in getting to know her, but also enables him to predict her every action. He comes to the conclusion that it is time to clarify his intentions and spends most of the episode meticulously drafting a plan on how to propose the date to her.
Meanwhile, Beck is emotionally reeling from the disappearance of Benji. Although she is not privy to the details of how Joe killed him, it is glaringly obvious that he is absent. Beck starts to introspect about what she really felt for Benji and whether their relationship had any significance. This inner strife makes her more susceptive to Joe’s support. As expected, he supports her insecurities, listens, and plays the “good guy” perfectly.
Beck’s friendships, notably with Joe, also challenge her emotional equilibrium, and the one with Peach Salinger is particularly noteworthy given Joe’s interest in her. This is because Peach continues to exhibit possessive behavior and passive-aggressive control over Beck, often downplaying her writing ambitions and dictating her choices. Joe now wants to make Beck his wholly and considers Peach a threat who is another hurdle between him and Beck. He begins mentally strategizing how to eliminate her from the equation.
For Beck now, wanting to feel intimacy, support, and connection is one thing but knowing who to trust becomes an entirely different battle. One crucial thing that makes her situation worse is the combination of these problems. This is further worsened by Joe who uses these exact gaps to paint himself as a supportive alternative character, thus becoming all the more appealing.
Joe finally gets to take Beck out on a date, which unfolds as a romantic evening full of laughter and deep conversation. Beck feels that it is a forward leap with the potential to blossom into love. For Joe, it is a form of validation. Everything he’s done—the surveillance, the manipulation, and even the murder—was aimed at reaching this moment.
Yet, the moment is also strained. The rough edges of Joe’s need for control are softened to reveal more patriarchal behaviors—from selecting the perfect wine to steering the conversation to mentally critiquing the people Beck still associates with. His internal monologue continues to narrate the events, making the audience align with his warped worldview.
In the subsequent episode, Joe encounters Claudia’s boyfriend Ron, an abusive parole officer and resident of Joe’s apartment building. Throughout the episodes, Joe interacts with Ron, depicting a different slice of moral chaos. Joe is clearly unhinged and manipulative, but Ron embodies a different strain of sickness: aggressive, authoritarian, and physically abusive. Sustained in his delusion of being a protector, both to Beck and Paco, Joe feels justified to meddle in Paco’s life, offering books and quiet refuge.
The episode concludes with what appears to be an optimistic moment. They kiss and she tells him to come over to her apartment. To her, this is a new beginning. For Joe, it’s a victory. The girl he has stalked and sculpted from afar has now literally and emotionally invited him waiting. But the palpable tension remains. The audience knows every caress and gentle whisper is shrouded in the horror of what he has done to reach this point.
Characters and Performances
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg: Badgley, in this episode, keeps to the balance of charming yet menacing. He still uses Joe’s voiceover, which is spine-tingling. It continues to heighten the dichotomy of his existence and make him more interesting.
Elizabeth Lail as Guinevere Beck: Lail plays Beck with a blend of fortitude and bewilderment. As an individual, she desperately hopes to find some structure and affection which makes her prey to Joe’s cruelty. Overall, her performance portrays a woman attempting to regain control in a swirling emotional tempest.
Shay Mitchell as Peach Salinger: Peach’s suspicion and possessiveness add tension to every scene. Mitchell imbues the character with sharpness and emotional depth, making her both an antagonist and a nuanced sympathetic figure.
Luca Padovan as Paco: The young boy who idolizes Joe represents innocence trapped in turmoil. Paco’s presence continues to disturbingly humanize Joe, reminding us that even monsters can wear masks of kindness.
Themes and Analysis
- Obsession Disguised as Romance
“Maybe” strengthens one of the core themes of You: the peril of obsession hidden beneath the pretenses of love. For Joe, boundaries do not exist—only opportunities waiting to be seized. His controlling behavior is a form of expression—packaged as devotion—and the division between romantic and predatory becomes hauntingly razor thin.
- Emotional Vulnerability
Beck’s confusion regarding her emotions and sense of self reflects the reality of many young adults. Her warmth, which endears her to audiences, also makes her vulnerable to manipulation. The series critiques how society often idolizes in relentless pursuit, despite being rooted in control.
- Technology Intimacy
House phones symbolized private space, but in the example given, Joe has access to Beck’s phone, showcasing a greater concern of modern intimacy – technology intruding on personal space. A sustaining relationship characterized by the balance of knowledge turns out to be detrimental instead. Relationship harmony turns into an imbalanced power dynamic.
- A Relationship Void of Trust
The episode further explores toxic dynamics with Ron’s abuse and Benji’s emotional manipulation. Joe positions himself as a savior, but his toxicity is insidiously different. Rather than voicing out his discontent, he opts to diet draw by using weapons of soft violence disguised as empathy.
Conclusion
In You, Episode three, Maybe, marks a point of no return. Joe moves from being a shadow in Beck’s life to being a blasting figure of his existence. It does not matter now for the viewer as he bleeds truth- every second of portrayal is staged and laced with deception. Manipulation and control is wonderfully masked often and skillfully displayed in disguise as romance collage with obsession casted as love.
Each scene steadily escalates in intensity while the writing remains incisive and the performances intricate. With every episode, the audience arrives at an unsettling conclusion: the real threat is not the lurking third party, but rather the person who grips your hand, gazes into your eyes, and whispers all the right words. “Maybe” captures Beck’s vacillation but equally encapsulates the indeterminacy that has come to characterize her existence.
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