Synopsis:
“The Last Nice Guy in New York,” Episode 2 of You (2018), builds on the psychological themes the pilot has already developed. It tracks Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) as he further integrates himself into the life of Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail), a struggling writer and Joe’s dangerously obsessive focus. In this installment, the series continues revealing Joe’s psyche, increasingly blurring the distinction between romance and stalking.
An essential part of the storytelling in this episode is Joe’s narration, the device that shows the audience the gap between his charm and the darkness within him. As he uses the moniker ‘last nice guy in New York,’ his view of himself provides justifiable grounds for his immoral acts. This self-delusion is, of course, the focus of this episode. He believes he is different from the men in Beck’s life; he is more caring and more understanding. However, his behavior reveals that this self-image is false.
Joe now possesses Beck’s phone, which she mistakenly left behind during their last interaction. By reading her texts and emails and listening to her voicemails, Joe invades her privacy in ways that he deems benign, construing his actions as supportive or even charitable. This kind of manipulation and observation, in his twisted reasoning, is an expression of love.
As Joe’s fixation sharpens, Beck’s growing comfort with him leads her to label him a “sweet, intelligent” man who “saved her life” after the book-signing incident. While she has nearly unqualified trust in him, he works to further distance her from other people, especially Benji, her deeply flawed, narcissistic boyfriend who at that time remained imprisoned in the soundproof glass cage in the bookstore basement. Joe sees Benji as emotionally violent and undeserving of Beck, justifying Benji’s captivity as a public service. From Joe’s perspective, to eradicate Benji is, in fact, liberating Beck from an abusive relationship.
In the cage, Benji reveals that he is pretentious and entitled, but not truly evil. He seems completely lost regarding the reason for his captivity. Joe, increasingly disturbed yet methodical, begins asking Benji about his associations with Beck. Instead of any deep insight, Joe receives surface-level confessions; Benji did not care much for Beck, regarded their relationship as casual, and often treated her poorly. Joe attempts to record video of Benji and his so-called “confessions” to wrongdoings, including a college student’s death by allergic reaction to what was purportedly one of Benji’s concoctions.
Meanwhile, Beck’s life is falling apart. Compounding problems of severe writer’s block, growing debts, and demands from her socially active friend group further escalate the pressure she is under. Although she endeavors to project an image of modern day obsessive control, the truth is that she is completely adrift. One of her closest friends concerns Peach Salinger, a confident and wealthy woman (Shay Mitchell) who is deeply privileged and continues to shape and mold Beck. Peach does not like Joe and is put off by him for reasons that are important to Joe. She becomes, in a sense, the antagonist for Joe, showing that he is not the only one seeking to control Beck’s life.
In his warped mind, Joe perceives himself as the sole individual who genuinely comprehends and supports Beck. He comforts her during panic attacks, reinforcing to beck that he is caring and gentle, solidifying the impression that he is trustworthy. This instance marks a pivotal shift in their developing intimacy. She begins to consider Joe as a potential love interest, which further intensifies his fixation.
As Joe supervises Beck’s life through her stolen phone, he makes a variety of decisions on her behalf, such as deleting messages and manipulating her guiding information. Joe also begins devising plans to eliminate Benji for good. He believes that Benji’s continued existence poses a risk of exposure and emotional suffering for Beck. Convincing himself that Beck will be better off without Benji, Joe makes a defining decision for the remainder of the series: he serves Benji a fatal coffee laced with peanut oil, exploiting his severe allergy.
This murder serves as a turning point. Joe transitions from a stalker to a murderer, yet continues to believe, in his narration, that his actions are somehow justified. The title, “The Last Nice Guy in New York,” is now completely ironic. Joe views himself as Beck’s guardian and champion, but the truth is he is sabotaging her life by eliminating people he deems dangerous—not out of benevolence, but selfish obsession.
Cast & Characters:
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg – Badgley continues to deliver a chilling performance, maintaining Joe’s duality with alarming authenticity. His narration remains the emotional and thematic anchor of the series, allowing viewers to perceive the disturbing juxtaposition of his thoughts and actions.
Elizabeth Lail as Guinevere Beck – Lail portrays Beck as a woman full of promise, but deeply insecure. She is intelligent and hopeful, ambitious yet burdened by self-doubt and overwhelming financial pressure. This tragic vulnerability makes her a compelling figure as she is unknowingly ensnared in a perilous web.
Shay Mitchell as Peach Salinger-Mitchell plays Peach with confidence and subtle menace. This episode marks her as a major presence within the story. As Peach, she extends protective instincts toward Beck while simultaneously nurturing suspicion toward Joe which sets up future conflict.
Lou Taylor Pucci as Benji Ashby—This marks the final episode for Benji. While his character is focused on being shallow and self-serving, his death at the hands of Joe raises ethical questions. Is he truly evil—or is he just another character, like many others, flawed and caught in the delusion that Joe paints?
This episode tackles several important themes:
Self-Delusion: As nice as he may claim to be, Joe is delusional when he assumes that saving Beck makes him a good person. The title of this episode mocks his self-image. Surveillance, kidnapping, and murder are anything but noble.
Consent: A rather explicit loss of agency for Beck lies in Joe’s control over her phone. As the ultimate breach of personal privacy, he reads her thoughts, dictates her relationships, and makes life-changing decisions without her cognizance.
Toxic Masculinity in Disguise – Joe does not display aggression or overtly domineering behavior. He is gentle, soft-spoken, and seems helpful. More troubling, his “helpfulness” stems from a sense of entitlement—whereby he believes he is acting in the best interest of the woman he “loves.”
Privacy and Technology – The episode also critiques the extent to which individuals unwittingly reveal information about themselves. In the case of Beck, her digital life provides Joe with the tools he needs to control her. The show poses an unsettling question: how well do we actually know who is watching us?
Reception and Impact:
Critics have noted that “The Last Nice Guy in New York” focuses on Joe’s manipulative mindset, deepening the psychological horror of the series without relying on conventional fright tactics. Rather than using jump scares, the episode builds tension by portraying a man performing horrific acts—while claiming, and attempting to convince viewers, that he is doing them lovingly.
Reviewers praised Penn Badgley for his performance, considering it to be genius. He draws attention to Joe’s thought process which, through his internal dialogues, implicates the audience in his wrongdoing. Some members of the audience expressed feeling conflicted, captivated by Joe’s charm, despite being repulsed by his behavior. This duality is what renders You as effective as it is chilling.
Conclusion
The You series has a plot that builds up the psychological tension and suspense that was introduced in the pilot. As we see in Episode 2, “The Last Nice Guy in New York,” this episode signifies Joe’s transformation from a mere stalker to a full-fledged killer. Niggling acts of love loosely veiled as gestures to ‘protect’ his victims demonstrate the perils of obsession, unwarranted entitlement, and the dangers of easily accessible private information. The episode is remarkable for its vivid performances coupled with an unnerving narrative. It portrays a world where the greatest danger is not the lurking far-off beast, but rather the person within arm’s length who is grinning serenely.
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