You: Why Love Quinn's Absence Hurt the Final Season
The final season of "You" delivered a conclusion to Joe Goldberg's twisted journey, but one key element was conspicuously missing: Love Quinn. While the show is known for moving quickly and not dwelling on the past, the lack of Love's presence, even in flashbacks or hallucinations, felt like a missed opportunity to truly explore Joe's psyche. Love wasn't just another ex; she was the only person who truly saw and accepted Joe for who he was, making her absence all the more glaring.
Revisiting Joe and Love's Relationship Joe's history is filled with fleeting relationships and deadly consequences, but Love Quinn stands out as the most complex. Their relationship, born from Joe's attempt to escape his past, quickly spiraled into a chaotic dance of obsession and violence. Love's willingness to kill for Joe, exemplified by her murders of Candace and Delilah, set her apart from his other romantic interests. The dynamic between Joe and Love reached its peak in Season 3, as they attempted to navigate suburban life in Madre Linda. Their attempts at couple's therapy and promises to change ultimately failed, culminating in Love's attempt to poison Joe and his subsequent killing of her. Despite the chaos, Love was the mother of Joe's son and the only woman he was ever truly honest with, making her a crucial figure in his life.
Love's Haunting Presence (or Lack Thereof) Although Love died at the end of Season 3, the writers missed an opportunity to fully explore her impact on Joe in later episodes. In Season 4, Love briefly appeared in a drug-induced hallucination, urging Joe to end his life. While this cameo was appreciated, it felt insufficient considering the depth of their connection. Love's acceptance of Joe's darkness and her willingness to overlook his flaws made her unique. She was a mirror to his true self, and the show's refusal to acknowledge her significance in Season 5 felt out of character for a series so reliant on Joe's inner monologue and flashbacks. Love was Joe's ultimate foil, and her absence left a void in the narrative.
Season 5 Just Wasn’t the Same Without Love Season 5 aimed to provide a satisfying conclusion to Joe's story, bringing back familiar faces and revisiting past events. The season jumps ahead three years, finding Joe back in New York with his wife, Kate, attempting to reinvent himself as a bookstore owner. However, his past inevitably catches up with him through his entanglement with Bronte, a student of his former victim, Beck. The finale cameos from characters like Paco, Dottie, and Sherry, each offering their perspective on Joe's actions. However, the complete exclusion of Love, without even a flashback or mention, felt like a significant oversight. As Joe's most multifaceted love interest and a true reflection of his inner darkness, Love Quinn deserved a more prominent role in the series' final chapter. Her absence was definitely felt, and the show would have benefited from her inclusion in some capacity.