Summary
A fantastic start to the new season. After much speculation, You finally reveals who the woman next door is, plus a shock ending proves to set the path for Season 3.
This recap of Netflix’s You season 3, episode 1, “And They Lived Happily Ever After,” contains spoilers.
Read the review of You season 3.
You season 3, episode 1 recap
In Season 2 of You, Joe finally got the girl, aka Love (Victoria Pedretti). But after finding out that she’s a murderous psycho like him, he had the bigger surprise of learning that she was pregnant. He almost killed her, but instead, they moved away together. But in the words of Joe, what happens after the boy gets the girl.
After Love gives birth to a baby Henry (or Forty if you ask Dottie), Joe and Love are now living in Madre Linda with Love’s mother Dottie (Saffron Burrows). But with struggles with baby Henry, Dottie is living with them. Joe is thrilled about that. And with no bookstore in sight, Joe now sells his books online. All with the kind intention of giving the profits to Ellie. (It’s the least he can do after Love murdered her sister in Season 2).
Whilst settling in Madre Linda, Joe and Love meet Sherry (Shalita Grant). Locally famous on Instagram, she’s also the nasty bitch in the suburb. Meanwhile, Love senses that Joe isn’t that into parenthood. She’s correct. Joe believes that Henry hates him and is fed up with the lifestyle in Madre Linda.
As such, Joe’s attention has begun to wander to his next-door neighbor, Natalie (Michaela McManus). And before you know it, they’re having sex in Joe’s car. Only joking. It’s just Joe’s imagination. In reality, Natalie hands Joe some condoms. Is she flirting? Or just eager for attention? Regardless, it’s got Joe’s attention and he stalks her to the local library whilst Love meets Sherry’s “crew”.
Natalie calls Joe and invites him round for a drink; seems that she’s a bored housewife. Before long, Joe and Natalie are in the bathroom. But before anything can happen, Joe backs out and returns home to his family. Upon doing so, he and Love have sex.
The ending
During a party at Sherry’s place, where we’re introduced to her husband Cary (Travis Van Winkle), during the event, Natalie is also in attendance and following a brief encounter with Love, Love starts to believe Joe is sleeping with Natalie. The following argument takes a surprising turn and both Joe and Love have a mature conversation. Maybe Joe’s obsession with Natalie is over? Better yet, Joe makes a breakthrough with Henry.
“And They Lived Happily Ever After” concludes with Love finding Joe’s box full of Natalie’s belongings. Her solution to the problem? Grab an axe and kill Natalie. Love calls Joe, she thinks that they need to go to couples therapy.
What did you think of Netflix’s You season 3, episode 1?
