YOU Review: The Captain (Season 1 Episode 4)

Just as it seems Joe and Beck’s burgeoning relationship has reached a critical point and will surely dissolve before it ever really gets going, things take a sharp (and surprising!) left turn and the two wind up closer than ever.

Perhaps the most intriguing development of YOU Season 1 Episode 4, “The Captain,” is the introduction of Beck’s own inner monologue. This was something that the cast and creators teased during our interview with them at ATX Television Festival this past June.

I was excited to see how Beck’s POV would play into things, and happily, the technique works incredibly well on this particular episode.

“The Captain” picks up right where YOU Season 1 Episode 3 left off, with Joe having prematurely ejaculated in the midst of his very first hook-up with Beck. That’s when we’re first treated to Beck’s POV, as she awkwardly wonders what to do or say in this admittedly uncomfortable situation.

The writers cleverly plant a red herring in the form of the titular Captain, who at first appears (to the audience and to Joe) to be Beck’s older sugar daddy. But as it turns out, the Captain is Beck’s actual daddy, who — surprise! — is alive and fully recovered from his drug addiction. Not dead, as Beck tells people he is.

This is an excellent twist and immediately makes Beck’s character about a thousand times more interesting. As a bonus, we’re treated to some excellent costuming as Beck reluctantly accompanies her dad and his shiny-new family to the Dickens Festival.

Beck’s painful and emotional confrontations with her dad, his new wife, and the wife’s kids lead to a great performance by Elizabeth Lail. This is easily the most we’ve seen of Beck’s inner emotional turmoil, and it paints a broader picture of her character than we’ve gotten yet.

The dinner scene is a particularly strong, brutal moment. It makes Beck’s hurt and anger at her father for his abandonment incredibly clear and real. What’s saddest is that nothing is resolved by the end of the encounter — we’re given the sense that nothing will change between Beck and her dad. They’ll continue to have this stilted, vaguely uncomfortable regular meetings.

What does change is that Joe inadvertently butting into the family outing leads Beck to a creative breakthrough.

Who knew that Joe getting caught stalking Beck would lead to something… positive?

Joe is still creepy and not anyone to root for, but we’re now put in the uncomfortable, complicated position of realizing that Beck actually sort of is benefitting from their relationship, in an odd way. Joe gently pushes her into realizing that she should write what’s true about her dad, and it leads to a breakthrough in her writing — one that even results in praise from Blythe.

The hour ends with Joe and Beck getting a do-over for their hook-up, which is basically part apology for Beck having gotten snippy with Joe when he actually gave her good advice. The sexcapade is admittedly hot — as I’ve said before, the two actors have strong chemistry — but it’s also humorous, in a sick way.

Come on, don’t tell me you didn’t laugh at Joe frantically hiding evidence of his stalking (Beck’s phone, her undergarments, etc.) as their make-out session escalated!

Things end on a decidedly high note for Joe and Beck, which clearly means sh*t is about to go down. Any guesses as to who the eventual cause of their downfall might be?

Stray Thoughts and Observations:

• I’m not sure why Peach is basically dressed as Carmen Sandiego at the end of the episode, but I kind of dig it? It’s definitely a look.
• Ethan is consistently the cause of each of Joe’s almost-downfalls, and it’s kind of hilarious. I can’t believe he blabbed to Peach about where Joe was!
• Did Joe do something to make Peach think she had bed bugs, in order to get her out of her house to replace the book he stole? I assume he did, but that wasn’t super clear to me.

What did you think of this episode of YOU? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

YOU airs Sundays at 10/9c on Lifetime.

Follow us on Twitter @telltaleTV_

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

YOU: Cast and Creators Talk Season 1 and Shipping Toxic Relationships [Exclusive Interview]