Optics is everything nowadays when public opinion can be so easily swayed merely by distraction or emotional manipulation. Well-controlled optics can make a hero out of a dreaded criminal. After all, we have the tendency to shut off our mental faculties whenever something draws out our negative instincts and go with the flow of supporting any narrative that promotes it. The seventh episode of the ongoing season of You is a perfect example of how manipulation of public perception can provide refuge to the worst offenders, as Joe’s criminal past surfaces in public. The eighth episode, on the other hand, focuses on Louise, or should we say Bronte’s unfortunate devolvement into being just another addition to Joe’s victims, as she gets trapped in the manipulations of the psychopath.
Spoilers Ahead
Why Did Louise Betray Her Friends?
As revealed previously, Louise is part of a group of activists who want to expose Joe Goldberg for the crimes he has committed, of which Clayton, who was pretending to be Louise’s toxic ex, was a part as well. Louise had taken it upon herself to catfish Joe, but in the process, she fell in love with him, and despite Joe getting apprehended by the authorities after murdering Clayton, it was Louise’s statements that allowed Joe to go scot-free without suffering any consequence. However, as Joe’s involvement with the murder makes headlines in the news, Louise’s activist friends decide to take the chance to expose him on social media, with Louise’s confession acting as support. However, Louise has fallen so hopelessly for Joe that she tries to distance herself from the situation in a way as if she no longer believes that it was a make-believe fling she had with Joe. Louise comes up with baseless arguments about Joe not being guilty and deludes herself into believing that he isn’t the culprit who got Guinevere Beck, her idol, murdered. Dominique realizes that Louise has turned her back on them, and as Louise decides to leave on her own, Dominique no longer feels the need to stop her. Phoenix and Dominique themselves expose Joe by mentioning his past scandals on social media and find massive support from his past victims, who were silent for so long and have finally found the courage to speak up.
On the other hand, Joe’s life spirals out of control as the legal battle to gain Henry’s custody becomes tougher due to his present reputation. Completely losing it, he makes a desperate attempt to track and meet with his son Henry, whom Kate had entrusted with Teddy, only to be dragged away from his son by the security. Kate, who is trying to save her own skin by trying to convince Maddie to join her side, refuses to go public about Joe’s crimes, knowing that she is complicit, and gets a timely, stern lecture from Teddy, who wants to keep away from his miserable family.
How Did Joe Change the Narrative?
Backed into a corner, Joe contacts Maddie and threatens her with consequences by showing the video of her killing Raegan inside the glass vault. Given Maddie handles Lockwood Corporation’s PR, Joe wants her help to change the direction of people’s perception of him, which can somewhat improve his situation in the legal battle for Henry’s custody, and in exchange, he promises Maddie to delete the video. Maddie arranges a live interview session with propagandist journalist Kim Kramer, who is working under Lockwood payroll. Ironically enough, Kim’s reputation as someone who goes against abusers is going to help Joe’s case by fabricating a guise of transparency. Joe initially fumbles to get a grip on his apology/victim card-playing charade by mentioning childhood trauma at the hands of Evan Mooney during the interview session. Joe shares his disappointment with Louise, and seeing him denouncing their relationship in public, Louise nearly makes up her mind to return to her place in Ohio. But Joe’s approach changes when Louise sends him a text from Louise, mentioning it was her statement that saved him from getting imprisoned, as she genuinely believes Joe had saved her from Clayton. Finding a ray of hope, considering that the connection he had with Louise was real, Joe uses emotional ploys to gaslight the viewers into believing that he is innocent and a victim himself and that his act of defending Louise was an act of love and much of the allegations against him are misunderstandings stemming from affairs of the heart. In no time, Joe Goldberg starts trending, but this time not as the predatory monster he is, but as a misunderstood victim who fell into a trap set by a crafty woman—at least that’s how the toxic incel influencers on social media try to spin the entire narrative. The more support Joe gains, the more vitriol against Louise reaches a horrid state, to such an extent that Joe spots Dane, a loser with vile intentions, stalking Louise in real time. Joe reaches in time to save an unconscious Louise, and, knocking Dane out, holds him as a captive inside the glass vault.
Kate Finds An Ally In Nadia
On the other hand, to stop Joe, Kate opts for a different method and decides to face demons of her past as she travels to London, taking Henry with her, and meets an imprisoned Nadia Farran to seek her help. It was Joe and Kate who framed Nadia for the murder of her boyfriend, Edward, in the fourth season of You, and in the process, completely destroyed the poor girl’s future, career prospects, and family. Kate needs a witness statement against Joe to pin him down, which is why she needs Nadia’s help. Nadia scoffs at Kate, mentioning she is trying to cover her tracks despite being an enabler and an accessory to Joe’s crimes. Kate uses her family’s influence to get Nadia out of prison and mentions that she is aware that asking for Nadia’s forgiveness will be a fool’s errand; this is merely an opportunity for her to get back at the person who ruined her life in the first place.Â
Did Louise Really Fall For Joe?
Joe takes Louise to his apartment and keeps her cuffed, wondering whether he can trust her any longer. Louise seems to be the kind of super-gullible, naïve person who puts her trust in the cutthroat pirate while walking the plank, as she refuses to recognize any of the red flags in Joe’s behavior. In no time, the couple starts bonding as if nothing has happened. Joe takes Louise to the basement of Mooney’s, showing her an unconscious, captive Dane, but he has to leave as Maddie calls him for an emergency situation. Joe decides to test Louise’s loyalty by handing over the keys to the vault and also giving her the option to move away from this life if she feels like it, even the freedom to call the cops if she wants. The bottom line is that Joe gives Louise, or at least pretends to give her total freedom of choice and complete autonomy over her actions—to make it seem that if she indeed has feelings for Joe, she will stay by his side on her own choice.
Maddie has gotten herself into a mess, as Harrison has figured out her true identity, and she fears that Raegan has been murdered. In a panicked state, Maddie has knocked Harrison out and is asking Joe to sort out this mess. Joe restrains Harrison, with Maddie’s help, tries to convince him to keep Raegan’s death a secret, and plans on staging a boat accident to befool the public that Raegan has passed away. However, Harrison feels troubled to digest the fact that he has to become complicit, and Joe’s patience starts running thin. On the other hand, Louise chats with Dane and tries to comfort the troubled, violent, extremely misogynistic man who wanted to subject her to a horrid fate by relating to his woes. Louise’s concerns for her ailing mother made her life miserable. The same is the situation with Dane—and for a moment, it seems Louise will be able to inculcate some sense into him, but Dane remains as violent and hate-filled anyway. However, Louise decides to spare his life and lets Dane go scot-free in exchange for the assurance that he will not call the cops.
Joe notices Louise’s actions through the surveillance footage streaming on his phone and gets desperate to return as he takes a knife to take down both Maddie and Harrison, who are wasting his precious time by remaining locked in a futile argument. However, Maddie is able to crack through Harrison’s moral compass as he agrees to keep the entire ordeal a secret, allowing Joe to return to Louise at last.
Joe appears a bit taken aback by Louise’s decision to spare Dane’s life, but she mentions that Joe had trusted her with her autonomy, and she has respected that. Louise becomes honest with Joe, mentioning she accepts Joe for who he truly is, and even though she doesn’t approve of all his actions, he doesn’t need to feel that Louise will reject him for it. Joe is overwhelmed and decides to become completely honest with Louise as the duo rekindles their relationship. In the end, it is shown that Joe kills Dane anyway, without mentioning the instance to Louise, as he has complete confidence that she will not judge him for his sins. Louise has surrendered herself to this monster, and unless she rectifies her mistakes, a tragic fate is awaiting her for sure.
