You season 2, episode 2: Is Joe truly trying to change?

In the second episode of You season 2, Joe seems to truly want to turn over a new leaf. But will this new attitude last or is he only fooling himself?

Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) seemingly learned his lesson when we first catch up to him in You season 2. He has moved out to Los Angeles after Candace (Ambyr Childers) paid him a frightening visit. He’s been tiptoeing around Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), afraid of falling in love again so quickly. All in all, Joe has been a good guy and keeping to himself. That is, until the final shocking moments of the season 2 premiere.

As it turns out, some people never change!

For starters, Joe is now “Will,” and he didn’t randomly pick that name. Joe has stolen Will’s (Robin Lord Taylor) identity and is keeping him in a glass cage. This is setting up to be a recipe for disaster. The fact that Joe has already gone this far is a sign that he isn’t planning on changing his ways. But episode 2, titled “Just the Tip,” is hinting otherwise. Well, at least it does for the first half. Spoilers ahead! 

The second episode of the new season gives viewers further details of how Joe found Love. However, once he has Love and things are looking great, he pulls back. It seems his conscience might just be calling him (about time). Joe reminds himself and audiences that only fools rush in, and he is no fool (anyone beg to differ?).

MORE: You season 2 star Adwin Brown teases surprises to come

Beck (Elizabeth Lail) continues to appear in Joe’s mind, reminding him that they were in love and he hurt her. Joe seems to truly be remorseful. Afraid of hurting Love, Joe backs away and tells her that he wants to take things slow.

Shockingly, Love seems to already be all in. She’s eager to bounce back into a relationship after her husband’s tragic death, and she has a feeling Joe is the one. She begs Joe to reconsider and tries to change his mind.

Once again, as the second episode is coming to a close, we are reminded of how mentally messed up Joe is. On the outside, he appears to want to take things slow. Joe takes Love’s advice and writes a letter of closure to Beck. He burns it and tells Love that it feels good to have done so. But his mind has other thoughts.

“Can’t wait to tell our story to our kids. How we decided to walk before we ran. Started out as friends,” Joe thinks with a charming, yet sort of evil smile. A man who is being cautious about a new relationship doesn’t necessarily have the future all planned out as Joe does. No. Joe knows he wants to be with Love and he’s willing to do anything to make that happen.

And just in case audiences needed more proof of Joe’s sick behavior, the episode closes with Joe storing a pair of stolen underwear from Love into his secret box in the wall.

“I know we’ll get there. I’m optimistic. It’s just who I am,” Joe finishes. Everyone around Love better watch out!

You season 2 is now streaming on Netflix.