Editor’s note: this column contains spoilers.

For anyone looking to spend approximately 7 ½ hours watching episodes of a new show back-to-back, “You” may be just the right flick to binge.

Netflix’s thriller series “You” tells the story of a man named Joe and his relentless obsession with a graduate student named Beck.

Perhaps the best kind of story makes its audience sympathize with the villain, and this show is exceptional at doing just that.

Joe seems like quite the catch at first glimpse; he runs a small bookstore and knows his trade well, throwing references to classics such as “Wuthering Heights” and “The Count of Monte Cristo” into casual conversation.

He’s a well spoken man, but his plot to stalk Beck until he has absorbed the tiniest details and mannerisms about her, going as far as following her to her house to watch her masturbate, was uncovered as soon as the first couple episodes.

When it comes to the production of the thriller series, I absolutely love the lighting.

The shots and cinematography of the show are stunning, and perhaps the biggest reason for this is the breathtaking lighting.

Shots are taken during beautiful times of the day, right in the afternoon, when the sun is shining, but not too brightly.

Rays of light shine through characters’ hair, bleeding onto their silhouettes like an expanding watercolor painting.

Color theory also plays a large role in the series’ success.

Books on the shelves at the store are in a variety of bright colors, melting into the main characters’ content expressions, giving an overall feeling of happiness and ease.

The bookstore’s basement, where Joe kills Beck’s ex and does other reprehensible things, is highlighted by cold colors such as white and blue, exaggerated by a harsh black background.

The writing is also spectacular.

Even though it’s supposed to be a thriller series, the writing is so natural and convincing that it actually can confuse its audience into thinking it’s a comedy or romance or horror movie at times.

Conversations between characters are so natural while their inner narrations are so conniving, so cynical, it takes you out of the happy place you felt so comfortable at into a blur of dissonance.

After these sudden shifts in the series’ tone, the audience is left wondering if they’re watching a romantic comedy or if they’re still watching the same thriller.

These bait and switches are sometimes shocking, and they keep the audience second guessing itself all the time.

They also influence the audience to sympathize with Joe, the murderous stalker, even though his actions are pure evil.

I would certainly recommend this show to just about anyone. I believe its visual and written production values are fantastic.

I can guarantee you, too, will fall for the predator, just like Beck did.

Logan is a junior journalism major. She can be reached at 581-2812 or at lrraschke@eiu.edu.