When you hear the name ‘Joe Goldberg’, what is your first thought? If you are a fan of the hit Netflix show YOU, I am sure you subconsciously root for this protagonist’s intelligent and charming deceit when reinventing his identity to conceal his true character.
This glorification of one of Netflix’s most notable anti-heroes has glued people to their screens rooting for a villain since its successful release in 2018. Following the show’s fifth and final season in April 2025, why do we still succumb to Joe Goldberg’s entrancing allure, overlooking his crimes and murderous impulses?
Joe Goldberg is a character who embodies how looks can be deceiving. At first glance to his victims, he appears to be their Prince Charming. A dashing, intellectual aspiring writer, eloquently convincing them that he’s ‘the one’. But this fantasy is too good to be true.
Based on the book series written by Caroline Kepnes, YOU follows Goldberg’s obsession with stalking women he becomes infatuated with. He justifies his violent actions by claiming to protect those he ‘loves’, unveiling his psychopathic personality.
With Netflix being a big platform for film and television, promoting this distorted yet engaging male perspective gained a significant fanbase. There’s something about a villainous anti-hero which lures viewers in, and Goldberg’s concealed insanity and new infatuations keep you hooked.
The intrigue into a dark, twisted mind and desire to root for the underdog overcomes your morality when being drawn into Joe Goldberg’s world.
I’ll be the first to admit that I have also fallen victim to Goldberg’s charm and deceiving character. This is a credit to Penn Badgley’s convincing acting, who openly expresses dislike towards the immoral character he has been playing for just under a decade.
In an episode of his co-hosted podcast Podcrushed, Badgley discusses his infamous character alongside his female co-stars. He observes that there is ‘some kind of unique predator that a man is capable of becoming if all the conditions exist and he makes certain choices’. Badgley himself acknowledges Goldberg’s predatorial nature in hiding behind the guise of the devoted package-deal partner, which we as viewers are glorifying in our engagement with YOU.
YOU being from Goldberg’s perspective, his manipulative tendencies seep through the screen and onto viewers. The success of other anti-hero perspectives in television shows, such as Dexter and Breaking Bad, establishes that viewers want someone unlikely to root for, even at the expense of their moral opinions.
Viewers want the thrill and tension which can only stem from the freedom of villainy; hence the rise of anti-hero narratives present in today’s media.After five seasons of YOU, Joe Goldberg’s disturbing character has finally been exposed to not only his surrounding characters, but to us as viewers too.
The voice given to male villains contributes to the rise of these tainted perspectives, and we as viewers are drawn into the freedom of anti-hero fiction. Since Joe Goldberg’s distorted perspective captivates us, YOU entices viewers into simultaneously becoming victims of his irresistible charm. I certainly cannot deny that it isn’t riveting to live vicariously through characters who go against social restrictions, and I’m sure neither can you.
|
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |
