You

Penn Badgley stars as Joe Goldberg, a bookstore manager whose internal monologue reveals a deeply disturbed mind beneath a charming exterior. Created by Greg Berlanti and Sera Gamble, this dark thriller originally aired on Lifetime before moving to Netflix for its later seasons. The show ran for five seasons and 50 episodes from September 2018 to April 2025. Each season follows Joe as he becomes obsessed with a new woman, stalking her, eliminating obstacles, and constructing a fantasy relationship. The series blends psychological horror with black comedy, earning a cult following and critical praise for Badgley's performance. It's a twisted take on romance that asks how well we really know the people we let into our lives. [edit]

Joe Goldberg manages a small independent bookstore in New York City, a job he inherited from his abusive mentor, Mr. Mooney. From behind the register, he observes customers with a mix of contempt and longing. When Guinevere Beck, a struggling MFA student and aspiring writer, walks in one afternoon, Joe is instantly captivated. He reads her social media posts, follows her across the city, and begins systematically removing anyone he views as a threat to their future together: her on-and-off boyfriend Benji, her wealthy best friend Peach, and others. All the while, Joe narrates his actions as acts of love, convinced he is the hero of his own story.

Season 2 relocates to Los Angeles, where Joe adopts the alias Will Bettelheim. He meets Love Quinn, a charismatic chef, and tries to start over. But Love harbors secrets of her own. The season twists the formula: instead of a victim, Joe finds a mirror. Season 3 traps Joe and Love in a suffocating suburban marriage, raising their infant son Henry in the gated community of Madre Linda. Their attempts at normalcy unravel as Joe's obsessions resurface and Love's possessiveness turns deadly.

Season 4 moves to London, where Joe, now calling himself Professor Jonathan Moore, becomes entangled with a circle of ultra-wealthy socialites. Someone is killing them off one by one, and Joe is framed. He must hunt the killer while developing feelings for art dealer Kate Galvin. The season peels back layers of Joe's psyche, revealing a psychotic break. Season 5 returns to New York. Joe arrives as the husband of Kate, now a billionaire CEO. He wants a happy ending, but his past and his darkest impulses refuse to stay buried. The series builds to a final confrontation that forces Joe to face the man he really is.[edit]