When You premiered on Lifetime and then came to Netflix, fans went wild for this psychological thriller. The cast, the story, the twists and turns… It is definitely a tale like no other, and already, audiences are ready to learn more and see what happens next.
Until the third season comes, though, it could be a good time to stop and think about the main character, Joe Goldberg. Like all humans and like many serial killers, he has pleasant and positive traits. He just also has a dark, deep and dramatic side that is harmful and toxic. Here are Joe's five best and five worst traits.
BEST: He's Smart
Joe is obviously a smart guy. He is book smart, as that is one of his main passions in life, but he is also clever and quick and methodical.
He can think in an elaborate way that is quite interesting, and since he narrates the show, viewers are able to hear all of these in-depth thoughts.
WORST: He Uses His Intelligence In Harmful Ways
However, he may be too smart. He sneaks around, outsmarts people, lies and then, well, takes their lives. It is not ideal, but it does make sense. You is about a serial killer, and these types have to be super wise and thoughtful, in order to cover their tracks.
The above image is a great reminder of that, as Beck was no dummy. She, too, was educated and experienced, so imagine how she felt after finding out that Joe had been tricking and deceiving her for so long.
BEST: He's Sweet
It was shocking to learn that Joe could kill because when he's not killing, he is actually such a nice guy. He seems normal, he smiles, he has shown great customer service, and his relationships prove that he has a kind and sensitive side, as well.
However, doing some research on real-life serial killers reveals a terrifying commonality: they had to lure people in and gain their trust in order to get done what they did. This was done by being as sweet and nice as possible to their victims.
WORST: He Gets Obsessive
But then, the drama happens. One minute, his relationship is cute and cuddly, and the next, he is spying on his significant other, lying about his identity, breaking into their homes and so on. If Beck and Love had known what was going on behind their backs sooner, think how different these stories could have been.
His obsessive behavior is beyond creepy, it is a big part of what makes this story so appealing, and it is definitely a negative trait.
BEST: His Interests & Talents Include Reading & Writing
As mentioned earlier, Joe enjoys reading and writing, and he has been doing both for so long that he is gifted in these areas. Working at a bookstore and shelving books at a health food shop were both good jobs for this guy, due to his knowledge and interest.
Yes, these are two excellent strengths to have, utilize and exercise, as they help in so many other areas of life.
WORST: He Used Beck's Writing To Frame Dr. Nicky
At the end of Season 1, a book was shown: Joe used all of Beck’s writing, after he had murdered her, in order to pen a story that framed all of his crimes on Dr. Nicky.
This is another way that he has used his skills in horrible ways and believe it or not, it's not even his worst offense!
BEST: He's Caring
Beck and Love were not the only ones who saw the sweet side of Joe; in the first season, he had a neighbor named Paco, and this little boy’s mother was in an abusive relationship.
Joe would comfort him, distract him, listen to him and give him books, in order to help ease the pain a bit. He cared so much for Paco that he went off to personally solve his family troubles. Speaking of which...
WORST: He Takes Things To The Extreme
Simply put, Joe killed the aforementioned abusive boyfriend. Once he started, it was like he couldn’t stop, as that was not his first nor his last murder.
In a way, this did help Paco and his mother, but it may have not been the best solution to the problem. And poor Paco... Hopefully, he is doing well in his new life after all that he went through in Season 1!
BEST: He Can Keep Secrets
Being able to keep that mouth shut and listening to people’s problems without going around and spreading it all as gossip are technically positive traits, so the fact that Joe was secretive and sneaky could have been viewed as a good thing.
Broadly speaking, these are decent traits that give Joe some credit. But in You, there is always a sinister twist.
WORST: His Secrets Are Pretty Dark
Joe may know how to keep secrets and he has his own, but he's not hiding quirky embarrassing stories or small, innocent little things. Some of the things he keeps secret are the times he lied, stole, broke into places, broke others' trust, and when he killed numerous people.
The darkness of this final trait goes to show that a book cannot be judged by its cover, as there is always way more to any story - especially Joe's.