Let me introduce you to Joe Goldberg- charming, attractive, bookish, and well-read. When he falls in love, he gives it his everything. His only flaw is that he’s a stalker and a serial killer. But don’t worry- he’ll only kill you if you hurt his feelings. The portrayal of villains as protagonists in popular media is not new. It has been a common trope in literature and cinema for decades. However, recent years have seen an increase in the popularity of anti-heroes who engage in criminal behavior, and often, they are romanticized. This is a dangerous trend, as it can cause viewers to empathize with and even root for characters who engage in unethical and illegal behavior. One such character is Joe Goldberg from the Netflix series “You”.
Joe stalks his partners, manipulates them, and ultimately murders them when he realizes they do not reciprocate his feelings. He is shown justifying his actions which garner the audience’s sympathy. Viewers may start emulating these behaviors as they hear Joe’s thought process throughout the show. Joe’s actions are portrayed as acting out of innocent love, and the blame is often shifted to his victims. Thus, the audience sees him as a flawed hero or an anti-hero instead of a villain. This is dangerous because it normalizes criminal behavior and makes it seem like it is not a big deal. It also makes it harder for individuals to recognize abusive behavior and dangerous red flags in real-life relationships. Most individuals in toxic relationships do not know they are in it, much like all of Joe’s partners in the show.
This is not a theme unique to the show “You”; numerous Indian movies also feature protagonists who stalk their romantic interest and justify it in the name of love. They attempt to “convince” their partners even after repeated rejections until they get what they desire. Since they are the protagonists, many viewers say, “aww, that’s so sweet,” and they mimic such behaviors in real life as they view it as romantic and cool, instead of predatory, creepy and a violation of respect and privacy. This causes normalizing and romanization of such behavior especially in impressionable young adults.
In recent years, we have seen an increase in online and real-life stalking. While it may seem harmless initially, one never knows when they have crossed the line where cute becomes creepy. While it is important to have complex and flawed characters, ensuring that they are not romanticized or portrayed as heroes when they engage in criminal behavior is equally important. Although “You” is a series I enjoyed watching, with exciting plot twists and character developments, it is essential to think about the underlying message in this show and how it affects genuine relationships between people.