Ok, so let’s start out by admitting that I sound like some strange, true-crime obsessed conspiracy theorist, but hear me out. We all remember when Netflix released the “Ted Bundy Confession Tapes,” and everyone thirsted over the charming man who was a vicious serial rapist and murderer in the ‘70’s. Strangely, Ted’s infamy lives on and permeates pop culture, like the crime-drama, “You,” that everyone, including me, is obsessed with. Joe Goldberg, charming and intelligent, will do anything — including murder — to be with someone he loves. Obviously, there are some huge moral differences between the two, but it seems Joe is heavily influenced by Ted Bundy. Spoiler warning! Read at your own risk!
Charming, Cute and Cunning. Oh my!
From the quickest glance, you can tell that Joe and Ted definitely have some things in common. Both have wavy brown hair, are smart, and don’t exactly match the typical image of a serial killer. Joe definitely has the same ~vibe~ as Ted, and there are rumors that the director specifically wanted Penn Badgley for the role, maybe for his Bundy-esque looks.
Come on, they’re TWINS! Both of these men have mastered the art of using their looks and charm to live a double life: the boy-next-door and the calculating murderer. A man who knew Ted described him as the “type of guy you want your sister to marry.” Similarly, Forty said to Joe that his sister, Love, would be stupid to let Joe go, yet he was holding someone hostage in his storage locker.
They Are Both in Fantasy Land
These two are definitely both in la-la land when it comes to love. Joe can’t stop himself from killing because he believes that women will fall in love with him if he removes problematic people from their life, yet he is never satisfied. Hmm sounds a little psychopathic if you ask me.
Ted had a similar, strange delusion. Being a man with serious mental issues, he didn’t understand relationships, yet still wanted a companion. He thought killing would allow him to finally be content, but it was never enough. Sounds a bit like the end of the second season, huh?
Am I Reaching? Maybe.
This is a subtle detail that could’ve been missed in the blink of an eye. Is it far-fetched? Possibly, but whatever. Candace, Joe’s ex, reappears in his life and eerily calls him “bunny” as she wreaks havoc in his life. Weirdly, Ted Bundy’s girlfriend who marries him during his trial (yeah, I don’t get it either) famously called Ted, “bunny.” Seems like an easter egg for some true-crime fanatics.
Now that I have exposed my concerning amount of knowledge of serial killers, I think it is fair to say that Joe Goldberg has some major Ted Bundy tendencies. Joe may be more sympathetic than Ted but, in all honesty, I wouldn’t want to hang out with either one.