How Joe from 'You' seduced us all
Why is it that as humans we gravitate towards pain and suffering. Is it a need for chaos and some type of toxicity that keeps us alive. Or is it the illusion that living on the wild side is somehow "sexy" and liberating. Well, when it comes to the reality of these things murder isn't as "fun" and interesting as popular culture might have you believe, and killers aren't meant to be heartthrobs so yes Ted Bundy and the like are that bad.
What is this sick obsession with serial killers? Please people stop thirsting over murderer’s it is a little alarming. Especially when these characters are so unbelievably manipulative, calculated, and dangerous. It seems like America is so forgiving of monsters as long as they are attractive. What is clear here has to be the reality of “pretty privilege”. There are always discussions on “white privilege” and socio economic effects on countless minority communities but do we ever talk about how being good looking shifts the way the world responds to you. Let’s get into it then.
The internet was unitedly intrigued over the season 2 release of the critically acclaimed show “ You” starring “Gossip Girl” royalty Penn Badgley. In some ways this character of Joe was a strong departure from his old portrayal of Dan Humphrey years ago, but in other ways it wasn't. Sure Dan never murdered anyone, or was an outright stalker but by his true colors unraveling in the suspenseful ending of Gossip Girl we all know now that Dan wasn't so innocent. He too was a user, and a huge manipulator. Possibly for different reasons but the damage was done all the same. Both Joe and Dan were definitely looking for validation albeit in separate spheres. Joe desires the validation of “love” from every woman he imprints on, and Dan more so wanted to be respected as a part of the rich elite. Both play the victim card so well that it gives you as the viewer no choice but to be supportive, and understand their perspective. However when you take their feelings out of the equation then we can as the audience truly digest how vile more so Joe is.
We all deal with intense trauma in divergent spaces. Some of us don't even want to acknowledge the pain of abuse because it’s just too mentally straining and others might act out. Majority of us don't become rampant murderers. That’s why dissecting Joe and his reasoning is so important. Although Joe shows us time and again how terrible he really is as well as off his rocker, we still come to his defense. Why is that? Because of the systemic effect of patriarchal forces and some racial factors along with the benefit of being considered conventionally attractive. Joe as a phenotypically hipster looking “ soft boi” tugs at the hearts of women. All of us in some capacity have a Joe in our lives, of course not as unhinged but with comparable personality markers. Joe like any stereotypic “ F boy” makes sense of the indefensible. For example if your boyfriend cheated on you for the sixth time but somehow convinced you it was your fault. Yeah, that’s what Joe does except he seems to gaslight every woman he’s ever murdered, or attempted to that it was the only option, and she buys it. As for race well, if this was a black man making such moves just forget about it. There is no possible way a black man could get away with a third of what Joe has done. So, there you have it folks. Here is why and how Joe has continued to seduce us.