Current:Home > ScamsWhere Joe Goldberg Ranks Amongst TV's Most Notorious Anti-Heroes -Trailblazer Wealth Guides
Where Joe Goldberg Ranks Amongst TV's Most Notorious Anti-Heroes
View
Date:2025-04-18 21:31:10
You can admit it: At least a part of you is enamored by Joe Goldberg—and that's by design.
Ahead of You's season four, part one premiere on Feb. 9, Penn Badgley explained the psychology behind his charismatic serial killer.
"We have created a character that we want people to be charmed by, seduced by," he exclusively told E! News on Feb. 7. "It's not like it's a clinical portrait of a serial killer and everybody just happens to be obsessed with him. No, it's on us that everybody likes him so much. We've created him that way."
But Joe's not the only charming criminal on TV. Television history is rife with characters so bad you can't help but love to hate them. From mischievous miscreants to outright murderers, there's no shortage of anti-heroes in the TV landscape.
Since You's premiere in 2018, Joe has racked up quite the body count—including many of the show's other fan-favorite characters.
"Who is anyone to accurately judge whether or not someone can be redeemed?" Penn continued. "OK, if you're talking a serial killer, maybe it's safe to say people who've killed that many people cannot be redeemed."
However, you'll have to wait until March 9 for season four, part two of the Netflix series to find out if Joe is ultimately redeemable. Although, Penn did admit, "I'll go ahead and say Joe can't change, won't change."
In the meantime, keep reading to see where Joe Goldberg ranks amongst TV's most notorious anti-heroes. And be warned, there are obvious spoilers below...
Hugh Laurie's character may be the definition of a narcissist, but compared to the rest of the anti-heroes on our list, he is rather tame. For starters, he doesn't have too much intentional blood on his hands.
Unlike Dr. House, Edie Falco's Nurse Jackie is intentionally treacherous with her co-workers and patients. However, while she does do harm, a great deal of it is at her own expense.
What sets Omari Hardwick's Ghost apart from the previous two entries is not only his kill count, but also his general lack of empathy for even his own family. Cold-blooded, indeed.
Whether you find Eve or Villanelle to be the show's true anti-hero, it's safe to say that both Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer's characters have killer instincts. And senses of humor.
Penn Badgley's Joe Goldberg is currently in his most heroic era yet in season four of the Netflix series. However, half a season of relative innocence does not quite make up for three years' worth of bloodshed. And the bodies keep dropping.
Michael C. Hall's Dexter may be the only TV serial killer who's proven more deadly than the aforementioned Joe. While he technically only kills other serial killers, it's safe to say the Bay Harbor Butcher is as infamous as they come.
Sure, he might not have quite as high a body count as the killers before him, but where would we be without James Gandolfini's original TV anti-hero? [cut to black]
Get the drama behind the scenes. Sign up for TV Scoop!veryGood! (583)
Related
- 'Squid Game' without subtitles? Duolingo, Netflix encourage fans to learn Korean
- Kentucky gets early signature win at Champions Classic against Duke | Opinion
- Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul referee handled one of YouTuber's biggest fights
- Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
- NHL in ASL returns, delivering American Sign Language analysis for Deaf community at Winter Classic
- RHOBH's Kyle Richards Addresses PK Kemsley Cheating Rumors in the Best Way Possible
- Garth Brooks wants to move his sexual assault case to federal court. How that could help the singer.
- 'I know how to do math': New Red Lobster CEO says endless shrimp deal is not coming back
- FACT FOCUS: Inspector general’s Jan. 6 report misrepresented as proof of FBI setup
- What happens to Donald Trump’s criminal conviction? Here are a few ways it could go
Ranking
- Civic engagement nonprofits say democracy needs support in between big elections. Do funders agree?
- College Football Playoff ranking release: Army, Georgia lead winners and losers
- Driver dies after crashing on hurricane-damaged highway in North Carolina
- MLS Star Marco Angulo Dead at 22 One Month After Car Crash
- Friday the 13th luck? 13 past Mega Millions jackpot wins in December. See top 10 lottery prizes
- Jana Duggar Reveals She's Adjusting to City Life Amid Move Away From Farm
- Roy Haynes, Grammy-winning jazz drummer, dies at 99: Reports
- Republican Gabe Evans ousts Democratic US Rep. Yadira Caraveo in Colorado
Recommendation
Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
Police identify 7-year-old child killed in North Carolina weekend shooting
Spirit Airlines cancels release of Q3 financial results as debt restructuring talks heat up
What happens to Donald Trump’s criminal conviction? Here are a few ways it could go
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Watch: Military dad's emotional return after a year away
Princess Kate to host annual Christmas carol service following cancer treatment
Texas mother sentenced to 50 years for leaving kids in dire conditions as son’s body decomposed