The psychological thriller Netflix show “You” has managed to garner quite a fan following over the years. Penn Badgley plays Joe Goldberg, a narcissistic psychopath who stops at nothing to make someone fall in love with him. Be it stalking them on social media and in real life or even murdering people who stand in his way. That being said, Joe is deceptively charming and enticing to his female counterparts. What makes “You” so captivating, along with the joy of seeing the world through the eyes of Joe Goldberg, is the way it amps up the tension and suspense. If you’ve finished all three seasons of the show and are looking for similar vibes, don’t worry, as we are listing some shows we think are similar to “You.”
Chloe (2022)
Becky (Erin Doherty) is obsessed with the picture-perfect lives of people on the Instagram. She repeatedly visits the account of her childhood friend Chloe (Poppy Gilbert) before she learns of her sudden death under mysterious circumstances. Becky’s compulsive need to find out the reason behind Chloe’s death leads her into a world full of lies, deceit, and scheming. Erin Doherty, previously known for her breakout role as Princess Anne in the Netflix show “The Crown,” shines here with her multifaceted performance. Her character Becky is not the most reliable narrator, as she’s clearly on the edge of a mental breakdown, and Doherty’s nuanced performance flushes out the sympathetic side of Becky and saves her from being a purely villainous character. “Chloe” contains a good amount of plotting, identity manipulation, and violence, along with a compelling story with suspenseful twists and turns. Just like “You.”
Dexter (2006-2013)
Based on the novel “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay, “Dexter” follows Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan, a forensic analyst by day and a vigilante by night. Dexter, like Joe, has sociopathic tendencies and an impulse for violence. But unlike Joe, Dexter manages to channel his bloodlust towards killing vicious criminals. This duality makes it a unique situation. For instance, showing up at crime scenes where he is both the forensic specialist as well as the murderer. The show is surprisingly funny for such a grim concept, and Hall, as Dexter, is a likeable character with a traumatic childhood.
Dirty John (2018–)
This true crime anthology series follows tales of dysfunctional relationships and the toll they take on each other. The first season is about the alluring John Meehan (Eric Bana) and the deceptive tactics he employs to take advantage of recent divorcee Connie Britton (Debra Newell). Meehan is in many ways similar to Joe, and his relationship with Connie resembles the one we got in the first season of “You.” Season two chronicles the real-life story of Betty (Amanda Peet) and Dan Broderick (Christian Slater). After Dan leaves Betty for his young assistant, Betty gets increasingly manic and unhinged, and her actions put everyone’s lives at risk.
Killing Eve (2018–2022)
“Killing Eve” follows MI6 agent Eve Polastri (Sandra Oh) and her mission to locate the vicious international assassin Villanelle (Jodie Comer). Sparks fly as they meet, marking the beginning of a complex and obsessive relationship between two women who are pitted against each other. Jodie Comer delivers a magnetic performance as the alluring and seductive Villanelle, who is also extremely bloodthirsty and likes to kill just for the fun of it, resulting in a character unlike any other. As an audience, it is hard to hate Villanelle even though we know how evil she is. The show also got vibrant action sequences coupled with great humour and wonderful performances from both leads.
The Fall (2013-2016)
This psychological thriller follows police superintendent Stella Gibson (Gillian Anderson) in her investigation of a serial killer in Northern Ireland. The killer, Paul Spector (Jamie Dornan), hides in plain sight as a husband and a father, making it extremely difficult for Stella to catch him. Jamie Dornan was surprisingly good here as the psychotic killer and coupled with Gillian Anderson (who does no wrong), they strike up “a cat and mouse” kind of chemistry that is delightful to watch. “The Fall” is also extremely well-written and has a complex script while also being intensely grotesque and containing violent s*xual acts that are unnerving, to say the least.
Hannibal (2013-2015)
“Hannibal” is a captivating and entrancing dive into madness. It was almost a crime that the show was cancelled after its third season. The show is an exhibition of madness and does an excellent job of showing the world from the viewpoint of a seriously psychotic person. The show also has a ton of extremely graphic and violent imagery, and it never holds back. The movie takes place before “Red Dragon” (2002) and “The Silence of the Lambs” (1991). We follow Will Graham (Hugh Dancy), an FBI profiler working with Dr. Hannibal Lecter (Mads Mikkelsen) before he was imprisoned for his heinous crimes, and Mads Mikkelsen was just magnificent here as the infamous psychopath. He brings a unique take to the age-old character, completely different from Anthony Hopkins’s portrayal, and his psychological manipulation of an already disturbed Will Graham is a treat to watch. “Hannibal” is a great watch for fans of the dark and gritty and is one of the more disturbing shows out there, but the grotesqueness of the show shouldn’t stop you from enjoying this masterpiece as it has something for everybody.
Ozark (2017-2022)
After a failed money laundering scheme for a Mexican drug lord, Marty Bryde (Jason Bateman), a financial advisor, moves to the Ozarks with his family to set up an even bigger money laundering scheme to pay off his debts, where they soon strike up connections with several local criminal organisations. “Ozark” is praised for a script that is tailor-made to keep you on the edge of your seat, filled with various subplots all coming together to make an intriguing show that has a touch of “Breaking Bad” in its DNA.
See more: 7 Films Like Netflix Series ‘You’ You Should Add To Your Watchlist Right Now