Current:Home > MyWhere Joe Goldberg Ranks Amongst TV's Most Notorious Anti-Heroes -WealthRoots Academy
Where Joe Goldberg Ranks Amongst TV's Most Notorious Anti-Heroes
SignalHub View
Date:2025-04-11 10:38:02
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! (537)
Related
- The city of Chicago is ordered to pay nearly $80M for a police chase that killed a 10
- Q&A: One Baptist Minister’s Long, Careful Road to Climate Activism
- Don’t Miss This $62 Deal on $131 Worth of Philosophy Perfume and Skincare Products
- 4 States Get Over 30 Percent of Power from Wind — and All Lean Republican
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- 19 Father's Day Gift Ideas for Your Husband That He'll Actually Love
- EPA Plans to Rewrite Clean Water Act Rules to Fast-Track Pipelines
- Read full text of Supreme Court student loan forgiveness decision striking down Biden's debt cancellation plan
- Who are the most valuable sports franchises? Forbes releases new list of top 50 teams
- Where Jill Duggar Stands With Her Controversial Family Today
Ranking
- IRS recovers $4.7 billion in back taxes and braces for cuts with Trump and GOP in power
- Jonah Hill and Olivia Millar Step Out After Welcoming First Baby
- Virginia sheriff gave out deputy badges in exchange for cash bribes, feds say
- State Department report on chaotic Afghan withdrawal details planning and communications failures
- 'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
- Melissa Gorga Reveals Bombshell RHONJ Reunion Receipt in Attack on A--hole Teresa Giudice
- Bling Empire Stars Pay Tribute to “Mesmerizing” Anna Shay Following Her Death
- On the Frontlines of a Warming World, 925 Million Undernourished People
Recommendation
Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
Women face age bias at work no matter how old they are: No right age
Semi-truck driver was actively using TikTok just before fiery Arizona car crash that killed 5, officials say
What is affirmative action? History behind race-based college admissions practices the Supreme Court overruled
Highlights from Trump’s interview with Time magazine
Bling Empire's Anna Shay Dead at 62 After Stroke
TikTok's Jaden Hossler Seeking Treatment for Mental Health After Excruciating Lows
Solar Plans for a Mined Kentucky Mountaintop Could Hinge on More Coal Mining