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Netflix’s You has run for four seasons so far. The psychological thriller soon climbed the viewership charts following its 2018 debut and has maintained an appeal for fans of crime thrillers and mind games.
The story saw Penn Badgley’s character, Joe Goldberg, head down a gruesome path. A bookstore manager by profession, the former fell for multiple women and got obsessed with them. While it all began with extreme stalking, things took a sharp turn, landing him the tag of a serial killer.
The crime drama blurred the lines between a protagonist and an antagonist. Moreover, the chilling plot developments kept fans on the edge as a crime spree unfolded.
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Dexter, and 6 other shows to watch if you like You
Netflix’s You dove deep into a twisted sense of love and morality, going far against the traditional rom-com storylines. For fans and audiences who felt the chills in this psychological crime drama, there exist other options to choose from as well.
Carrying similar themes of dark satire, complex, flawed, disturbed yet charming characters, a suspenseful plot, and exploring the dark side of obsessive romance, the following list of recommendations should help. In no particular order, they are:
- Dexter
- Killing Eve
- The Flight Attendant
- Hannibal
- Behind Her Eyes
- Ozark
- The Fall
1) Dexter (Netflix, Prime Video, fubo, Paramount+)
Airing its first season in 2006, Dexter earned critical acclaim with 4 Primetime Emmys. Similar to You, the show fell into the crime drama, psychological thriller, and dark mystery genres.
However, instead of twisted romance, it explored the dual nature of life and justice versus vigilantism.
The plot followed Miami Police’s forensic blood spatter analyst, Dexter Morgan, living a dual life as a vigilante serial killer. Carrying a strict code of conduct shaped by childhood experiences, the character’s complexity was the standout factor for the show.
Family confrontations, twists, an underwater graveyard, ritualistic murders - Dexter had it all.
2) Killing Eve (Netflix, amc+)
Sandra Oh as Eve Polastri and Jodie Comer as Villanelle formed the central characters of Killing Eve. The spy thriller series followed the former as an MI5 intelligence investigator and her pursuit of the latter, an assassin.
A game of cat and mouse soon took shape as the women developed a mutual obsession with one another following a high-octane confrontation. In its four seasons, the narrative had them unexpectedly crossing paths with one another, leading to dramatic outcomes every time.
Villanelle’s psychological state would mirror that of Joe Goldberg’s from You and moral ambiguity, tense suspense, and twisted characters would further bridge the two shows.
3) The Flight Attendant (HBO max)
The Flight Attendant had Kaley Cuoco of The Big Bang Theory fame star in a role much distant from the latter’s sitcom nature. A dark comedy-drama and a mystery thriller, the two-season show carried themes of alcoholism, trauma, and dealing with the consequences of one’s actions.
True to its name, the series followed Cuoco’s character, Cassie Bowden, as a flight attendant demonstrating reckless behavior because of heavy drinking.
Yet in one mind-breaking encounter, she found herself waking up to a dead body beside her in a hotel in Bangkok, with no memory as to how she ended up in that situation.
The involvement of the FBI and CIA gives this thriller a new direction and, like You, adds tension and complexity to Cuoco's character.
4) Hannibal (Prime Video, amc+)
Dr. Hannibal Lecter stepped from the movies and into television for Hannibal. The story formed around the relationship between the FBI’s Will Graham and the former, a forensic psychiatrist living a dual life as a cannibalistic killer.
Like You, where the criminal and the victim shared a connection, this terrifying serial killer also shared a mentor-adversary bond with Graham. The complex relationship then went down a road of mind games and life on the run, with chilling twists along the way.
Again, both You and Hannibal should keep viewers on the edge throughout this high-stakes drama.
5) Behind Her Eyes (Netflix)
A Netflix limited series that ran for just one season, Behind Her Eyes went a step further than You in terms of storytelling. In addition to psychological thrills, the miniseries also had elements of supernatural fiction.
The story revolved around a single mother working part-time in a psychiatrist’s office. However, in a moral tight spot, she develops an affair with her new boss while also maintaining a friendship with his wife.
The uncovering of dark secrets and unpredictable twists led to a shocking and unexpected climax with flashbacks and dream sequences. Betrayal, immoral romance, and a guessing plot should hook viewers of You.
6) Ozark (Netflix)
Ozark featured Jason Bateman as the central character of Marty Bryde. A financial planner, the protagonist relocated along with his family from Chicago to the Lake of the Ozarks after a money-laundering scheme went wrong.
Dealings with criminals and the involvement of law enforcers complicated the plot that explored the hidden worlds of cartels and organized crime. Making morally grey decisions for the protection of his family, Bryde believed his actions as right, just like Joe Goldberg in You.
Corruption and the need for survival and power are themes that Ozark adds in over You but the mental pressures, intense plot, and high-stake crime thriller would bring the two shows closer.
7) The Fall (Prime Video, amc+)
Gillian Anderson as Detective Superintendent Stella Gibson, investigating a series of murders, formed the narrative start of The Fall.
Running for three seasons from 2013 to 2016, the crime drama had similar themes to You with the dual lives, obsession, crime, and psychological twists forming the foundation.
The story had the killer, Paul Spector, as a family man with a hidden life. Gibson’s push to bring the man to justice and analyze the impact of his crimes unearthed twisted moral values and set a dark storyline in motion.
A complex anti-hero persona, manipulative and obsessive behaviors, and a suspenseful narrative should make The Fall a just match for viewers coming from You.
Netflix has confirmed a fifth and final season for You, which currently has no release date attached to it. Although expected to drop in 2024, the uncertainty should give room for fans and casual audiences to binge on these suspenseful thrillers mentioned above.
