5 Reasons Joe Goldberg From Netflix's You Is Being Called A 'Pookie'

The internet is responsible for the babygirlification of Penn Badgley's character from the Netflix hit series 'You'. You must have come across reel edits with a little pink bow on the top-right-side of Penn's face calling him Joe-pookie-Goldberg. But why are female viewers so attached to the character of a serial killer and why would most of them like to date him if given a chance?

We are sure there's an explanation ladies, at least we hope! Let's unravel together. 

Reasons why some women like Joe Goldberg 

The Cinderella Complex!

Do you know some chunk of the female population reportedly suffers from the Cinderella complex? It's a mild psychological condition where women finding themselves in trouble feel attraction or attachment towards someone who saves them. Joe's philosophy is the same. He considers women not as grown-up adults, but rather as children. Children that need to be told what to do and have their life laid out by someone else. When this happens, most women agree to a weak moment of man-handling and find solace and peace in it. 

The feminist outer coating

Throughout the show, Joe is seen as the prototype for a good company. He seems like the guy you can connect with, chill and have the deepest conversations with. Of course, here we subconsciously ignore the fact that he might be stalking the shit out of someone post the hangout! On the face of it, he comes across as someone who respects women listens to them, feels great sympathy and connects to them on a deeper level.

He is not an alpha male

On the face of it, Joe looks pretty submissive. Before his psychotic and obsessive compulsion of stalking and killing women follows. We think the women viewers are able to separate this psychotic condition of his from his overt personality while watching the show. His outward personality is nothing like the typical men women are often subjected to go on dates with. Men who are misogynistic, arrogant or emotionally available. 

Reddit girlies think "Joe is a total and absolute catch minus the murdering part haha."

This villain is see-through

Women viewers claim that Joe is not all bad; they see his human side coming out every now and then. And as soon as this side shoves the woman in the eye like a glimmer of hope and redemption, the "I can fix him" part of their personality also acts up. 

Do you remember when Love told Joe that she was pregnant and he stopped trying to kill her? This is a normal behaviour expected out of any human being, right? But that's what the thing is, Joe is not struck out to be a normal human throughout the show. He is more like a project. His condition has an underlining of vulnerable and gut-wrenching past which makes his actions look pitiful instead of fearful. 

Chaotic charm and pretty privilege

Joe has a certain mysteriousness to him. Of course, he cannot reveal all his plans and the thoughts crossing his mind. This would result in all the relationships' timelines on the show ending in half. Or rather two minutes!

In the information-overloaded world we live in, a moment of not knowing brings freshness. And when this moment is bestowed by an individual like Penn Badgley, the charm doubles down. Before you know it, we succumb to the psychotic delusion of 7 Khoon Maaf.

Views expressed are the author's own.