The original post: /r/television by /u/Largon99 on 2025-05-26 04:12:23.
Okay hear me out…what if the Netflix show You is actually a slow-burn origin story for the Joker?
Joe Goldberg gives off major pre-Joker vibes: he’s hyper-intelligent, socially awkward, deeply delusional, and becomes increasingly unhinged over time. His obsessive search for “You” could be seen as him subconsciously searching for his Harley Quinn, the perfect chaotic counterpart to his twisted logic.
As the seasons progress, Joe’s internal monologue becomes darker, more erratic, and eerily Joker-like. He tries to justify horrible actions as “love,” which is very Joker/Harley-esque in that warped, co-dependent way. Also, Penn Badgley kills it with that unsettling charm and descent into madness, kind of like a low-key Joaquin Phoenix performance in slow motion.
AND Season 5, Episode 8 of You is literally titled Folie à Deux, the exact same title as Joker 2. Coincidence?? Or are we watching Joe’s final step into full-blown villainy?
It’s probably not intentional… but then again 👀
Would love to hear if anyone else picked up on this!