Overview
You is the psychological thriller show that took over Netflix with its release in 2018. Starring Penn Badgley, the main character is a seemingly average yet charming guy, who is revealed to be a dangerous, obsessive person who stalks the women he dates. The TL;DR is that this show is very mature and not safe for most young audiences. Parents should be cautious before allowing their teens to watch, but we pulled together all the details you need to know to have the right context. Let’s jump in.
Harmful Content ❗️
Parents should know that You has many adult and inappropriate themes. There is stalking, murder, psychological manipulation, and abusive relationships. Even while the main character (Joe) is making obviously harmful decisions, his inner monologue shows the audience how he attempts to justify his actions by a desire to be loved. He is often witty and charming, which sometimes makes him feel like a likeable character to the audience, despite his violent crimes.
The show often portrays the significant consequences that result from the violence that Joe commits. However, at the same time, some feel it glorifies obsessive behavior, which could be detrimental to young or immature audiences.
Language
Frequent profanity from most characters, including F-bombs.
Sex
Sex is highly prevalent in this show. There are scenes depicting and insinuating sex, language that explicitly discusses sex, and even some partial nudity scenes. Sex is often used in a manipulative or obsessive context.
Violence
Violence is another common occurrence in You, ranging from emotionally unsettling to explicitly disturbing. Violence in this show includes murder, kidnapping, physical assault, stalking, and intimidation. These scenes can be bloody and intense at times. Not every single episode has this level of violence, but it’s very frequent in the plot.
Positive Value 💫
You is a show purely meant for entertainment and, more importantly, for adults. It does highlight the fact that not everyone who is charming is trustworthy, and it’s important to look for red flags of obsession in the early stages of dating. But given the inappropriate content, these lessons don’t provide enough value to the show for children to watch it.
So, should my kid watch it?
No, we do not feel this show is appropriate for kids. Unless you have an older teen who you feel is mature enough to handle these dark themes, we feel it’s best for kids and teens to avoid this one.
