You (2018)

Kernel Score: 90% · 3,823 ratings

Genres: Mystery, Crime, Drama

First aired: 2018-09-09

Seasons: 5 · 50 episodes

Is You worth watching?

Worth watching. A charming bookshop manager turns into a stalker and murderer, and the show makes you uncomfortably complicit in his narration. It's compulsive and darkly funny, though the plots get more outlandish as seasons go on.

Watch it if you

  • like psychological thrillers with a dark sense of humour
  • enjoy narrators who are monstrous but charming
  • want a binge with cliffhangers

Skip it if you

  • dislike stories that centre on a stalker
  • need realistic plotting

Best for: Binge weekend

Fresh Kernels verdict, AI-assisted from our scores, audience reviews and the official rating.

Where to watch You

  • Stream: Netflix
  • Buy: Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play, Fandango At Home

US availability, updated 2026-10-23.

Overview

A dangerously charming, intensely obsessive young man goes to extreme measures to insert himself into the lives of those he is transfixed by.

You parents' guide: ages 15+

Parents need to know that You is a TV-MA psychological thriller about an obsessive stalker who commits murder.

  • Violence & scariness: Strong — The story follows a stalker whose obsession leads to murder and other disturbing crimes.
  • Sex, romance & nudity: Moderate — Themes of infidelity, cheating, and obsessive romantic relationships recur throughout, consistent with TV-MA rating.

Fresh Kernels AI-assessed from the official TV-MA rating, publicly documented content. A guide for families, not an official rating.

Shows like You

If you liked You, these are the shows we'd watch next.

  • Dexter (2006) — 89%: Follow a charming serial killer from inside his own head.
  • Killing Eve (2018) — 89%: A cat-and-mouse thriller with dark wit and two sharp leads.
  • MINDHUNTER (2017) — 88%: A calm, unsettling look at how killers think.
  • Bates Motel (2013) — 90%: A dark, character-led series about an unnerving, charming man.
  • Defending Jacob (2020) — 92%: A tense, twisty crime drama that unsettles.
  • Mare of Easttown (2021) — 90%: A moody, character-led murder mystery with strong acting.

Cast

  • Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg
  • Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Galvin
  • Griffin Matthews as Teddy Lockwood
  • Anna Camp as Maddie Lockwood / Reagan Lockwood
  • Madeline Brewer as Louise Flannery

You FAQ

Is You worth watching?

Worth watching. A charming bookshop manager turns into a stalker and murderer, and the show makes you uncomfortably complicit in his narration. It's compulsive and darkly funny, though the plots get more outlandish as seasons go on.

Where can I watch You?

In the US you can stream You on Netflix and buy it from Prime Video, Apple TV, Google Play and Fandango At Home.

Is You OK for kids?

You is rated TV-MA. Fresh Kernels suggests ages 15+. Parents need to know that You is a TV-MA psychological thriller about an obsessive stalker who commits murder.

What shows are like You?

If you liked You, try Dexter, Killing Eve, MINDHUNTER and Bates Motel.