"When I first saw Badgley’s tweets telling fans not to get too horny over him, honestly my first thought was: 'Welp, too late,'" says E. J. Dickson. "As Joe, Badgley exudes the rumpled, self-effacing charm of a young John Cusack, or a pre-Esquire profile Miles Teller. (The fact that Joe is prone to wearing shirts that show off his chest hair doesn’t hurt, either.) He’s undeniably sexy, and that’s precisely the point: were he even slightly homelier, it’s unlikely that Beck would look past the myriad red flags that pop up like Whack-a-Moles during their first few dates together. Hot, charming people have a hell of a lot more privilege than bumbling, non-charismatic fuggos." Dickson adds: "In a twisted way, this dynamic makes You one of the first great romance stories of the post-#MeToo era. In light of the cultural conversation we’re having about consent and boundaries, we’re slowly coming to terms with the idea that obsession isn’t the same as infatuation, harassment isn’t the same as persistence, and wanting to save someone isn’t the same as loving them. And if Penn Badgley showing his chest hair is enough to help us do away with these problematic ideals once and for all, then so much the better." ALSO: You captures the hell of dating as a straight woman.
TOPICS: You (Netflix series), Lifetime, Penn Badgley