You's Stars Have It Better Off in Love Than Their On-Screen Counterparts

While affection often proves complicated, the stars of You are fortunate that their personal romantic lives are far more stable than the tumultuous pairings depicted on screen.

This gripping series first aired on Lifetime in September 2018, featuring performances by Penn Badgley, Ambyr Childers, Elizabeth Lail, among others.

Drawing inspiration from Caroline Kepnes' novel, the debut season chronicled Joe Goldberg (Badgley) and his obsessive pursuit of a romantic connection with aspiring author Beck (Lail).

Initially, the show struggled to gain traction, but it garnered a significant fanbase after its transition to Netflix.

The second season became available on the streaming service in December 2019, and a third installment was announced just one month later.

Badgley expressed to IndieWire in December 2019 that he believed “there’s merit” in Joe’s portrayal as an unconventional romantic protagonist.

"Honestly … I feel that much of the discourse surrounding love, particularly within popular culture throughout its history, is often quite skewed and, frequently – if not predominantly – bears little resemblance to genuine affection.

For authentic love can manifest in various relationships among diverse individuals, extending beyond merely those with romantic intentions."

The MOTHXR artist further elaborated, "I suspect that often, what we label 'love' is, in fact, desire.

While there's no intrinsic flaw in desire, it undeniably doesn't invariably motivate us toward optimal actions."

Explore the romantic timelines of the cast members below: