The Fascination with Control

Seduction and Violence in the Gender Construction in the Series You

Abstract

This paper analyzes the television series You through a theoretical framework that brings together gender studies and serial narrative analysis, with particular attention to the protagonist Joe Goldberg. It explores the construction of the male character as an archetype of toxic masculinity, rooted in dynamics of power, manipulation, and affective control. The article evaluates how contemporary television seriality—and You in particular—may contribute to the reinforcement or the deconstruction of patriarchal models through aesthetic and narrative strategies, while also considering the series’ critical reception by audiences.