Here’s What To Watch Next If You’ve Finished Binge-Watching ‘You’
More sexy-thrillers for you to enjoy.
If you’ve clicked on this piece, I’m going to go ahead and assume that you’re one of the lil’ weirdos who have developed an unhealthy obsession with Netflix’s creepy (yet sexy) thriller, You.
The series turned up on our Netflix homepages in late 2018, and audiences have been thirsting after its unhinged lead, Joe Goldberg (portrayed by Penn Badgely), since. While I don’t personally understand the sudden surge in people begging to be kidnapped by Badgley — his character is a literal serial killer, folks — I fully relate to the compulsive need to binge watch the psychologically captivating show.
There’s something about a dark series that keeps you clicking that “next episode” button.
No, really! A study released by Netflix in 2016 literally highlighted this point. Of all the genres available on the service, audiences were most likely to watch thriller and horror shows for more than two hours per day. Using my powers of deduction, I’m going to suggest that shows with a provocative element are even more addictive because, well… sex.
This is all to say that I’m pretty confident most of you have already watched the second season of You, and you’re probably desperate for your next semi-disturbing fix. Because I too am a lil’ weirdo, I’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of five seductive thrillers to fill the You-shaped hole in your life right now.
1. Killing Eve
Let me guess? You’ve heard that this show is brilliant but just haven’t gotten around to watching it yet. Sort that out, quick-smart.
This series stars Sandra Oh as a British intelligence agent (Eve Polastri) and Jodie Comer as a psychopathic assassin (Villanelle, or Oxana Vorontsova) and follows the sexually-charged dance between the pair.
Much like You, Killing Eve challenges your moral compass by somehow getting the audience to empathise with a murderer. Villanelle has a puzzling ability to make you cringe, then smile, in the space of a few minutes. And you can’t help but recognise the charm that drives Eve to go against her better judgement and get a little too close to this killer.
The female-led production showcases a rare kind of chemistry that has landed it several awards and a deeply dedicated fanbase. Be prepared: you will become addicted.
2. How To Get Away With Murder
Lead by the infallible Viola Davis, who stars as law professor Annalise Keating, HTGAWM is a series about how covering up one murder can (and usually does) lead to an avalanche of problems — including a lot more deaths.
This show sometimes errs on the side of being a thriller-thriller, rather than an erotic thriller, but it’s laced with complicated relationships and ridiculously good-looking people. Unsurprisingly, all that drama and all those abs tend to have you swooning over terrible people a lot faster than you’d like to admit.
3. Dirty John
While it hurts me to see Eric Bana play a villain, this series makes the list largely because of how well he does it. The show is based on true (terrifying) events and follows the story of Debra Newell, her daughters and the con-man — John Meehan — who tried to tear everything from them.
Newell (played by Connie Britton) is swept away by Meehan (Bana) and despite the protests made by her kids, marries the unnerving creepo after like three minutes of dating. What follows is an intense journey of manipulation, violence and greed that will send chills to your core.
In short: Joe Goldberg isn’t the only man willing to do anything, to anyone, to cover his ass.
4. Gypsy
This little Netflix series didn’t make it past season one, sure. But if you’re after a psychosexual thriller, it fits the bill.
There’s no murder to be seen in the show, but the mind-games on display will leave you feeling uneasy most of the way through.
Naomi Watts stars as psychologist Jean Holloway, who appears to have a near-perfect life with hubby Michael (Billy Crudup). As the series develops, you learn she has a pathological tendency to insert herself into the lives of her patients; toying with relationships; living multiple lives and creating unhealthy connections along the way.
5. The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story
The Assassination of Gianni Versace is the second instalment of the true-crime anthology series, American Crime Story, and man, does it make for a haunting watch.
Darren Criss is eerily good as serial killer Andrew Cunanan; the man who shot Gianni Versace dead on the front steps of his Miami home in 1997. The nine-part series follows the moments that lead up to the horrific moment, sharing insight into the charismatic, yet disturbed, Cunanan and his chilling fixation with Versace — which is not unlike Joe Goldberg and his girlfriends.
Stephanie Nuzzo is a New York-based writer who is mildly obsessed with Beyoncé and coffee. You can follow her on Twitter at @StephNuzzo.