After You Season 5, I now firmly believe that Joe Goldberg is a deadlier serial killer than Dexter

Note: The article reflects the author's personal opinions.

Joe Goldberg (played by Penn Badgley) on Netflix’s "You" and Dexter Morgan (played by Michael C. Hall) on Showtime’s "Dexter" have many similarities. From troubled childhood, skillful stalking tendencies to inner monologues that seemingly justify their actions, the two serial killers are much alike, but so different. As the curtains closed on Joe in You Season 5, one thing became clear: his kills are more erratic than Dexter’s calculated approach, making Joe the deadlier of the two serial killers.

In the You Season finale, Joe tries to reason with Bronte (played by Madeline Brewer) when she threatens to kill him. He fails to acknowledge his mistakes and tells Bronte how he helped her and each of the women improve. Joe showcases that he is delusional in multiple ways. Comparatively, Dexter may have a higher kill count, but he is careful with his steps. As a family man, he is aware of the effects his actions will have if he becomes reckless.

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What makes Joe and Dexter different?

Dexter Morgan is a blood spatter analyst working with the Miami Metro Police Department. He follows the moral code, instilled in him by his adoptive father Harry, for killing only the guilty to control his compulsion to commit murder.

Dexter plans and prepares his kills carefully. While working on the crime scene, he learns more about the targets. This gives him the upper hand and helps him to cover his tracks. During the day, he carries out his work at the police department and leads the life of a family man, while at night, he turns to his alter ego as the killer.

On the other hand, Joe lives in a deranged world filled with dark romantic stories as a lonely bookstore manager. Every time he falls in love with a woman, his obsession drives him to take extreme measures to tackle anyone he perceives as a threat.

Both Joe and Dexter had a disturbing childhood. Dexter was brought up with Harry, who gave him the necessary tools to take care of his urge to kill. As per Harry’s code, Dexter is to kill only murderers with conclusive proof and never harm an innocent.

Joe is adopted by Mr. Mooney, who made his impulse worse by abusing him and teaching him about the glass cage vault. He would tell Joe that his actions were out of love. Something Joe would use to justify his kills as well.

While Dexter has his career to thank for when it comes to finding his victims, Joe chooses technology to stalk people.

Dexter is careful about his relationships, but Joe has no boundaries. He gets into relationships whenever he pleases, but they hardly last because he gets caught in his web of lies anyway.

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Dexter’s methodological system to Joe’s reckless ways

Dexter would often think through his actions before committing a murder, while Joe was more impulsive. Joe has no long-term attachments, which is a point of difference.

His cover-ups are not ironclad. Joe would readily jump from town to town trying to find the ‘one’ for him. He would adopt a new name in a new place and blend in seamlessly.

But Dexter was more rooted. For him, despite the numerous dead bodies of his victims lying in the ocean, he continued to stay in Miami.

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Joe is more dangerous because of his reckless ways

If Dexter and Joe lived in the same universe, Dexter would have hunted Joe and likely succeeded in doing so. Every time Joe decides to kill someone, he justifies his actions, which is often just an extension of his imagination. Joe would share that he loves his son and wants the best for him, yet his self-interest takes precedence as he continues to pursue his grand romance, creating situations that put his son in danger.

In You Season 5, Kate Lockwood (played by Charlotte Ritchie), who is aware of Joe’s dark side, has accepted him as he is and refrains from digging deep initially. But even so, he is easily infatuated by Bronte. He reasons that Kate is restricting him, but honestly, he needs to live out his imaginary grand love gestures the way he sees fit, often paying a heavy price for it.

In You Season 5, we bid Joe farewell, who now lives his remaining days behind bars. A fitting ending for a man who wants to escape loneliness and live out his imagination by himself, ending up harming others.

You Season 5 is currently streaming on Netflix

Michael C. Hall will reprise the role of Dexter Morgan in the upcoming Paramount+ series Dexter: Resurrection, a sequel to Dexter: New Blood, a spinoff of the original Dexter series.

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