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Every YOU Netflix Love Interest Ranked: Who Was Joe's True Match?
Across five twisted seasons of YOU, one thing's been constant: Joe Goldberg’s toxic brand of “romance.” Whether it’s falling in love with writers, librarians, heiresses, or killers just like him, Joe has a type—and it usually ends in murder, manipulation, or both.
Now that the series has officially ended (RIP, toxic king), let’s take a walk down a blood-soaked memory lane and rank Joe’s major love interests—not just by who made the biggest impact, but also who matched his chaotic energy the best.
Spoiler alert: this list gets messy.
6. Candace Stone – The Ghost of Joe's Past
Let’s be real—Candace was never really in the love story the way others were. She spent most of her screentime trying to expose Joe rather than romance him, and by Season 2, she was more of a plot device than a compelling character.
Yes, her backstory mattered. Yes, she was right to try to take him down. But did she have chemistry with Joe? Not really. Most of their relationship existed in flashbacks, and when she was alive and active in the story, she was more irritating than interesting.
👉 Why she’s ranked last: Minimal screen time + zero chemistry = a forgettable ex.
5. Louise "Brontë" – The Final Flame That Flickered
As Joe’s final obsession in Season 5, Brontë was supposed to be “the one.” But she never quite earned it.
Despite being built up as the person who finally brought Joe down, their relationship lacked that trademark YOU spark. She felt more like a narrative tool than a fully fleshed-out character, which is a shame for the supposed endgame.
She did, however, hold her own—especially in her final scene with Marian. But by then, we were already feeling the fatigue.
👉 Why she ranks low: Just didn’t live up to the hype, especially as Joe’s final love interest.
4. Kate Galvin-Lockwood – The Ice Queen Who Thawed (Sort Of)
Kate came in hot (and kinda cold) during Season 4. She was posh, guarded, and very skeptical of Joe’s charm—probably the most grounded of all his love interests.
But her relationship with Joe often felt transactional or forced. Their chemistry took time to build and even when it finally warmed up, it never reached the intensity of Joe’s past flames. That said, her development in Season 5 gave her some redemption points.
👉 Why she lands here: Strong arc, but weak early spark.
3. Marian Bellamy – The Moral Compass Joe Never Deserved
Marian was one of the few people in YOU who truly felt good. A dedicated librarian and mother, she brought out a rare tenderness in Joe. Their chemistry was solid, but her story was short-lived and largely overshadowed by the chaos around her.
Still, she left a major impact. Especially her haunting moment in Season 5 when she speaks with Louise—it was one of the most emotionally grounded scenes in the entire series.
👉 Why she ranks well: A rare beacon of morality in a show full of monsters.
2. Guinevere Beck – The OG "You"
Ah, Beck. The woman who started it all. Her relationship with Joe in Season 1 was probably the most “normal”—until it wasn’t.
Beck was intelligent, charming, vulnerable, and flawed in ways that made her feel real. You wanted her to succeed. And when she slowly realized who Joe really was? That finale was devastating.
She also gave us the cage confrontation—the one where she nearly escapes, only to be tragically stopped. That scene is burned into every fan's memory.
👉 Why she ranks high: She set the tone for the entire series, and her ghost haunted Joe until the end.
1. Love Quinn – The Chaos Queen We Deserved
There could only be one at the top—and her name is Love Quinn.
Victoria Pedretti’s performance as Joe’s deranged, romantic equal elevated the entire show. She wasn’t just a love interest; she was a mirror. A woman just as broken, dangerous, and obsessed as Joe—if not more.
Love brought passion, danger, unpredictability, and actual consequences for Joe. Their relationship was a trainwreck you couldn’t look away from, and Season 3’s ending? Masterpiece. She owned her crazy, and we loved her for it.
👉 Why she’s #1: She matched Joe blow-for-blow and stole every scene she was in.
Ranking Summary
- Love Quinn – The twisted soulmate
- Beck – The tragic original
- Marian – The moral heart
- Kate – The cool heiress
- Louise – The anticlimactic finale
- Candace – The forgotten ex
Joe's "You"s Were Many—But Love Was THE One
Across five seasons, Joe Goldberg fell for artists, dreamers, murderers, and mothers. Some loved him back. Some tried to run. Most ended up dead. But in the chaos of it all, Love Quinn reigned supreme.
She was the ultimate blend of passion and poison—everything YOU tried to be, wrapped up in one terrifyingly magnetic package.
Keep spiraling down the obsession rabbit hole with more rankings, theories, and breakdowns at Land of Geek Magazine!
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