Spoiler alert. Stop reading now if you haven’t watched the fifth and final season of the Netflix thriller “You.”
For the rest, proceed with caution, especially if you’re a Joe Goldberg fan, which brings us to today’s topic.
Viewers, invested from the get-go, held on to every word when the Penn Badgley-led series aired in 2018. We (mostly women) were enamored with the main character, vulnerable and flawed. Joe Goldberg drew us in with his charming charisma and the guy-next-door persona.
Sure, there were red flags like him killing off his love rivals or gaslighting his partners into thinking he was the only one who could save them. Not that they needed saving…
He wasn’t the one at fault. How could he be? Joe Goldberg did it for love!
Yes, it makes scintillating viewing, but Hollywood has a habit of painting the villain as the good guy and using their mental state as a plot device. Rotten Tomatoes ratings increase, and so do our musings on boyfriend material.
We’ll explain exactly how below.
Dissociation
Romanticizing dissociation is nothing new in the media. Movies like “Fight Club” and “Psycho” come to mind.
In Joe’s case, Psychology Today’s Dr Nat Mulkey describes his fictitious mental illness used to fill so many plot holes that “it should be paid a full writer’s salary.”
Hallucinations are often symptoms of dissociation. According to MDedge, about 7% of the U.S. population experiences visual hallucinations caused by medication, neurological, substance, or psychiatric reasons.
Dr Mulkey puts it blankly. It’s impossible to diagnose Joe’s dissociation and multiple personalities in the real world. Both his symptoms and the way they combine seem too exaggerated or artificial to match any real mental illness.
Treating Dissociation
Dissociation is usually treated with a mix of therapy and medication. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) supports individuals in recognizing harmful patterns and building healthier coping skills.
A psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) is qualified to treat various mental disorders, including dissociation.
They specialize in mental health needs for individuals, families, and communities. Advanced practice registered nurses with an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) and critical thinking skills tend to take this career pathway.
Enrolling in a PMHNP post master’s certificate online is the most affordable and effective way to earn a qualification. PMHNPs work in numerous settings, from clinics to hospitals and private practices.
However, their main role involves collaborating with other healthcare professionals to create and implement individualized treatment plans.
Rockhurst University says the degree equips advanced practice nurses to provide holistic care through rigorous academics and diverse clinical experiences.
Schizophrenia
Showtime’s “Yellowjackets” is a terrifying case study on what happens when you abandon a group of teenage girls in the wilderness to fend for themselves.
Albeit fiction, the perverse descent into cannibalism and ritualistic killing strikes a chord, even with the most stoic of us.
But one character’s journey into darkness is more profound than the rest. Before their plane crash, Lottie Matthews struggled with her demons. Diagnosed with schizophrenia, Lottie is one of the first to embrace “it” and welcomes it as a rite of passage.
Season 3 ended on a cliffhanger, and confirmation of a fourth season is still in doubt. Despite leaving things up in the air, Lottie’s character arc will always go down in “Yellowjackets” history as one of the most confusing.
Yes, she’s caused much less damage than her fellow teammates, but series writers portrayed her as a victim of her mental illness and not as a perpetrator.
CBC’s Shailee Koranne writes that the show slips into problematic territory when Lottie shifts from a kind background character to someone seemingly possessed. She begins having visions of death and urges the others to harm one of their own.
The only reasonable account is that her “madness” is the sole explanation for her actions.
Breaking the Mental Health Stigma
Verywell Mind reports that the portrayal of mental health in the media perpetuates stereotypes and stigmatizing attitudes.
Mental health advocates have been trying to dismantle the tropes that accompany movie plots. It’s a shame that the media often focuses on individuals with mental illness instead of presenting it as a societal issue.
Another common misrepresentation of mental health in the media is trivialization, suggesting it’s not a serious issue. A case in point is “You”.
Joe Goldberg may not be aware of his disturbing illusions of grandeur, but he knows how to weaponize them against his victims.
And that it in itself is a giant red flag that women in abusive relationships don’t see before it’s too late.
