Five Netflix men who are walking red flags, but we are still charmed by them
There is something about a red flag wrapped in good hair, great clothes and the kind of smile that makes you forget he is literally the problem. Gen Z calls it what it is—”toxic”, but somehow, Netflix has mastered the art of serving us men we should run from, yet binge-watch their antics instead.
These guys are not the “he’s just misunderstood” type; they are the “he will ruin your life, but you will like it” type. The ones your friends warn you about, but you are too busy making TikToks romanticising the drama to care. They are unpredictable, often reckless, and occasionally criminal, but isn’t that half the fun?
The truth is, it is not about ignoring the red flags; it is about seeing them, acknowledging them, and still hitting “next episode”. Netflix knows this formula works. It has been serving us morally questionable men with a sprinkle of charm and vulnerability, and watching us willingly board the emotional rollercoaster.
So, here is our roundup of the five Netflix men who are human caution signs yet keep us hopelessly hooked. If loving them is wrong, we don’t want to be right.
Five Netflix men who are walking red flags
Joe Goldberg (You, 2018–2025)
Joe Goldberg is the reason the “if he wanted to, he would” trend should come with a legal disclaimer. This man will move mountains for you, but unfortunately, it is usually because he is burying the body of someone who got in his way. On paper, he is your dream literary boyfriend. He is well-read, attentive, and ready to fight for you. In reality, his idea of a fight is a little homicidal.
And yet, the obsession is real. Penn Badgley plays him with just enough wounded-puppy energy that we convince ourselves he is just a man in love. We totally ignore the fact that he is also a full-time stalker. Red flag? Absolutely, he’s the roster of it. But he is proof that charisma, good sweaters, and a library card can apparently overpower every survival instinct we have.
Billy Hargrove (Stranger Things, 2016–2025)
Billy Hargrove is the walking embodiment of toxic hot. He is the guy your parents warn you about and then warn you again when he smirks at you in the hallway. With his chain-smoking habit and a permanent glare (and a hot body, of course), Billy is a small-town bad boy with big-city villain energy. His temper is explosive, and his ego is unmatched.
Still, there is something in the rare glimpses of vulnerability that makes us pause. The complicated family life and the tiny moments of protectiveness sneak in and make you wonder if he is more than the bully façade. He is dangerous, arrogant, and probably not answering your texts, but tell me you wouldn’t watch him walk into a scene and immediately own it.
Lucien (Emily in Paris, 2020–Present)
Lucien is pure Parisian hazard wrapped in a perfectly tailored suit. He is charming and funny and has that effortless cool, but his red flag is that he is allergic to commitment. Lucien thrives in the art of the flirt, making you feel like the only person in the room. But all that until you realise he probably just said the same thing to three others the same night.
However, you have to admit part of the appeal is knowing you will never quite pin him down. He has a masterclass in mystery, and it is hard not to be drawn to someone who treats every conversation like a game you can’t quite win. In the world of Netflix men, Lucien is the charming storm you don’t see coming.
Rio (Money Heist, 2017–2021)
Rio is the definition of a messed-up, cute guy. Sweet-faced and tech-savvy, he starts out as the quiet hacker with a crush but quickly proves he is not built for the high-stakes chaos of a heist. He makes impulsive choices, falls hard and fast, and drags everyone else into his romantic drama.
Yet that is exactly why we can’t let go. Rio has this wide-eyed innocence that somehow helps him survive even the messiest situations. He is a romantic trapped in a criminal’s world, and watching him try (and fail) to balance love with survival is oddly endearing. He is not the mastermind; he is the heart, and sometimes the heart is worth all the trouble.
Klaus Hargreeves (The Umbrella Academy, 2019–2024)
Klaus is a cocktail of charm and self-destruction, shaken, stirred, and served with a wink. He is unreliable and frequently intoxicated, and also has a knack for running straight into bad decisions. The red flag is basically his entire lifestyle, from ghost-talking to disappearing for days without explanation.
However, he is also magnetic. Klaus has a way of making even his most questionable moments feel like an adventure you’d want to join. His humour, vulnerability, and flashes of deep wisdom make it impossible not to root for him, even when you know better.
