Some psychological thrillers thrive with every passing season, skillfully knitting complex storylines through the addition or removal of characters, the tightening of plotlines, the revelation of shocking twists, or even the subtle change of environment. When You premiered in fall 2018, it unleashed a maelstrom of passion, revamping the genre with its beguiling but terrifying premise: a psychopathic bookstore manager, Joe Goldberg, tormented by a troubled history and driven by a dark obsession, embodied in his notorious glass cage.
This brilliant interpretation of the antihero trope sparked intense debate, fueling the show to international renown and solidifying its place as an indulgent fixation.
Seven years hence, You has reached its long-awaited—and, arguably, essential—denouement. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), the serial killer and relentless stalker, has been exhaustively explored. Each season meticulously unraveled his psyche, exposing every facet of his fractured morality. What began as an electrifying descent into his mind grew increasingly redundant, as even the creators grappled with unearthing fresh dimensions of their enigmatic protagonist. By the finale, the verdict was clear: Joe’s narrative well had run dry.
Now married to Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie), raising their son, Henry, and ostensibly basking in an idyllic existence, Joe’s veneer of normalcy is shattered when ghosts from their London past resurface. The couple’s vow to forge a new beginning in New York exacts a harrowing toll, as vengeful figures tied to Guinevere Beck and Dr. Nicky emerge, determined to hold Joe accountable for his long-evaded sins.
True to form, Joe’s meticulously crafted facade falters when he encounters Bronte (Madeline Brewer), a vivacious, Ibsen-quoting playwright whose fiery spirit ensnares him. From their serendipitous meeting in his bookstore to the inexorable pull of her allure, Joe’s tragic unraveling assumes an almost lyrical quality—though, in his distorted perception, it is anything but.
Concurrently, the Lockwood family saga escalates, with Kate’s sister, Reagan, unearthing buried secrets from their London history. Caught between marital fidelity and Bronte’s perilous magnetism, Joe teeters on the precipice of collapse.
Positioned as the definitive farewell, the final season delivers on ambition, if not always execution. While the narrative occasionally succumbs to predictability, standout performances—particularly from Kate’s twin sisters, Reagan and Maddie—infuse vitality. The return to New York, with Joe no longer cloaked in anonymity but exposed as a billionaire’s husband and public figure, offers a refreshing pivot. Yet, this transparency often muddles the suspense, rendering the story overcrowded and less gripping.
Penn Badgley’s portrayal of Joe remains mesmerizing, his warped conception of love both alien and tragically human. Joe’s flawed understanding of women, interwoven with raw vulnerability, blurs the line between hero and villain—a question the series leaves tantalizingly unanswered. The finale strives to reconcile his delusions with a semblance of humanity, but its success remains a matter of viewer interpretation.
Cameos pepper the season, briefly diverting attention from its central flaw: repetition. The visceral shock of the early seasons is absent, yet the closing moments reclaim the series’ hypnotic pull. As a devoted viewer enduring five seasons, one feels ensnared, akin to Joe’s prey, when he gazes through the screen, declaring that You were never the issue—you were.
You season 5 premiered on Netflix on April 24, delivering ten hour-long episodes that burrow into the psyche with quintessential Joe Goldberg intensity.
About The Author
