As the curtain falls on one of Netflix's most talked-about series, the final season of "You" has finally arrived, much to the delight of fans eager to see how Joe Goldberg's twisted tale concludes. The fifth season, which is now available for streaming, finds Joe (played by Penn Badgley) back in New York City, where his journey began, and he is navigating the complexities of his new life with Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie), a wealthy socialite. However, old habits die hard for Joe, and viewers are in for a wild ride as he grapples with his dark past and the consequences of his actions.
The season kicks off with a sense of resurrection; Joe is portrayed as having been reborn, yet the essence of his character remains unchanged. He continues to believe that violence is justified if it’s in defense of those he loves. This leads to a series of events that spiral out of control, revealing the lengths he will go to maintain his facade of normalcy. As Badgley noted in an interview, "The old Joe Goldberg has died and been reborn, but he’s still the same at his core." This season, Joe's arrogance and lethal tendencies are on full display as he becomes embroiled in a new set of dangerous scenarios.
Set three years after the events of season four, the story unfolds against the backdrop of glamorous New York City events, where Joe and Kate present themselves as the ultimate power couple. However, the peace is short-lived, as Joe's past catches up with him in unexpected ways. The introduction of the Lockwood family—Kate's half-siblings and their partners—adds layers to the plot, with characters like twins Reagan and Maddie (played by Anna Camp) and their husband Harrison (Pete Ploszek) becoming pivotal to the unfolding drama.
As the season progresses, the stakes escalate dramatically. Joe's manipulative tendencies lead him to kidnap Maddie, mistakenly believing he can control the situation. In a shocking turn of events, he coerces Maddie into killing her sister Reagan, highlighting the extent of his moral decay. Meanwhile, the return of fan-favorite characters, such as Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle), adds depth to the narrative. Marienne, who survived Joe's previous reign of terror, teams up with Kate and Nadia to plot Joe's downfall.
One of the most significant developments this season is the reappearance of Guinevere Beck, Joe's first victim and a haunting presence throughout the series. Beck's ghost serves as a catalyst for the plot, driving home the theme of justice for those Joe has wronged. Badgley remarked, "Giving the ghost of Guinevere Beck justice seems to be a significant theme this season," underscoring the weight of past actions on the present.
As tensions rise, Joe’s life takes a dramatic turn when Kate, driven by a desire for vengeance, attempts to kill him. In a gripping scene, she shoots Joe, but he manages to escape, leading to a fiery climax set in Mooney's bookstore. In a twist of fate, Maddie, believing Joe's lies, sets the place ablaze, leaving Joe and Kate to confront their fates amidst the flames. This moment symbolizes the destructive nature of their relationship and the chaos that follows Joe wherever he goes.
In a shocking final confrontation, Bronté Flannery (Madeline Brewer), Joe's new love interest who initially falls for his charm, finds herself embroiled in the chaos. After a harrowing struggle, she manages to shoot Joe in a moment of self-defense, turning the tables on the man who has caused so much pain. This act of defiance is a pivotal moment for Bronté, who realizes the true nature of Joe and the danger he represents.
The season culminates in Joe's arrest and conviction for multiple murders, including those of Love Quinn and Guinevere Beck. He is sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, a fitting end for a character whose journey has been marked by violence and manipulation. As the series closes, Joe reflects on his life from behind bars, lamenting his loneliness and the consequences of his actions. His final monologue resonates with a sense of despair: "So in the end, my punishment is even worse than I imagined. The loneliness, oh my god. The loneliness. No hope of being held. Knowing this is forever. It’s unfair, putting all this on me. Aren’t we all just products of our environment? Hurt people hurt people? I never stood a chance … Why am I in a cage when these crazies write me all the depraved things they want me to do to them? Maybe we have a problem as a society. Maybe we should fix what’s broken in us. Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s you."
Meanwhile, other characters find their paths to redemption. Nadia writes a book titled "Salvage the Bones," sharing her experiences and helping others cope with trauma. Harrison is freed from prison, and Maddie, despite facing charges, manages to avoid jail time. Kate, having survived her ordeal, reconnects with her son Henry and transforms Lockwood Corp into a nonprofit, symbolizing her rebirth and commitment to a better future.
As the series wraps up, fans are left to ponder the complexities of love, morality, and redemption. Joe's journey serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of obsession and the consequences of unchecked desires. With a final body count of 22 murders, Joe Goldberg's legacy is one of chaos and destruction, leaving viewers to question the nature of evil and the possibility of change.
