Joe Goldberg has slipped through the cracks more times than we can count, but could You Season 5 finally be his last act? After Season 4’s crazy twist, Joe’s back in New York, living large with Kate and, well, fully embracing his dark side. But with so many bodies (and lies) stacking up, how much longer can he keep dodging fate?
Will he meet a brutal end, finally land behind bars, or, somehow, slither his way into another fresh start? Fans have theories, and let’s just say… karma might be knocking.
Joe’s track record: How he’s gotten away with murder for four seasons
If there’s one thing Penn Badgley’s romantic antihero Joe Goldberg understands by the end of You Season 4, it’s that he’s definitely not a good man in a cruel world. And it’s about time.
The murderous bookstore manager turned college professor has racked up a terrifying body count over the course of the thriller’s run, killing everyone from strangers to neighbors to girlfriends to his wife. Through it all, he’s maintained that he’s a good person, finding increasingly absurd ways to justify the horrible things he’s done.
But Season 4’s London-set whodunit, which pits Joe against the infamous Eat the Rich Killer, forces Joe to turn his hyper-observant eye toward himself. Based on the sinister look on his face in the final shot of Season 4, this self-actualization arc can’t mean anything good for Joe or the world.
Let’s break down this story into four parts, starting with Joe’s deadly history of murders.
- The people Joe killed
Badgley’s character’s romantic obsessions have always ended in bloodshed. In Season 1, he fell for Guinevere Beck, a struggling writer, but his possessiveness turned deadly. When she discovered the truth about his stalking and murders, he locked her in his infamous glass cage before ultimately killing her.
Season 2 saw a similar fate for Love Quinn. She died after being poisoned by her husband. In season 3, Joe killed Ryan by stabbing him to death. In season 4, Rhys dies.
- The shocking season 4 reveal: Joe vs. Joe
Surprise, y’all! Golderg’s been playing a cat-and-mouse game with himself the entire season because the Eat the Rich Killer is actually him, not Rhys Montrose (Ed Speleers).
In Episode 7, Joe tortures and murders Rhys in his country home, thinking he’s eliminating the killer who’s been framing him. But after Rhys’s death, another version of Rhys appears, because this one was never real to begin with.
It turns out Joe’s been responsible for all the murders and has been dissociating to cope with his actions. He even forgot that he had imprisoned Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) in a glass cage, believing he had let her go.
Over the years, You has subtly hinted at Joe’s fractured psyche — from brain trauma in Season 1, to drug overdoses in Season 2, to fever-induced hallucinations in Season 3. This was the writers’ way of preparing viewers for the ultimate twist: Joe’s subconscious creating an entirely separate persona to commit his crimes.
The series has been teasing this psychological break all along, making Season 4’s reveal feel like an inevitable (but still jaw-dropping) conclusion.
- The bridge scene where a new Joe emerges
After killing Kate’s (Charlotte Ritchie) father, Joe realizes he can’t escape his own darkness. In a rare moment of clarity, he attempts to end his life by jumping off a bridge.
However, he survives and wakes up in a hospital, seemingly transformed. Joe confesses to Kate that he’s a killer, but leaves out the part where he murdered her father. She forgives him, and they promise to keep each other “good.”
Except, that’s a lie.
Joe ain’t a changed man. He’s simply embraced his darkness completely. By the season’s end, he has no hesitation when framing Nadia for murder and killing her boyfriend Edward. He and Kate move back to New York, where she helps him reclaim his old life and even reconnect with his son, Henry.
Of course, Joe wants to buy a bookstore again — a full-circle moment that signals he’s ready to continue his twisted cycle.
- So, what could happen in You Season 5?
With Joe now more powerful than ever, Season 5 has the perfect setup for his ultimate downfall. Unlike previous seasons where he’s operated under the radar, Joe’s now in a position of influence with Kate’s wealth and resources behind him. But with greater visibility comes greater risk.
Several loose ends could come back to haunt him:
- Marienne: She’s alive and knows the truth. If anyone has a reason to take Joe down, it’s her.
- Nadia: Though imprisoned, she’s smart and determined. She could find a way to expose Joe from behind bars.
- Ellie (Jenna Ortega’s character from Season 2): If she resurfaces, she could be a major wildcard.
- Joe’s own psyche: Can he truly keep his darkness in check, or will his fractured mind unravel again?
For four seasons, Joe has always found a way to escape justice. But You thrives on reinvention, and there’s only so long a serial killer can outrun his past. Season 5 might finally be the season where Joe Goldberg’s luck runs out.
Will Joe face justice or escape again in You Season 5? Fans say this
Joe Goldberg’s endgame is near. You season 5 drops on April 24, 2025, and the big question looms: will Penn Badgley’s dangerously obsessive antihero finally pay for his crimes, or will he slip through the cracks once again?
Social media’s buzzing with theories. Some want justice served, picturing Joe trapped in his own infamous glass cage – this time, with no way out. Others argue that an unexpected twist would make for a better ending.
Netflix teases that Joe’s past is closing in, from law enforcement to old enemies. Whether justice is finally served or Joe pulls off one last escape, one thing’s certain: You’s final chapter will be one helluva ride.
You is available to watch on Netflix.
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