The Netflix series “You” concludes with a final season that brings Joe Goldberg back to New York for a final confrontation with his past. From the serial killer who always got away with it to the criminal finally unmasked, find out why this conclusion deserves your attention.
The circle comes full circle
The trajectory of “You” in the world of Netflix series is unique, to say the least. Beginning as an atypical story about a killer who achieves his goals, the production has grown in ambition and complexity over the seasons. Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) left New York-and a dead body-for Los Angeles, then Paris, and finally London. At each stage, he became more brutal, bolder, and more dangerous, turning his long succession of obsessions and crimes into a strange mix of charismatic villain and increasingly sinister universe.
From town to town, Joe has also changed his name and identity. This is a device that allows us to explore the character from completely different angles. From a discreet New York bookseller, he quickly morphed into Will Bettelheim, Jonathan Moore, and Rhys Montrose. But it was his marriage to Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie) that gave Joe some stability.
The fifth and final season succeeds in bringing Joe back to his roots: New York City and, more specifically, the Mooney bookstore, the epicenter of the entire plot of the first season. But mind you, Joe is no longer the shy bookseller looking for love who kills when he gets it. Now he is a loving father and devoted husband trying, to the best of his ability to resist temptation, to continue his life from where he left off when he had to flee the city.
In this way, “You” recovers much of its ingenious and perverse wit, showing how mere contact with the city causes Joe to fall back, almost immediately, into his worst habits. This time the excuse seems to be to protect Kate from the web of family intrigue that surrounds her, but the series does not fool loyal fans. The monster within the character cannot contain himself, and the protection of his family life becomes as good an excuse as any to kill.
The return of unhealthy obsessions
Another strength of this season finale is the way it goes back to delving into Joe’s darkness, exploring his worst aspects. Forget the character who in previous seasons seemed on the brink of redemption, this time he knows what he wants and how to get it. After years of containing himself or, at best, trying to hide his murderous drive, he now feels free to act.
This evolution becomes especially evident when the character meets Bronte (Madeline Brewer), an aspiring playwright with more than one secret to hide. But there is one thing that makes her absolutely irresistible to Joe: she is a big fan of the late Guinevere Beck’s (Elizabeth Lail) book. The script focuses on Joe’s transformation as he abandons his role as an exemplary husband and father and returns to obsession.
And he does so doubly. Bronte seduces him with her humor and disturbing sexuality, claiming that Beck’s book means everything to her. This is more than enough for Joe to abandon Kate and make his new love interest the center of his life. The show does not make the mistake of rushing things and revels in portraying Joe’s inevitable cycle of attraction, love, and violence as something that cannot be avoided. Only this time it will lead to his downfall.
Signs of disaster
The dynamic between Joe and Bronte reveals several troubling elements:
- Bronte’s insane attraction to Beck’s book, which is actually one of Joe’s victims.
- The gradual return of Joe’s obsessive inner monologues.
- The rapid abandonment of his familial responsibilities in the face of his new fixation
- The way New York’s past resurfaces around every corner
A fitting end for a detestable character
The highlight of the fifth season of “You” is the way the killer finally gets what he deserves. It may sound hypocritical, but the script takes its time to show how guilty Joe is of every accusation made against him. Thus, when he finally gets the punishment he deserves, there is no doubt or question as to how Joe came to be in this situation.
For this reason, “You” reserves its best moment for the final scenes. Not only does Joe receive a just punishment, but his violent and depraved nature is laid completely bare. A satisfying conclusion to a story that has based part of its appeal on the killer’s ever-frustrated desire to find something stronger than himself. Which he finally does this time.
An ending that satisfies fans
This conclusion brings real satisfaction to loyal viewers who have followed Joe’s misdeeds for five seasons. The series cleverly avoids suggesting any kind of redemption, a trap into which it could easily have fallen. Instead, it remains consistent with its central premise: Joe is a murderer without compassion or remorse and must pay the price.
- The confrontation with his past and the ghosts of his previous victims.
- The public exposure of all his crimes.
- The collapse of the mask of normalcy he has tried so hard to maintain
- The poetic justice that eventually befalls him.
Begun in 2018, “You” closes its final chapter in a way that respects both its original concept and the evolution of its protagonist, offering viewers the conclusion they have been waiting for.