You - Season 5

In this final season of the Netflix series You, we see what happens to Joe Goldberg after his return to New York, the place where it all began. Seven years ago, we as viewers got to know the charming bookworm Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) in the series You. This hopeless romantic initially seems like the perfect boyfriend, but appearances can be deceiving. In the meantime, five seasons have passed and we know better: Joe is a psychopath who stalks his victims and has already murdered many a rival and (ex-)girlfriend. Season five is the most recent and also the last season of You in which Joe returns to New York and we find out how his story ends.

This last season really feels like the first seasons, Joe is back, and how!

Joe is now happily married to the British Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie) who, with her money and influence, has managed to clear his name. They even have custody of his son Henry (Frankie DeMaio) back and have moved to New York to run Kate's family business there. Joe has not committed any murders for several years now and seems to have found his place in this new life. However, this 'quiet period' does not last long. When Kate's reputation and thus future comes under pressure, she decides to ask her husband for help. Joe is more than happy to be the knight in shining armor and kills her threatener without any problems, which fuels his bloodlust again.

This season of You is a feast of recognition with the return of many old characters. Even characters who are no longer alive pass by, which makes this a very complete final season. The comparison between Dexter and You is one that is quickly made, but where Dexter had an open ending as a finale, that is not the case with You. Personally, I was very happy with this because it ensures that You really has a worthy conclusion in which it becomes clear how things end for everyone. Moreover, the fact that the series returns to New York is a nice full circle moment.

Kate's (half) sisters and brother play a major role this season. Teddy Lockwood (Griffin Matthews), the black sheep of the family, has a good relationship with Kate, but the same cannot be said of the twins Reagan and Maddie Lockwood (a double role played by Anna Camp). Reagan in particular is bitter about the fact that Kate, not she, is in charge of the company and does everything he can to thwart Kate. Much to Joe's frustration. Although it is technically clear how the makers have portrayed the double role, the acting is really great. Anna plays two very heavy roles very convincingly, which create the atmosphere for season five.



Of course, there is also a new obsession for Joe. This time it is the mysterious Bronte (Madeline Brewer) who makes Joe's head spin and makes him doubt his marriage to Kate. Could she be the one who accepts him even more, even better than Kate despite his murderous side? Joe's marriage to Kate is struggling now that she develops problems of conscience about his actions while he is proud of them. They grow apart, which causes Joe to grow more and more like Bronte. However, are Joe's feelings for Bronte worth risking his seemingly happy family with Kate?

Although it's a shame that the series has ended now, I think they ended on a high note with this last season.

To be honest, I found season four of the series a bit disappointing. With mixed feelings I started season five, but luckily this was not necessary. This last season really feels like the first seasons, Joe is back, and how! The surprising plot twists were as good as ever and the ending is very fitting for the entire series. I dare say that this ending is one of the best series finales I have seen in years. But it was not completely perfect. In the end there are a few loose ends that I would have liked to see more of and I missed a few important characters from the past during the last episodes.

I don't want to give too much away in this review and will keep a low profile regarding the content of the rest of the story. However, I would like to recommend fans of the first seasons to definitely watch the series to the end. Despite the fact that the level is not the same in all seasons, this ending makes up for it all and it is great to see Joe at his best again. The makers also really know how to add some top characters to an already very strong series with good storylines. Although it is a shame that the series has now ended, I think they stopped at a high point with this last season. Unfortunately, season five cannot be watched separately from the previous seasons, but that does have the great advantage that you can binge-watch the entire series at once if you really want to see You. Something that is certainly not a boring activity.