Joe Goldberg is back, and this time he’s not just stalking—you could say he’s networking.
In Season 5, You continues its twisted tango of romance, murder, and literary references, with everyone’s favorite soft-spoken sociopath Joe Goldberg now navigating a whole new environment. But don’t worry, his internal monologue is still alive and whispering creepy sweet-nothings in your ear like a podcast you didn’t subscribe to but can’t stop listening to.
Penn Badgley? Still killing it—emotionally and metaphorically. He somehow manages to make “dangerously obsessive murderer” look like a viable romantic lead. It’s a normal day at the office for Penn.
New and returning cast members bring flair, mystery, and just enough emotional damage to keep things spicy. You’ll find yourself deeply suspicious of everyone, including your own reflection. Some characters are so charismatic you forget they’re awful people. Others are so awful you’re surprised they haven’t ended up in “The Box” yet.
The production team deserves a fruit basket (but, like, a vintage one, with artisan blood oranges). The cinematography is sleek and purposeful, with every shadow hinting at secrets and every espresso shot framed like a painting in a murder museum.
The soundtrack slaps. It shifts from sultry to sinister faster than Joe’s moral compass. Whether it’s an indie bop or a haunting classical cue, the music knows exactly how to twist the emotional knife.
Visual storytelling remains one of the show’s strong suits—color palettes subtly echo character arcs, and the editing keeps the pace snappy without rushing the psychological slow-burn. You’ll want to watch twice: once for the plot, once to spot all the clever foreshadowing you missed while distracted by Penn Badgley’s intense eye contact.
Season 5 does ok in keeping a long-running show fresh without forgetting what made it binge-worthy in the first place. Joe’s arc feels both inevitable and unpredictable. It took us 5 years to realise we shouldn’t be rooting for this twisted guy but we got there.
There are plenty of twists, but they aren’t cheap. Each one is laced with emotional stakes that make you go, “Oh no… wait, YES… wait, OH NO.” The pacing is tight, but the story does drag its feet.
And yes—while Joe’s “inner thoughts” still sound like someone trying to write their way out of therapy, it’s part of the charm. It’s like getting life advice from a serial killer who read The Great Gatsby one too many times.
Thematically, You still explores obsession, identity, and the ways people perform for others and themselves. It just does it with better tailoring and more bodies in the basement.
You Season 5 proves this show still has sharp teeth (and an even sharper script). It’s twisty, it’s thoughtful, and it’s the only series that can make you question your taste in men and literature at the same time. Sadly its the end of Joe, im not too sad to see it end because it was long overdue, however You will be cemented in Netflix’s Mount Rushmore.
Watch it if: You like your thrillers sexy, smart, and slightly deranged.
Don’t watch if: You’d prefer your romantic leads not have a body count.
