With the fifth and final season of Netflix’s gripping thriller You, starring Penn Badgley, just around the corner on April 24th, it’s time for a refresher on the twisted events of Season 4. Get ready to dive back into the dark world of Joe Goldberg before the final ten episodes drop!
Season 4 transported us across the Atlantic to London, where serial killer Joe Goldberg, now masquerading as literature professor Jonathan Moore, sought to escape his past. But as always, trouble found him. Instead of laying low, Joe found himself entangled in a perplexing murder mystery, the kind that only You can deliver. Buckle up – here’s a recap of the shocking twists and turns orchestrated by showrunner Sera Gamble. (SPOILERS AHEAD!)
Joe’s London Reinvention (and Immediate Complications)
Leaving behind the carnage of his marriage to Love (Victoria Pedretti) and entrusting his son, Henry, to a neighbor, Joe reinvented himself as Jonathan Moore in London. He quickly found himself immersed in a new, affluent social circle, including socialites Lady Phoebe (Tilly Keeper), the enigmatic Kate (Charlotte Ritchie), and the volatile Adam (Lukas Gage). However, this newfound life was quickly disrupted by the emergence of the “Eat the Rich” killer, targeting Joe’s new acquaintances. Suddenly, Joe was thrust into the role of amateur detective, determined to unmask the murderer. Was this a genuine attempt at redemption, or just another carefully constructed facade?
A Dark Romance Blooms with Kate
As Joe and Kate grow closer, a complex relationship unfolds, revealing Kate’s own secrets and a troubled background shaped by her ruthless, wealthy father, Tom Lockwood (Greg Kinnear). The season throws wild events and escalating dangers their way, including Joe’s protectiveness of Kate from her father. The bizarre events only bring them closer together.
The Jaw-Dropping Twist That Redefines Joe Goldberg
Throughout the season, Joe fixated on Rhys Montrose (Ed Speelers), a charismatic writer, as the prime suspect in the “Eat the Rich” killings. But the series then drops a bombshell: Joe himself is the killer. He had been dissociating, losing touch with reality, and committing the murders without conscious awareness. The revelation culminates in a mental breakdown, forcing Joe to confront the darkness within.
The horrifying depths of Joe’s depravity are further exposed when it’s revealed that he also kidnapped Marienne (Tati Gabrielle), trapping her in a familiar glass cage. When his ambitious student, Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman), attempts to expose Joe and free Marienne, the cunning killer frames her for his crimes, leading to Nadia’s unjust imprisonment. And not stopping there, Joe ends up killing Kate’s father, Tom.
Setting the Stage for a Killer Finale
Season 4 concludes with Kate and Joe returning to New York City. Joe sheds his “Jonathan Moore” persona, and his reputation as Joe Goldberg is miraculously restored thanks to her wealthy family. He is even reunited with Henry. As the season ends, Joe expresses interest in buying another bookstore – a chilling return to his Season 1 roots. Will Joe finally face justice, or will he continue to manipulate and evade consequences in the final season? Only time will tell if he makes it out alive.
