‘You’ Season 5 Review – A Satisfying, Gluttonous Send-Off

There is nothing quite like Netflix’s You. Here is a series that was initially seen as a throwaway, airing on Lifetime, and could have easily fallen into genre tropes, stereotypes, cringey dialogue, and the kind of sensationalism that generates more eye-rolls than genuine excitement. However, the series has a secret weapon in Penn Badgley (Easy A, Gossip Girl), whose performance is dripping with comic chops and personality, able to turn as dark as a switchblade — a portrayal unlike anything we’ve ever seen before in film or television.

You is a series that derives its pleasure from Badgley’s perfection of the deadpan narration, writing that knows no boundaries when it comes to our obsessive narcissism, and Greg Berlanti’s storytelling that is willing to push the limits of the genre. However, let’s make no mistake — this is entertainment. You will never be award-winning, though I think Badgley deserves consideration. No, You is an addictive and thrilling shot of gothic soap opera that is always entertaining, even though the final season does fall into a gluttonous send-off.

The story follows our favorite narcissist with a hero complex, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) — the notoriously well-read and psychotic bibliophile. Last season, Joe finally came to terms with his darkest self, and the love of his life, Kate Galvin (Wonka’s Charlotte Ritchie), accepted him not for the man he pretends to be, but for who he truly is. Of course, this came only after he killed Kate’s father (Academy Award nominee Greg Kinnear), murdered a student named Edward (Brad Alexander), and framed his brightest pupil, Nadia (Safe’s Amy-Leigh Hickman), for the crime.

Now, Joe and Kate are back in New York City, living a life of privilege and basking in their status as social media darlings. That’s largely thanks to Kate, a wealthy socialite and the philanthropic face of the Galvin family. Her PR team has spun the story carefully, coming clean about most of Joe’s past crimes, reuniting him with his son, and presenting them as a reformed, blended family. Joe now owns the Upper East Side bookstore, Mooney’s. He’s been restoring it and preparing to reopen its doors. Joe uncovers many secrets in the shop — from the way it shaped his upbringing to, of course, fueling his romantically obsessive and murderous tendencies.

However, the mysterious Bronte (Madeline Brewer from The Handmaid’s Tale) sparks Joe’s obsessive tendencies when he finds her squatting in Mooney’s. Naturally, this forces Joe back into old habits, entranced by her beauty, love for books, and the fact that she needs a strong man to protect and take care of her. Soon, his deeply rooted behaviors threaten to destroy the perfect life he and Kate have built, ultimately testing whether people can ever truly change.

Badgley, Berlanti, and showrunner Sera Gamble pull out all the stops in You’s final season. This is probably the most outrageous one yet. Surprisingly, the season is well-constructed, with a few stunning reveals that tie the show’s history together. You could say that the character of Joe Goldberg has come full circle. Badgley plays Joe as a family man who will do anything to protect his loved ones. The rub is, he’s—you know—the politically correct term would be impulsive, reckless.. So he doesn’t just push the envelope; he obliterates it. The season is a culmination of an outstanding performance from Badgley, who humanized a character that could have easily been one-note.

You is worth watching because it delivers the same addictive quality fans have come to know and love, not to mention a pitch-perfect, disturbing, and darkly humorous turn by Penn Badgley. He has proven time and time again that his portrayal of Joe Goldberg is one of television’s hidden gems. While the season leans a bit too chaotic, mainly because it’s one of the few times the character struggles to control his surroundings, it still offers a remarkably satisfying conclusion, even if it lacks the guts to fully tie up some characters’ fates.

The fifth season of You is suspenseful, full of twists and turns, and oddly hopeful. Sharp, full of wit, and armrest-grabbing, suspenseful. The sendoff knows how much blood to leave on the page, satisfying the ardent fan base, and when to turn the book for good.

Fans can stream the final season of You only on Netflix starting April 24th!