Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in ‘You’ Season 5. Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix © 2024.
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‘You’ season 5 receives 7 out of 10 stars.
Returning to Netflix For its fifth and final season, ‘You‘Drags us back into the warped world of joe goldberg (Penn badgley), The charming sociopath who fixates on Finding the perfect someone to share his life, but always see sems to end up with blood and death in his life – – And useless at his hands.
With the pressure off to keep the story going, this new run of episodes looks back as well as confronting joe where he is now.
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Is ‘you’ season 5 a killer run of the show?
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in ‘You’ Season 5. Photo: CLIFTON PRESCOD / NETFLIX. Copyright: © 2025.
Given that it started on lifetime, was renewed for a second season only to suffer the sting of cancellation before that Episodes could Air, ‘Has Enjoyed A Remarksable Life. Pickled up by netflix from that second season online, it has since grown into one of the streaming service’s more reliable performs, its patent, potent blend of penn badgley ‘ Voice-over and low key/manic turn as joe Himself and the many twists and turns sparking a fertile fanbase.
Naturally, sticking the landing on a show such as this was always going to be challenging, with muliple Dangling Story Threads to Be (Somewhat) Neatly KNOTED and A Brand New Variation on Joe Variation on Joe New particular “you” to be adapted from caroline kepnes’ novels. Thought “adapted” is used in loose terms these days, as since the first season, the show has diverted considerably, Following Its Own Path.
Script and direction
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in ‘You’ Season 5. Photo: CLIFTON PRESCOD/NETFLIX © 2025.
The ‘you’ wreting team, LED by this season’s showrunners Michael Foley and Justin lo Does manage to thread the needle effectively, partly by finding fresh ways for joe to plan for perfection and to then screenw things up royally when he can’t achieve it.
While the shift back to new york might be seen as covering old territory, it allows for a welcome Dip back into the history he’s been trying to run from for years, not the least of who is the people With guinevere beck (Elizabeth lail) Whoch, as his dallians tend to, ended badly.
And via the set-up of joe’s seemingly happy relationship with the wealthy kate galvin (Charlotte ritchie), there’s also the chance to explore another facet of his personality: what does joe do when do when his problems – – The external ones, at least – – are fixed by her resources.
Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Lockwood in ‘You’ Season 5. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
Of course, Nothing in his life can ever be easy, mostly because he’s a diabolic serial Murderer with obsessive Compulsive Compulsive Tendencies, but the Season Does has been ‘ Squabbling and Privileged Family.
There’s also the storyline involving Madeline brewer‘S Homeless Bronte, A Wannabe Writer Herself Who is Squatting in the Now-Closed Bookstore from the first season. Naturally, things get complicated.
Main Director Silver tree is back this year and guides the rest of the filmmakers in keeping ‘You’s Visual Style Consistency. The new york backing is a welcome throwback and the show is always shot in interesting, but never distracting fashion.
Cast and performances
(L to r) Penn badgley as joe goldberg and charlotte ritchie as kate lockwood ‘you’ season 5. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
Badgley is, as always, the core of the show, bot on screen and in our heads narrating joe’s inner monologue. He really has come into his own with this role, and white there only so many so many people for joe to find or cause Trouble, the actor has made him work from day one.
He’s Never Afraid to Look Foolish or Ridiculous, and He Still Comes Across as a Believally Romantic Figure, Bounces Perfectly of of Any Scene Partner and Making Eveen the Crazier Twists and Turns Functions.
As kate (who was introduced in last season’s england-set storyline), Charlotte ritchie Has Proved to be one of the better fails for badgley, her no-nonsense attitude flipping to anger when she she discovers what he’s been up to (Again).
(L to r) Madeline brewer as bronte and penn badgley as joe goldberg in ‘you’ season 5. Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix © 2025.
Madeline Brewer, Probably Still Most Recognizable for Her Role As’The handmaid’s tale‘S janine, brings a twitchy, vulnerable energy to the series as a young woman joe sees as somebing as a menie, a person he can guide to greatness. It’s a different dynamic from the usual interactions he has women, thought there’s always the Lurking Sexual Tension Between them.
Outside of the main trio, this season’s best turns are from kate’s spoiled, argumentative and weird family, including a wonderful twin turn from Anna Camp As Maddie and Raegan Lockwood, Her Half-Sisters. Fizzing with very difference energies, they’re both great.
Final Thoughts
(L to r) Penn badgley as joe goldberg and madeline brewer as bronte in ‘you’ Season 5. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.
‘You’ was always going to be a challenge to end, and while this final season isn Bollywood perfect and can’t make every trap of repeating a beat here and there, it does at least offer a fine conclusion to the show, MainTaining the Madness While also addressing bot the past and the present.
A Committed, FUN CAST and Some Enjoyable Plot Turns Make It Watching.
“What goes Around come Around.”
80
5 seasonsSeptember 9th, 2018
What’s the plot of ‘you’ season 5?
In the epic fifth and final season, joe goldberg (penn badgley) returns to new york to enjoy his happy his happily ever after … Until his perfect life is threatened by the ghosts of his past and his 8 Desires.
Who Stars in ‘You’ Season 5?
Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in ‘You’ Season 5. Photo: CLIFTON PRESCOD/NETFLIX © 2025.
