Season 4 Recap of ‘You’: Key Highlights to Remember
Attention parents: Joe Goldberg is set to make his return for the fifth and final season of Netflix’s “You,” and let’s be clear, the cage in the basement poses a danger to everyone.
For those who have followed “You” (inspired by Caroline Kepnes’ novels) over the past four seasons, it’s evident that our brooding, floppy-haired main character Joe (Penn Badgley) may initially seem like a dreamboat. He’s attractive, appreciates literature, and displays a unique kind of support for women — essentially, he’s a hero with a lot of emotional baggage.
However, there’s a crucial caveat: Joe has a disturbing fondness for murder and a habit of confining women who challenge or threaten him in a soundproof, transparent cage, typically found in the basement of a used bookstore.
The fifth season, debuting on April 24, promises to wrap up Joe’s chaotic journey, which has seen a notable body count and included escapades across New York, London, Paris, and Los Angeles, so brace yourself for an explosive finale.
“Each season they find fresh ways to keep it intriguing and timely,” Badgley recently shared with Netflix’s Tudum blog. “In this season, returning to its roots allows for a grounding that paves the way for a spectacular conclusion.”
Before the final ten episodes premiere, let’s take a moment to reflect on Season 4 from 2023. What did Joe’s UK chapter look like?
Where was Joe at the start of Season 4?
After the death of his wife Love (Victoria Pedretti) and having left his daughter Henry with friends, Joe made his way to London, where he surprisingly secured a role as a university professor under the alias Jonathan Moore. He formed connections with several students, including Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman), who introduced him to a book by emerging political figure Rhys Montrose (Ed Speleers).
However, it didn’t take long for Joe to regress, despite his promises to change. He harbored resentment towards Malcolm (Stephen Hagan), the key figure in securing his teaching position, and found himself infatuated with Malcolm’s affluent art expert girlfriend, Kate (Charlotte Ritchie).
Both Malcolm and Kate were incredibly wealthy, and after Joe intervened to save Kate from a robbery (evidence that his stalking skills sometimes serve a purpose), he found himself welcomed into their elite circle of socialites, influencers, and privileged offspring. Why not just join a book club instead?
Once again surrounded by unsavory characters, Joe reverted to his old ways, leading to more casualties. He began receiving messages from the so-called “Eat-the-Rich Killer.”
Initially, Joe suspected Rhys Montrose — a character he met and had a pleasant discussion with at a bar where Kate and Malcolm’s friends gathered — but in a twist, it turned out that Rhys was all in his head!
In reality, Rhys Montrose is a genuine author/politician, but Joe’s psyche conjured an imaginary Rhys to serve as a scapegoat for some of the murders, including that of Malcolm.
Farewell, Marienne: Joe’s flashback girlfriend
Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) was Joe’s former librarian love interest, with whom he jeopardized his relationship with Love. At the conclusion of Season 3, Love urged Marienne to escape due to Joe’s violent behavior, leading her to spend some time in London before settling in Paris with her daughter.
Joe eventually tracked her down, but when she confronted him with a knife — he allowed her to go, claiming he could reform.
Another twist! In truth, Joe imprisoned her in his cage (which conveniently traveled with him to … London?) while he oscillated between his Good Joe and Bad Joe personas. However, when Nadia, a curious student, uncovered Marienne in the cage, the two women concocted a plan for Marienne to simulate her own death. Once Joe believed Marienne had perished in confinement, he attempted a good deed by leaving her unconscious body on a bench for discovery. Yet, Nadia intervened, resurrecting her, and Marienne found freedom!
Joe’s next target — err, girlfriend: Kate
After mourning Malcolm, Kate gradually fell for Joe, who insisted (accurately) that she should distance herself from her toxic friends. As they delved into their respective secrets, their relationship deepened.
However, when Love made an appearance in Joe’s dreams, he embarked on a self-reflection journey and realized he was, in fact, the Eat-the-Rich killer and had indeed kidnapped Marienne. To break this destructive cycle, he concluded that he had to end his life. He jumped into a river but was rescued by police. In the hospital, he confessed everything to Kate about his past, shedding the guilt he felt from his occasional murders. He was eager to start anew — with her.
Kate supported Joe in confronting his past, and they embarked on a passionate romance as equals with emotional baggage. However, Nadia and another student, Eddie (Brad Alexander), were still uncovering Joe’s secrets and aimed to expose him. Consequently, Joe killed Eddie and handed Nadia the murder weapon, strategically framing her. Nadia chose silence in her defense, while Joe and Kate walked away seemingly unscathed, though their hearts remained burdened.
Season 5 of “You” premieres on Netflix on April 24.
