You Season 5 Review: One Last Murder For Love… or Revenge

You Season 5 Review: We have finally reached the end of Penn Badgley’s psychological thriller series You, and this time, Joe Goldberg is back in his old city using his old name with his wife Kate. And this time, he’s making some very bad, old mistakes once again. Facing off against Kate’s crazy sister, who will stop at nothing before destroying his family, Joe takes things into his own hands, but this might be how he self-sabotages one last time.

Season 5 of You has 10 episodes, each with a runtime of around 50 minutes.

You Season 5 Review

You Netflix started off on an intense and creepy ride in 2020 and left me fervently going to the next episode thanks to the intense and fast-paced storytelling and Penn Badgley’s exceptional portrayal of a psychopath hidden in plain sight. I think the sheer terror that Joe exuded from that first episode of season 1 was enough to get me hooked, but the more I watched, the more I found myself disgusted by his internal monologue and rooting for Guinevere Beck. It’s the intensity of Joe’s feelings that hooked viewers, and that’s probably how we got to season 5, five years later.

We have finally reached the end of the road, and Joe is going to get everything that he possibly deserves and maybe then some more. You Season 5 is an intense rollercoaster. Thankfully, we have veered off from whatever season 4 was and are back to understanding Joe’s psyche, along with a few others. Charlotte Ritchie is back as Kate Lockwood-Goldberg, while Madeline Brewer joins the cast as Bronte this season. We also see a ton of people returning this season, and without giving away spoilers, it’s a glorious reunion that comes full circle for Joe and for every woman who has been wronged by him.

Also Read: No, Joe From ‘You’ Isn’t Romantic – He’s Unstable.

Joe unpacks his childhood trauma that we have seen him address many times over the years. Of course, his internal nologues are as disturbing as ever, and nothing really comes out of him, seeing the damage that he is doing and has done. This one’s a poignant and glorious season. Behind the insanity of it all, it’s a very disturbing look at misogyny and how internally coded it can be. The delusion that can run in the minds of violent men can be very disturbing, and You show reminds us of that every moment.

You Season 5 proves to us over and over again that this story was never about Joe. It was about the hundreds of women who fall prey to misogynistic, vengeful and hateful men who will do anything to possess their partners. It’s not about love, it’s about possessing and holding them hostage, taking away their voices one small moment at a time. I thought the last season was haunting — this is what the series should’ve been all along, and although we did lose ourselves a little bit in the last season, we have delivered an impactful message that resonates in today’s society.

Also Read: Netflix’s You Made Us Feel Things We Didn’t Know Existed – Season 2 Review

With violence against women at an all-time high all over the world right now, it’s important to understand where it all stems from. The season brings that forward with impactful accuracy and leaves us breathless. The season highlights the women and their plights, the hopefulness of falling in love with a man who seems to see them and their voice, but soon realises that this isn’t love. I think that realisation is such a scary moment for women, and every minute I saw Bronte with Joe and watching her make one mistake after another, I couldn’t help but feel my muscles tensing up!

I loved how they used Guinevere Beck this season. She was such a memorable character in season 1, and the one who started it all, of course, and highlighting her in this way makes all the more impact. Of course, the other characters this season are equally memorable. Both Kate and Bronte are strong characters with a lot to look forward to. Thankfully, neither exists to give Joe a piece of justice, and they are their own human beings. I found myself fearful for both, rooting for them to do the right thing and not fall for the gaslighting.

Also Read: Netflix’s You Season 3 Review: Toxic Love Story

I think that’s also a great thing that You Season 5 highlights — how easy it is for Joe to manipulate vulnerable women who are looking for a safe place. The gaslighting is in full effect this season, and it’s easier to spot, now that the women have woken up and chosen violence. I loved the switch being flipped, and this season gives viewers a lot of great moments that will make you feel vindicated. Of course, it helps that it’s so damn bingeable and has such great performances.

As mentioned previously, Penn Badgley is fantastic and as haunting as Joe as it’s ever been. This time, things don’t go as he’d want them to, and so Badgley delivers a memorable performance as Joe goes through several stages of grief and anger. It’s almost scary to watch him play this unhinged character!

However, kudos to the entire You cast who appear from the shadows to finally put their abuser behind bars. It’s a poignant moment when Kate realises her mistakes as well, and although she gets off a bit scot-free, I think it’s great either way. Special shout-out to Madeline Brewer, who’s a vision in the series and showcases how truly terrifying it is to fall for an extremely manipulative and abusive person.

Final Thoughts

What a great ending to You Season 5 Netflix. It’s been a long time coming, and now that it’s here, I can’t say that I don’t feel some things. Joe has been the perfect antagonist to hate, and as we fondly remember all the women whose voices were lost too early, it’s a cautionary tale to be aware of the signs and listen to someone when they show you who they really are. I think it’s an important and impactful last season that will be a great, if not traumatic, binge watch.

Also Read: You Season 4 Part 1 Review | You Season 4 Part 2 Review