The fifth season of Netflix’s acclaimed thriller seriesYouis here, and despite its mixed reviews, the latest offers a fitting conclusion to the turbulent story of Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley). As many audiences expected,Youseason 5 killed off some major charactersand brought back plenty of familiar faces to bookend this series in a satisfying way, even if the story as a whole didn’t quite live up to the heights of earlier seasons.
Theending ofYouseason 5may not have been what the show’s biggest fans were hoping for, but the writers ultimately did a great job of ensuring that every character paid for their crimes without taking the easy route out. The season feels like a very holistic celebration of the show as a whole, and that’s ultimately everything it needed to be.You’s later seasons have undeniably struggled to maintain the same levels of creativity and intensity,but there are strengths to be found in each installment.
5You Season 4
Released In 2023
You’s fourth season is a huge departure from the show’s typical formula, introducing a whole new cast of characters and taking Joe Goldberg across the Atlantic to his new home in London, England. But ultimately,season 4 is a little too unfamiliar and unfocused to compete with those that preceded it; the “murder mystery” angle is interesting, but it’s hard to truly care about any of the new characters.
Joe’s relationship with Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) plays a major role in season 4, but this subplot falls flat in comparison to Joe and Love’s (Victoria Pedretti) dynamic from the previous outings. Kate feels like a contrastingly one-dimensional character, and this bringsYouseason 4 down even further.
4You Season 5
Released In 2025
Youstruggled with some major problemsin its later seasons, but the show’s finale offers a slight improvement over season 4.Bringing Joe back to New York is a decision that has both strengths and weaknesses;while it allows for some much-needed connections to the previous episodes, it also exposes the cracks in the show’s formula and feels too repetitive at times.
Bronte’s (Madeline Brewer) subplot is the saving grace ofYou’s fifth season. It shifts attention away from the underwhelming romance between Joe and Kate, while also bringing back a key figure from Joe’s past that allows the show to wrap up in a neat and fulfilling way.
3You Season 1
Released In 2018
The original season ofYouwill always hold a special place in audiences' hearts, not just because of how innovative and compelling it is, but also because it reminds viewers of just how effective this show can be when it’s got its priorities straight.The dynamic between Joe and Beck (Elizabeth Lail) is excellent, and it features one of Penn Badgley’s strongest performances.
The ending ofYouseason 1 was genuinely surprising, whereas later seasons felt more predictable because they often stuck to the same formula.
The reason later seasons ofYouwere underwhelming is that they kept reusing the same tropes and twists;this wasn’t a problem in season 1, because there was nothing to compare it to. Theending ofYouseason 1was genuinely surprising, whereas later seasons felt more predictable because they often stuck to the same formula.
2You Season 2
Released In 2019
The introduction of Victoria Pedretti’s Love Quinn was the best decision thatYouever made. The gradual realization that she’s just as twisted and deranged as Joe is brilliant storytelling, andher character displays some of the best writingin the entirety ofYou.
Thebest episodes ofYouare those that play around with the unique relationship between Joe and Love, pushing the protagonist out of his comfort zone and proving that he’s not as powerful and untouchable as he often thinks. Season 2 really takes advantage of this, placing their romance at the center of the story and serving as a perfect subversion of Joe’s “white knight” narrative.
1You Season 3
Released In 2021
Thankfully,Youseason 3 managed to capitalize on everything that worked about the previous installment and ramp up the stakes even further. A much clearer focus on Joe and Love’s complex dynamic, an interesting roster of supporting characters, andsome of the bloodiest and most intense vendettas of the entire show make thisYou’s strongest season of all.
Unfortunately,Youseason 3 is also the one that made the lethal decision to remove Love Quinn from the show, which contributed to its gradual downfall in the following seasons. Her death works in isolation for this particular story, but neither of Joe’s subsequent love interests are even nearly as compelling.
