Published by Mason Oldridge, 15 March 2023
CONTAINS SPOILERS!
The psychological thriller moves across the pond for the fourth season set in dreary London.
Joe Goldberg begins life anew as Jonathan Moore, a university professor in the English capital after faking his own death. Despite embarking on a quiet life, he is soon roped into the social circle of his rich socialite neighbours as he becomes the target of threatening messages from the “Eat the Rich killer”. Unfortunately, most of the new characters are uncompelling which, matched with the dark setting, gives the season a less appealing tone.
Part 1 focuses on him finding out who the killer is and, although intriguing as the killer knows Joe’s real identity, the role reversal in which Joe becomes the victim is somewhat disappointing as it is just not as thrilling. The mid-season finale reveals the killer is Rhys Montrose, the aspiring Mayor of London, in an explosive and exciting episode.
The season doesn’t appear due to become anymore interesting as Part 2 is then set up for Joe to bring down Montrose. But then, Episode 7 comes. As Joe kills Rhys, we learn that Joe had never actually met Rhys, he just became obsessed with him when he learnt of his redemption, Joe killed all the victims and Rhys was just a figment of his imagination. Furthermore, Joe didn’t actually let Marienne go but he has had her locked in his infamous perspex cage the whole time with no recollection. This twist is the best in the series and ultimately saves the entire season.
The season finale is action packed, particularly with the twist that Marienne survives. The ending appears anticlimactic with Joe and new girlfriend Kate starting a new life in New York having cleared Joe’s name, until the final moments when it is revealed he killed his student Nadia’s boyfriend and framed her for it after she discovered his past.
Overall, the season may not be as consistently thrilling as the previous but the twists are the strongest yet, keeping the show strong and unpredictable.
7/10