You- Season 5 (review)

Published by Mason Oldridge, 8 May 2025

CONTAINS SPOILERS!

After a controversial fourth season in London, we return to where it all began, New York City, as the story of Joe Goldberg comes full circle.

Joe is living with wife Kate and son Henry, now in the spotlight as the husband of a CEO. Their marriage turns stale as Kate learns of his feelings towards killing and the extent of his actions, just as Joe has his head turned by his bookshop employee Bronte.

The episodes are thrilling from the outset as Joe sets about dealing with those attempting to undermine Kate within the organisation, including her Uncle Bob and twin sisters Reagan and Maddie, all while trying to keep Bronte as nothing more than a fantasy for him.

As with the previous season, there’s a shocking mid-season twist in that Bronte was catfishing him as part of a group attempting to avenge Beck’s death, something revealed as he is live-streamed murdering one of them!

The next episode is compelling as Bronte recalls the backstory to the police and episode seven is fascinating as the truth circulates all across the internet and Joe gives an interview to defend himself, inadvertently breaking down for real over his childhood trauma. Joe and Bronte reunite but time is ticking as Kate works to bring him down.

The finale sees Joe and a now-enlightened Bronte engage in a tense game of cat-and-mouse. There are some harrowing scenes too as Henry calls his father a monster, breaking him, and Joe begs Bronte to kill him as the police descend. Furthermore, there is the unexpected welcome return of Will Bettelheim as he helps Joe acquire fake IDs.

The ending delivers in parts though disappoints in others. Joe is brought to justice for his crimes and the truth prevails. However, Bronte was set to be the one to do this, yet instead conducted a poorly executed plan that backfired. Additionally, Kate gets away with her crimes and keeps custody of Henry, who would have been better returned to Dante and Lansing. In the bleak final scene, an imprisoned Joe receives sexualised fan mail and states “maybe the problem isn’t me - maybe it’s you”, a stark commentary on the psychology behind violent fantasies.

Gripping scenes and mind-blowing twists, along with Penn Badgley’s charming aura as always, sees the psychological thriller back on top form in what is possibly the best season. Goodbye, you.

9/10