TV Evaluate: ‘You’ Season 5 Gurilla Evaluate -

‘You’ Season 5 receives 7 out of 10 stars.

Returning to Netflix for its fifth and closing season, ‘You’ drags us again into the warped world of Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), the charming sociopath who fixates on discovering the right somebody to share his life, however all the time appears to finish up with blood and demise in his life –– and often at his arms.

With the stress off to maintain the story going, this new run of episodes appears again in addition to confronting Joe the place he’s now.

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Is ‘You’ Season 5 a killer run of the present?

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in 'You' season 5. Photo: Clifton Prescod / Netflix. Copyright: © 2025.

On condition that it began on Lifetime, was renewed for a second season solely to endure the sting of cancellation earlier than these episodes might air, ‘You’ has loved a outstanding life. Picked up by Netflix from that second season onwards, it has since grown into one of many streaming service’s extra dependable performers, its patent, potent mix of Penn Badgley’s creepy/clean voice-over and low key/manic flip as Joe himself and the various twists and turns sparking a fervent fanbase.

Naturally, sticking the touchdown on a present corresponding to this was all the time going to be difficult, with a number of dangling story threads to be (considerably) neatly knotted and a model new variation on Joe’s obsessive give attention to a brand new explicit “You” to be tailored from Caroline Kepnes’ novels. Although “tailored” is utilized in unfastened phrases lately, as for the reason that first season, the present has diverted significantly, following its personal path.

Script and Path

Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in 'You' season 5. Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix © 2025.

The ‘You’ writing staff, led by this season’s showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo does handle to string the needle successfully, partly by discovering recent methods for Joe to plan for perfection and to then screw issues up royally when he can’t obtain it.

Whereas the shift again to New York could be seen as protecting previous territory, it permits for a welcome dip again into the historical past he’s been making an attempt to run from for years, not the least of which is his relationship with Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) which, as his dalliances are inclined to, ended badly.

And by way of the set-up of Joe’s seemingly comfortable relationship with the rich Kate Galvin (Charlotte Ritchie), there’s additionally the possibility to discover one other side of his character: what does Joe do when his issues –– the exterior ones, at the very least –– are fastened by her sources.

Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Lockwood in 'You' season 5. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.

After all, nothing in his life can ever be simple, largely as a result of he’s a diabolical serial assassin with obsessive compulsive tendencies, however the season does have enjoyable with Kate’s prolonged, squabbling and privileged household.

There’s additionally the storyline involving Madeline Brewer’s homeless Bronte, a wannabe author herself who’s squatting within the now-closed bookstore from the primary season. Naturally, issues get sophisticated.

Foremost director Silver Tree is again this yr and guides the remainder of the filmmakers in protecting ‘You’s visible fashion constant. The New York backing is a welcome throwback and the present is all the time shot in fascinating, however by no means distracting trend.

Forged and Performances

(L to R) Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg and Charlotte Ritchie as Kate Lockwood 'You' season 5. Cr. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.

Badgley is, as all the time, the core of the present, each on display and in our heads narrating Joe’s internal monologue. He actually has come into his personal with this position, and whereas there are solely so some ways for Joe to search out or trigger bother, the actor has made him work from day one.

He’s by no means afraid to look silly or ridiculous, and he nonetheless comes throughout as a believably romantic determine, bouncing completely off of any scene accomplice and making even the crazier twists and turns operate.

As Kate (who was launched in final season’s England-set storyline), Charlotte Ritchie has proved to be one of many higher foils for Badgley, her no-nonsense angle flipping to anger when she discovers what he’s been as much as (once more).

(L to R) Madeline Brewer as Bronte and Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg in 'You' season 5. Photo: Clifton Prescod/Netflix © 2025.

Madeline Brewer, most likely nonetheless most recognizable for her position as ‘The Handmaid’s Story’s Janine, brings a twitchy, weak power to the sequence as a younger girl Joe sees as one thing as a mentee, an individual he can information to greatness. It’s a unique dynamic from the standard interactions he has with girls, although there’s all the time the lurking sexual pressure between them.

Outdoors of the principle trio, this season’s finest turns are from Kate’s spoiled, argumentative and peculiar household, together with a beautiful twin flip from Anna Camp as Maddie and Raegan Lockwood, her half-sisters. Fizzing with very completely different energies, they’re each nice.

Closing Ideas

(L to R) Penn Badgley as Joe Goldberg and Madeline Brewer as Bronte in 'You' season 5. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix © 2025.

‘You’ was all the time going to be a problem to finish, and whereas this closing season isn’t fairly good and might’t escape each entice of repeating a beat right here and there, it does at the very least supply a high-quality conclusion to the present, sustaining the insanity whereas additionally addressing each the previous and the current.

A dedicated, enjoyable solid and a few pleasurable plot turns make it price watching.

“What goes round comes round.”

TV-MA5 SeasonsSeptember ninth, 2018

What’s the plot of ‘You’ Season 5?

Within the epic fifth and closing season, Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) returns to New York to get pleasure from his fortunately ever after… Till his good life is threatened by the ghosts of his previous and his personal darkish needs.