You season 5 sees the return of Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), and the popular Netflix series wrapped up the thrilling saga in style. For four seasons, Joe has traveled across the United States and Europe in pursuit of his romantic obsessions, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake. Coming from humble beginnings, the charismatic serial killer has had to rely on his cunning and resourcefulness, but now that he's got his girlfriend Kate Lockwood's (Charlotte Ritchie) billions at his fingertips, season 4 ended with Joe on top of the world.

Netflix released You season 4 in two parts, with part 2 releasing on March 9, 2023. In addition to accessing a fortune, Joe was able to pin all his crimes on his student, amateur sleuth Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman). Though he and Kate took a vow to "keep each other good", season 4's final moments saw the reappearance of Joe's dark alter ego Rhys Montrose (Ed Speleers), confirming that Joe had no intention of stopping his murderous ways. Joe may have been living a good life going into You season 5, but he didn't stay there for long.

You Season 5 Critical Reception

A Mostly Negative Response To You's Final Season

Concluding a twisty show like You was never going to be easy, but it seems as if the fifth and final season may have missed the mark by a wide margin. Giving the show two-and-a-half stars out of five, IGN lamented the fact that the final season of You was stuck in an odd middleground where it was too silly but not silly enough to be enjoyable. The Guardian echoed those sentiments while also pointing out that any satire that may have existed in the show was totally absent in season 5.

The common thread in reviews is that the show may have overstayed its welcome by a season or so, but ScreenRant had some positives to add. Though they noted that the season's slow start and overbaked concept were a problem, the conclusive ending was at least "satisfying."

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You season 5 premiered on April 24, 2025.

You Season 5 Cast Details

New & Returning Characters For The Final Season

Since You revolves around the deadly antics of Joe Goldberg, it was a given that Penn Badgley would return. Since season 4 was a fairytale ending for Joe and his paramour Kate, Charlotte Ritchie reprised her role as well. Madeline Brewer of Handmaid's Tale fame ed the cast cast as Bronte, a young playwright who works at Joe's bookstore which causes him to have a nostalgic crisis of faith.

Other new characters include Joe's twin sisters-in-law, Reagan and Maddie Lockwood, who are both played by Anna Camp, and Joe's brother-in-law, Teddy Lockwood, played by Griffin Matthews. Other newcomers include Natasha Behnam as wealthy NYC hipster Dominique, and b as the loyal and moralistic Phoenix. Furthermore, Pete Ploszek plays Joe's brother-in-law, Harrison. Nava Mau was tapped to play the role of Detective Marquez.

The cast of You season 5 includes:

• You Season 5 Cast & Character Guide

You Season 5 Trailers

Watch All The Season 5 Trailers Below

There was a small teaser released in June 2024 in the Netflix "Tudum Teaser" format. This teaser has Penn Badgley talking to fans and thanking them for helping to make it a success. He then gives two major hints about the new You season 5. First, Badgley mentions that Joe is returning to New York, and second, he hints at an adversary for Joe to face in the final season. It's unclear if You season 5 will introduce a new conflict for Joe, or if his past will return to haunt him.

In January 2025, Netflix finally revealed the release date for You season 5 through an exciting teaser trailer. Narrated by Joe as he recounts his past loves while he walks the streets of New York City, the lovestruck killer eventually finds his way to his old stomping ground, Mooney's Used & Rare Books. Things take an even more dramatic turn as Joe returns to his infamous glass cage (kept in Mooney's basement) where he re many of the unfortunate souls who found themselves trapped there.

Later in January 2025, Netflix dropped another teaser for You season 5, though it reveals very little about the final season. The sub-one-minute video features Joe standing inside his glass cage as he polishes it and cleans it for occupancy. In creepy narration, Joe talks to the viewer as he bids his final farewell.

Continuing to drop ominous hints about season 5, another teaser for You dropped in late February 2025. Narrated again by Joe, he explains how he has become filthy rich thanks to his relationship with Kate. Joe claims that he would have once been resentful of someone like Kate, but that he's changed his ways. While that statement is less-than-convincing, things get even creepier when Joe begins to discuss how much power he's gained by having so much money at his disposal.

You Season 5 Ending & Spoilers

Joe Gets His Just Deserts In The End

You season 5 ultimately delivered an end to his arc that could certainly be characterized as conclusive.

The ending of You season 5 wasn't just the conclusion of a single season, but the finale of a series as well. That put added pressure on the story, especially with a reprehensible character like Joe Goldberg who is expected to be punished for his evil deeds. While the success or failure of Joe's punishment is up to the individual viewer to decide, You season 5 ultimately delivered an end to his arc that could certainly be characterized as conclusive.

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