Summary
- “You” season 5 will take place in NYC, with Joe having an ex-girlfriend as a possible love interest.
- The teaser hints at Joe’s impending demise in his ultimate cage in NYC, linking back to his troubled past.
- Bringing Joe back to NYC adds an unsettling tone and sense of impending danger, with past love interests potentially returning.
Now that fans know that Netflix‘s You will end with season 5 and premiere in April 2025, it’s the perfect time to start wondering about what’s sure to be a shocking finale. I’ve been a fan of You since season 1 and have enjoyed watching Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) dangerous and violent game. I appreciate the show’s chilling atmosphere and the fact that every season switches things up and features a new location for Joe.
While You season 4 took place in London, the You season 5 teaser finds Joe in New York City, which is where the story started. I like this full circle moment and can’t wait to see what mess Joe gets himself into this time. I also think there could be an interesting reason why Joe is back in NYC.
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I Think This Is Why Joe Goldberg Returned To NYC In You Season 5
My theory is that Joe has an ex-girlfriend who lives in New York City and who is his ultimate love interest. I think that he could have finally tracked her down after years of not knowing where she was, and if You season 5 will make it seem as if she’s Joe’s final victim. I think she is the “you” Joe could be referring to in the You season 5 teaser.
The many Joe Goldberg memes show that while some aspects of his character are comedic, he’s ultimately a horrifying and dangerous figure. Like other serial killers, he has a pattern that he follows. Joe’s cage has always been a big part of his character arc and since it was featured in the recent teaser, I wonder if Joe’s new/old love interest is going to trap him in the cage. I think that Joe could die in this cage and that could be how his story finally ends. Although Joe rebuild his cage in Los Angeles and London, his ultimate cage is in the basement of Mooney’s NYC-based bookstore since that’s where the cruel bookstore owner trapped him when he was a troubled kid.
The teaser and posters for You season 5 prove that the show’s tone is as unsettling as ever, and I think it was the right choice to bring Joe back to New York City. Since the city is so fast-paced and packed with people, it’s the perfect hiding spot. It also proves that Joe’s past is catching up with him, which is something he has always been afraid of. I don’t think it would be out of left field for him to have a past love interest who he hasn’t thought about in a while. He could have blocked out the breakup since he would have seen the end of the relationship as a failure. But now, he can’t escape the past, and he wants to see her again.
There are a few ways that this storyline could work. Joe’s recent love interest Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie) could confront his ex. Like other TV thrillers that share You‘s tone, You sometimes has flashbacks, and these should continue in the next and final season. Joe could also have visions of Beck (Elizabeth Lail) and Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti), who he still can’t move on from. I think it’s definitely time for him to have one final person who he’s obsessed with, and if she was part of his past, that would be powerful and impactful.
What Did Penn Badgley Say About You Season 5?
Before Netflix announced that You season 5 would be the final one, Penn Badgley discussed a potential new season in a few interviews. When speaking to IndieWire in 2023, he said he wanted another season so Joe could be punished for the harm he has caused. Badgley said:
“It feels to me like we need to do another season. It feels to me like Joe needs to get what’s coming to him, and now he has further to fall because he has all this power and wealth. But of course, that’s not up to me. I don’t know where it’s going. But to me, with this concept and with this character, we always wanted to be responsible and it’s not just the kind of thing we can let keep going because it’s doing well.”
After a strong third season and an intense fourth season that led to an epic finale, it wouldn’t make sense for Joe to go on his merry way and not get in trouble for everything he has done. Unlike some TV shows that are canceled without any conclusions, I’m grateful You will get a real ending and can’t wait to see what happens.
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