Review: Goodbye, (Netflix’s) You

Goodbye, You. We started our journey with this series in New York, and that’s where we’ll finish it. This writer watched the show when it started out as a sapling on Lifetime, and now it’s a Netflix smash-hit with an ending that will hit you hard, no matter what you were expecting.

We’re back in Mooney’s, this time with UK under Joe’s (Penn Badgley, Gossip Girl) belt and Kate (Charlotte Ritchie, Ghosts) by his side – after pulling some strings and bringing him back into the world as Joe Goldberg. They kind of brush that under the rug. But it turns out bringing back Joe Goldberg, even after three years of him pushing down who he truly is, doesn’t change him at his core. It doesn’t come as a shocker, but it does get even more unhinged with every passing episode.

The object of his delusional You affections this season is a quirky, younger woman who goes by Bronte (Madeline Brewer, The Handmaid’s Tale), who first meets Joe when she breaks into Mooney’s. Things build between the two of them, despite him trying to fight it. He even pulls out his typewriter and writes about his urges, including killing and having sex with Bronte.

The box also makes a reappearance, used first in this season on one of Kate’s half-sisters. That side plot focuses on the two twins and Kate’s rivalry with them, most especially Reagan (Anna Camp, Pitch Perfect), who wants to come for Kate’s position as CEO. The other twin, Maddie (also played by Camp), gets involved with Joe and his lies throughout the season and makes for an interesting addition. 

It does feel like the writers just wanted to find a way to tie up all of the UK mess with a neat little bow, but it isn’t so easily contained. This plot feels more like an afterthought, since all Joe is focused on is Bronte, who has a few twists of her own up her sleeve. Still, it’s unbelievable so many girls – even those who are onto him – can fall for his lies, when they mask such a violent and narcissistic nature beneath the surface.

It was hard to watch Bronte turn against her better nature and be charmed by Joe, who’s worse than ever before. He has never been able to admit that he’s a bad person at his core; he acts like he’s always purifying the world and doing good deeds. He can’t understand or accept that he is wrong, and when someone fights with him, he turns them into the evil person they’re not in his head. Season five does address the question that lives at the heart of the series: the way many people defend Joe and find themselves attracted to him, even if he’s toxic and dangerous. 

Many You fans have defended Joe and rooted for him, despite his evil and twisted actions. Of course, the pull of the show has been seeing this villain get away with all of his actions, but even though you’re in his head, especially once we hit season five, it isn’t difficult to realize just how scary of a person he is and all of the things he’s done. 

If anyone else was iffy on season four, you’ll be pleased to know season five does pick up the pace. It’s still bingeable and intriguing, and though it is predictable at times, it feels like an appropriate ending to the series in this reviewer’s opinion; still, there are some mixed thoughts on that. We’ll hold back from spoiling too much, but even with a satisfying conclusion, there are many things that could have been improved. 

Nadia (Amy Leigh-Hickman, Ackley Bridge), a.k.a. the innocent student Joe and Kate threw behind bars, could’ve gotten more screen time, or been more involved in Joe’s downward spiral. Though she returns, and is joined by some familiar faces, it would’ve been nice to see more of her. And she’s not the only one – it feels like Love is a bit of an afterthought as well, despite being with Joe for two seasons. It feels like there could’ve been more callbacks to that past relationship and confronting all Joe has done over time. 

For example, what happened to the couple who watched over Henry? Still, they do discuss Henry’s evolution as well and how he will be similar or different from Joe when he grows older – and we do see other glimpses to the past with Beck (Elizabeth Lail, Five Nights at Freddy’s), bringing us back to season one and the mess that kicked off the series. 

The final few episodes do feature other callbacks to his past. It might feel a bit redundant at times – or even unrealistic, such as Bronte’s plan to confront Joe, which is not thought out at  all, to the point it’s actually absurd. But the show tries to make up for the chaos of season four with even more chaos, and Joe has to face the music of his past actions – even if he will never admit to them. 

You has become a fan-favorite amongst thriller lovers over time. In the end, despite the repetition, it just proves that Joe is the same as he’s always been, and he’ll never change from the dangerous and vile man he’s become. 

You Season 5, the series finale, is now streaming on Netflix.