You can’t bury the past: Is the real Joe Goldberg resurrected in You season 5?

After years of running, hiding, and reinventing himself, Joe Goldberg is back in the city where it all started, New York. This time, though, he’s trying to live a cleaner life, or at least pretending to. He credits his redemption arc to Kate Lockwood, his wife and savior in the public eye.

She's helped him restore his image, brought him back to his son Henry, and built a “normal” life around him. But normal doesn’t sit well with a man like Joe.

Joe has been good. Or so he tells himself. But now, with Kate’s life and Henry’s future on the line, he feels justified in going back to his old ways. He thinks: If I kill the reporter, everyone will be safe. That’s Joe's logic for you, twisted, but it makes sense to him.

He’s also back at Mooney’s, his old bookstore. He owns it again, but he’s trying to sell it, to finally let go of the past. Still, something feels off. He senses someone is always watching. Turns out, it’s Bronte, a fiery, book-loving girl who lectures him about capitalism and used bookstores. She intrigues him. A little too much.

Joe and Teddy start digging for the mole behind the article leak. First suspect? Reagan. But she denies everything. Then Joe catches Maddie off guard, and she spills the truth: she and Reagan are in a group chat with Bob. They're planning to overthrow Kate after the article drops.

Death of Bob and the return of “that” Joe

Joe and Kate are the talk of the town, attending events, smiling on magazine covers, and donating to good causes. On the surface, they look perfect. Kate’s working hard to do good as a CEO, while Joe’s pretending to enjoy peace and quiet. But here’s the thing: Joe misses the chaos. He’s trying to suppress his real self, but the urge to go back to his darker instincts is bubbling underneath.

Kate’s family is far from perfect. There’s Reagan, her bitter half-sister and CFO, who’s mad about not inheriting the company. Maddie, Reagan’s twin, is all charm and zero ambition, a carefree flirt who catches Joe’s attention.

Then there’s Teddy, the half-brother, who is smart, protective, and Joe’s unexpected ally. Uncle Bob, Kate’s COO, is like a second dad to her, but Joe senses danger in him.

Kate announces a big charity for kids during a glamorous gala, and not everyone is pleased. Especially Reagan, who sees this as yet another reckless move. When word gets out that a damaging article about Kate is coming from Forbes, tying her to a cancer-causing pipeline, things start to fall apart.

Joe tells Kate everything. But instead of being thankful, she’s mad that he snooped around behind her back. They fight. That night, she tracks him to Mooney’s and finds him writing about killing Bob, not out of necessity, but with delight. The old Joe is definitely still alive.

When Bob admits he’s the mole and threatens to expose Joe’s past (including Rhys’ murder), Kate gives Joe permission to do what he does best. Joe kills Bob, stages it as a suicide, and writes a fake confession that clears Kate’s name. The thrill? It’s back. He feels alive again.

Bronte returns to the bookstore, hiding from her own problems. She quotes Dickinson, calls out Joe’s hypocrisy, and makes him laugh. He’s drawn to her and impulsively offers her a job at Mooney’s. A new chapter? Or another cycle?

In a wild turn, Joe and Bronte share a romantic moment, stargazing, music, a kiss. But then? Boom. Bronte pulls a gun on him. She forces him to erase his edits from Beck’s memoir. There’s a fight, a chase through the woods, and finally, Bronte shoots Joe. Right in the penis.

Joe is arrested, mocked online, and shamed by the public. Cardi B even joins in. It’s humiliating. But it’s also justice. No more hiding. No more charming murderer tricks. Joe is exposed.

As Joe sits in prison, he reads a fan letter filled with graphic fantasies. His inner voice whispers: “Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s you.” And then, he stares straight into the camera. It’s a gut-punch moment, blaming us, the viewers, for rooting for him for so long.

Bronte survives. Beck’s memoir gets published and is more successful than ever. Kate turns her company into a non-profit. Marienne becomes a celebrated artist. The women who were once victims now write their own stories.

Season 5 of You gives us the final chapter of Joe Goldberg’s twisted saga. It’s messy, thrilling, disturbing, and oddly satisfying. We see a man who thought he could change, only to realize that the monster was always within.

But more importantly, it’s about the women who survived him and finally said “enough.” Whether you loved Joe or loathed him, you make sure you leave questioning your own obsession with him. And maybe… that’s the point.

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