Viewer responses to 'You' Season 5: "Perhaps he wasn't the issue, maybe it's us"
Title: You're Back, Joe: A Nervous Return in Season 5 of You
Spoiler Alert: Gear up for the chilling fifth season of You on Netflix, April 24th!
Penn Badgley reprises his role as Joe Goldberg, the enigmatic master of manipulation, but with a twist—he's a devoted husband and father in NYC. In this season, Joe is walked down the aisle with CEO billionaire Kate Lockwood, portrayed by the versatile Charlotte Ritchie. With the anticipated release of You season 5 on Netflix approaching, fans can't help but wonder: will Joe's disquieting past destroy his promising new life?
(Take a peek at: You Season 5 review: A lukewarm conclusion for an icy obsession)
Reddit users raise their pitchforks over Joe's self-pity and abuse of plotlines
A number of Reddit users shared their discontent towards the show. One user penned, "I feel it could've been executed better. Certain subplots should've been left out. Maybe displaying Joe on trial or in jail or being analyzed would've been more compelling. I think identifying more of him being faced with consequences would've been interesting."
The fans were restless, finding it off-putting that Joe still viewed himself as a victim right up until the end.
"Therein lies the issue—he never really faced his crimes. Even in the end, he thinks he's the victim. They should've exposed him bare, made him confront the consequences of his actions."
One Reddit user backed the finale, commenting, "That's Joe Goldberg for you. He will never face his crimes head-on. He will continue to delude himself and manipulate. That may be disappointing to us, but it remains true to his character. Trial scenes or anything similar would've wasted time because he will never give us what we want. So focusing importantly on the victims and letting him fade into irrelevance is a wise move. However, people are still hung up on their wish-fulfillment fantasy."
A user noted, "It got off to a slow start but overall better than Season 4, finishing with a satisfying conclusion. I'll admit I wasn't a fan of Bronte becoming a main character. I would've preferred more emphasis on the core cast. The appearance of Marienne left me pulsating with excitement as I anticipated her joining forces with Kate & Nadia to bring Joe down. Sadly, that didn't happen."
Reviewers slam Kate's portrayal as the "redeemable savior"
"Thank you! I was the only one who was incredibly frustrated with how Kate was portrayed as a redeemable savior. She's killed children in the past and ordered a hit on a relative of hers due to fear of it being leaked. The fact that she somehow survived being shot and struck with a mallet while burning alive in the basement was ridiculous. I loved this season and Joe's ending, but I felt they utterly bombed certain plot points and character conclusions. It's like it deserved a rating of 7.5/10," the user wrote.
Overview of Season 5
After three years of escapades in London, Joe returns to New York with Kate as his wife. Kate is now the CEO of the Lockwood Corporation, and the couple lives a lavish lifestyle. Following his confession of his bloodthirsty past to Kate, her nonchalant acceptance suggests that she might share Joe's darkness. Madeline Brewer stars as Bronte, while Anna Camp portrays Joe's sister-in-laws, Raegan and Maddie Lockwood. The rest of the cast includes Griffin Matthews as Teddy Lockwood and Nava Mau as Detective Marquez.
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- Despite the anticipation for You season 5, some Reddit users expressed dissatisfaction with the show, suggesting that certain subplots were unnecessary and that Joe should have faced more consequences for his actions.
- One user even claimed that Joe never truly faced his crimes and continued to view himself as a victim, leading to a sense of discontent amongst fans.
- Another Reddit user defended the finale, stating that Joe's character would never confront his crimes head-on and that focusing on the victims rather than him was a wise move.
- Reviewers were also critical of Kate's portrayal as a "redeemable savior," finding her character's survival in seemingly impossible situations and her acceptance of Joe's past to be unrealistic.
- Bollywood, music, and Hollywood news may provide a more enjoyable distraction from the disappointing conclusions of some shows, offering an escape into different worlds of entertainment.
