Warning! This article contains SPOILERS for You season 4, part 1Netflix’s You returns for a two-part season 4 featuring a revamped narrative structure, deviating from previous seasons and confirming it's time for the show to end. After the events of You season 3 and a few flashback interactions with his last obsession - Tati Gabrielle’s Marienne - Joe swears off women, acknowledging that nothing good has ever come from his quest for love. Genuinely trying to keep out of trouble, Penn Badgley’s Joe Goldberg becomes American Literature professor Jonathan Moore, a lone wolf who likes the company of books more than people.
However, that soon comes to an end when Joe finds himself invited to Sundry House, an exclusive club for London’s elite. When Joe gets entangled in a murder mystery, one that refreshingly doesn’t have him as the culprit, he pours all of his skills into one-upping this unknown figure. While it’s interesting to see Joe squirm about the identity of You's Eat The Rich killer and the murders he’s being framed for, You season 4’s changes to the show’s overall structure signal its imminent end.
Why You Season 4 Is The Perfect Show Ending Point
A harmless everyman on the surface, Joe’s secret penchant for violence, obsessive compulsions, and dastard manipulative schemes to “get the girl” is what makes You interesting. The Netflix adaptation of Caroline Kepnes’ novel relies heavily on Joe’s ability to make audiences doubt their own morality through his charm, internal monologue-ing, and outward normalcy. Given that You’s entire premise is Joe being a deeply disturbed killer who believes all his murders are justified, the character being allowed to transcend from this form signals that You season 4 is the perfect show ending point.
In You season 4, part 1, Joe becomes attracted to Kate Galvin (Charlotte Ritchie) in the same manner as he was with his previous targets. However, instead of Joe actively stalking Kate or keeping trinkets from her, Joe applies all of his old tricks to uncover the Kill The Rich killer’s identity and keep Kate safe from being another victim. Not to mention, out of all the casualties in You season 4, part 1, Joe only killed Vic. Joe’s act of restraint from falling into his compulsions exhibits his ability to grow, a window for a redemption arc that goes against You’s core narrative.
Continuing Past You Season 4 Creates New Series Problems
Although You’s Joe Goldberg becoming a better person posits an interesting idea to explore beyond season 4, it will create a new set of problems. Joe no longer being a murderer arguably negates the central point of the show: that its main character is not a good guy. If Netflix ends up transforming You into a series about an ex-serial killer and his life as a fake person, it potentially sets itself up to be a disappointment by removing the thrill of the chase, the intrigue of murder, and the creepy yet fascinating justification of Joe’s crimes.
Moreover, Joe Goldberg’s character doesn’t need a redemption arc. While he may be one of the more charming villains out there, the recent trend of narratives affording bad guys a chance to redeem themselves from their perverse lifestyles shouldn’t be applied to every character; especially ones that rationalize murders as an act of good. You season 4’s alterations to Joe’s characterization is a clear sign that the show has run its course which makes it high time for Netflix to reflect on the series finale come the end of You season 4.