Critic Reviews
- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
-
Some of the choices in You’s final episodes are painfully contrived and convenient, but the show does deserve credit for finally (and fully) leaning into the darkness and misogyny that’s always lived at the heart of its story. It’s not a perfect ending, but it’s a generally emotionally satisfying one, and perhaps that’s the most surprising twist of all.
-
Season 5 doesn’t always work, and there are dipping points as the story twists and turns to keep us intrigued. But there’s certainly enough there to keep us on the hook for a while longer, even if it’s only to find out how Joe’s story ends.
-
What role Bronte plays in all this, whether she becomes an intellectual or even a physical love interest for Joe, is yet to be seen. It seems that Joe is attracted to her because she provides something Kate doesn’t, even though he loves Kate as much as anyone he’s ever met. That complex dance is going to be interesting to watch.
-
Yes, the season can drag at points with perhaps one or two more plot twists than are needed. But “You” has earned the right to take its time, with the ten-episode season giving due space to Joe’s previous victims.
-
Ultimately, You Season 5 is a welcome back-to-basics conclusion. It isn't reinventing the wheel, which is good considering how last season's shakeups were received, and it doesn't leave any glaring plot holes for us to ponder. There's still a lot of TV logic about how things happen, but nothing outside the realm of the show.
-
It’s not prestige TV, but it’s unapologetically entertaining, and Season 5 delivers on everything that got audiences obsessed with this series.
-
While Badgley is still terrifyingly great at playing a menace, and he’s joined by a captivating Madeline Brewer this time around, You struggles to stick its (predictable) landing.
-
Though You tries to find a satisfying ending to a story that’s already overstayed its welcome, its attempts at self-awareness fall flat.
-
The bodies continue to pile up as he goes along. But for many viewers, the first thing to croak it will be their attention-span as an already silly series commits the unforgivable sin of becoming indulgent and, finally, straight-up stultifying.
-
No amount of pulpy twists and cutting social satire can make up for the fact that, as bingeable as the series once was, Joe’s tactics have grown tired.
-
It's more straightforward but also less rewarding, and the show suffers for it.
-
Largely it plods towards the end, through a series of increasingly convoluted and repetitive plot twists that are silly even by You’s standards.
-
Five series in the writers have run out of inspiration – all these twists are reused over the 10 new episodes. Perhaps it’s an attempt at a “best of You” finale tribute, but it just comes off as predictable and lazy.