The Luckiest Guy in NY

Its peak and the better season 5 has a better start than any other season its different. You Season 5 delivers a dark, twisted, and fitting end to Joe Goldberg's saga. The show leans into its psychological thriller roots while exploring the consequences of Joe's choices in a more introspective, character-driven way. Penn Badgley gives one of his strongest performances yet, perfectly capturing the duality of a man battling his own demons while continuing to justify the unjustifiable.

This season cleverly ties up loose ends, brings back familiar faces, and ups the tension with a narrative that feels both fresh and full-circle. The pacing is tighter, the stakes are higher, and the final few episodes are some of the most suspenseful in the entire series.

The irony of putting a dangerously psychopathic man inside the package of a refined, emotionally available guy. Only this show could pull that off, let me tell you... After three years of staying quiet (and forcing himself to repress everything), Joe is back in good old New York-and, more importantly, back to being the Joe we know: the guy who thinks "doing the right thing" sometimes means choking someone out in a basement. The episode does a great job showing how his relapse doesn't just happen overnight, but slowly builds up through little frustrations, bottled-up anger, and repressed desires until he finally explodes. The pacing is tight but still careful, setting up all the new relationships and players on the board really well.

The dynamic between Joe and Kate is particularly fascinating here. The show makes it pretty clear that even though he's "trying to be good," his goodness is mostly an act, more driven by fear of losing Kate and Henry than any real inner change. Joe's an addict, and violence is his drug-and the episode doesn't shy away from making that obvious, sometimes subtly (like the way he enjoys digging into the possible traitors), and sometimes brutally (like that satisfied little smile he gives while killing Bob). And Kate, as strong and well-meaning as she is, definitely has her own brand of moral blindness and pragmatism that dangerously mirrors Joe's. When she, even though totally shocked, lets him "fix things" his own way, it's clear that their whole relationship is built on moral quicksand, just waiting to swallow them whole. It adds a super welcome layer of twisted psychological suspense, and honestly, I'm here for it.

The episode also nails the introduction of the new batch of characters, even if some of them come off a little cartoony at first: Reagan, the ambitious and bitter half-sister; Maddie, the seductive, spacey twin; Teddy, the fun-loving brother who's conveniently untouchable when it comes to accusations of prejudice; and Bob, the manipulative corporate "uncle." Of course, "You" has always played with exaggerated archetypes-it's part of its satirical edge-but even so, the show plants little hints that these characters might get more layered in future episodes. The chemistry between Joe and Teddy already shows some promise, with that classic veiled cynicism the show does so well. And Reagan delivers some golden moments too, especially when she "breaks the fourth wall" in a low-key way by commenting on Joe's silence, poking fun at his classic inner monologue-a sharp, meta touch that shows how "You" knows how to laugh at itself without ever losing its grip on the story.

Speaking of the inner monologue, it's such a treat to have Joe's crazy, self-absorbed narration back, turning even the justification of murder into a deep philosophical epiphany about identity and love. The episode handles it perfectly, balancing that sharp, dark humor with a growing sense of tension. There were several moments where I found myself laughing-in that nervous, ironic way-only to immediately get chills because Joe rationalizes killing someone the same way most people rationalize cheating on a diet. And that final scene, with Joe staring at the old glass cage in Mooney's basement, is the perfect symbol of his monstrous self-acceptance: he's not trying to deny who he is anymore, he's embracing it. What makes it even scarier is that he genuinely believes it doesn't stop him from being a good dad or a good partner.

The introduction of Bronte, the new young woman who pops into Joe's life like fresh meat, is also an interesting move. Even though the storyline dangerously flirts with repetition (it's impossible not to think of Marienne, Love, and even Beck in some ways), the episode knows that and leans into it, creating this déjà vu tension that made me wonder: is Joe actually gonna break the cycle this time, or just keep reliving it until he destroys himself? Madeline Brewer already has a track record of playing characters who stir up chaos, and I think she's a great addition to the cast-you can already tell Bronte's not just gonna be some throwaway character.

All in all, "You" delivers a premiere that respects the intelligence of longtime fans. It doesn't try to reinvent itself, but it's also not coasting on autopilot. It knows what its strengths are-sharp social satire, dark comedy, character study disguised as a pop thriller-and doubles down on all of it, adding new characters and even more twisted moral dilemmas. Joe Goldberg is still killing people like it's a part-time job and somehow managing to sell himself as a cultural icon, a celebrity, a loving dad, and a romantic savior-because, seriously, who's gonna suspect a killer who reads Emily Dickinson, wears cozy turtlenecks, and nails the brooding magazine-cover stare? If there were an award for "Psychopathic Self-Promotion," Joe would already be a front-runner for "Man of the Year." And honestly? I think we'd all give him a standing ovation.

The starter is not bad but it didn't have that old flavor. That's why I gave it a 5. Joe's return to mooney's is very nice but for some reason this episode seemed to me a cold episode. It didn't meet my expectation yet. The beginning of season 2, 3 and 4 didn't meet it either, but that doesn't mean this one won't. We will watch and see.

I don't like the character of Kate for some reason. I wouldn't like whoever came after Beck and Love, but it's not a character suitable for this show. She's exactly what Joe wants, that's for sure.

The other characters don't fit this show at all. After the first season, of course, it started to get ridiculous.

This season definitely starts better than the others, the start fo the ep being with Joe's story until now, and the rest of the episode showing that no matter how good the life of joe is, he enjoys killing, and how the episode ends with Joe and the glass cage, also the new girl I forgot her name, this reminds me of season 3 love and marrienne, he's already got everything, he just want sm new, and that is what will set up Joe's end in the last episode, also this season holds exactly what the other seasons don't, stress, not knowing what will happen and how, season 4 and 2 had a bit but they also lacked pacing, while in the first episode I can say pacing is NOT a problem.

Just finished the first episode. Before watching it, I read some critics' reviews. One of the most popular ones rated it badly. I felt a bit upset for a few seconds. But honestly, even if every critic gave it zero stars, I would've still watched it-it's in my top 10 shows of all time.

The first episode, the start of season 5, is better than the start of season 4. The whole coming back to New York, the nostalgia, the vibe, and the way the episode ended-it was really good. The new character, Bronte, is instantly likeable. Charlotte Ritchie is one of my favourites. I've even watched some of her below-average shows just for her. I didn't like her character much last season, but it's getting better now.

There were some problems too in this episode. I like it when things move fast. This one kind of did, but they even sped up the narration in some parts-like 2x or 3x speed-and I had to pause to hear it properly. Also, I don't like it when the killing feels too easy, like the victim is just sitting there waiting to die. That's how it felt in this one. But still, watching Joe in a basketball cap killing people is always fun.

Anyway, I'm excited for the next episode. Hoping it only gets better.

3/5.