Rotten Tomatoes gives You Season 5 its worst score yet

When You first premiered in 2018, nobody quite expected the gripping, twisted tale that would unfold. At first glance, it looked like a romantic drama, but quickly revealed itself as a dark psychological thriller with a disturbingly charming lead.

Over five seasons, You has taken viewers on a wild ride through the mind of Joe Goldberg, a man who believes he's doing the right thing, even when he’s doing the worst. The show has gone from cable TV to Netflix stardom, and with the recent release of Season 5, Joe’s story has finally come to an end.

Joe seems like the perfect guy, smart, passionate about books, and romantic. But behind that bookstore charm is a stalker, manipulator, and, ultimately, a serial killer. What makes the show unique is that the whole story is told through his perspective.

Joe constantly tries to justify his actions to himself, and to us. The audience is caught in a weird place where we root for him… even when we know we shouldn’t.

You is based on a book series by Caroline Kepnes. The first season sticks closely to the original novel. But as the seasons progressed, the show started charting its own path.

By Season 3, the show completely separated from the books. The characters and storylines took new turns, creating a unique experience for viewers of the show, even those who had read the books.

The first season originally aired on Lifetime, but didn’t get much attention. Once Netflix picked it up, it exploded in popularity. Suddenly, You was everywhere.

Netflix gave the show global reach and a huge audience. The binge-watching format worked perfectly for the fast-paced, suspenseful storytelling.

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Season-by-season breakdown

Each season (except the last) was "Certified Fresh." That’s not easy to achieve, and it showed the series consistently impressed critics.

However, audience scores dropped as the show went on. While critics remained impressed, viewers started to lose interest, especially by Season 4 and 5.

It seems the final season just didn’t live up to the hype. Maybe expectations were too high, or maybe the plot felt recycled. Either way, the response was lukewarm.

Season 1: A near-perfect debut

Rotten Tomatoes Score: Critics 94%, Audience 82%

Joe falls for Beck and the chaos begins. It’s creepy, intense, and clever—a perfect storm that left viewers hooked.

Season 2: A strong continuation

Critics 89%, Audience 84%

Joe moves to L.A. and meets Love Quinn. The show kept its pace and added fresh layers of suspense.

Season 3: A turning point

Critics 93%, Audience 70%

Now married with a baby, Joe and Love’s toxic relationship made for a thrilling season. Still, some fans weren’t sold on the new direction.

Season 4: Peak suspense with fan division

Critics 92%, Audience 62%

Joe’s new identity in London and the murder mystery plot felt exciting but disconnected. Critics loved it, but audiences were split.

Season 5: The underwhelming finale

Critics 81%, Audience 63%

Despite wrapping up Joe’s story, this season didn’t land as well. Viewers felt the ending lacked the punch that made earlier seasons memorable.

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Joe Goldberg: Villain, victim, or both?

Joe tells his own story, and he’s very good at making himself look like the hero. But the truth is, he’s the villain.

Joe’s twisted sense of right and wrong is a major part of the show’s appeal. It’s disturbing but fascinating.

What happens when love turns into obsession? Joe’s actions are extreme, but they explore how dangerous idealizing love can be.

Joe keeps trying to change who he is, to escape his past. But can someone like him ever really change?

After four seasons of murder, lies, and running from consequences, Season 5 felt like more of the same.

Many fans felt that the way Joe’s story wrapped up was too neat, and not true to the show’s dark nature.

Despite everything, Joe didn’t really grow. Viewers expected a more powerful emotional conclusion.

Some loved the final season just for closure, while others were vocal about their disappointment.

Many agreed the ending didn’t match the intensity of the earlier seasons. It left people asking: “That’s it?”

Penn Badgley continues to be the soul of the show. His performance was praised even in the weaker final season.

Netflix hasn’t ruled anything out. There’s always a chance for more stories in this twisted universe. You carved out a unique space in the thriller genre, making viewers question their own judgment episode after episode.

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