Every Season of YOU on Netflix Ranked Worst to Best

Ranking EVERY Season of YOU on Netflix – Which Is Best?

Joe Goldberg — lover, stalker, murderer, suburban husband, bookstore clerk — and now, finished.
After five wild, bloody, and oh-so-creepy seasons, Netflix’s YOU has officially wrapped up Joe’s twisted story.
Across fifty episodes, Joe went from "romantic anti-hero" to "full-blown monster," and honestly?
The quality of the show has been just as unpredictable as Joe himself.

Today, we're ranking EVERY season of YOU, from worst to best!
There will be spoilers — and there will be hot takes. You’ve been warned.

📉 Number 5: Season 4

Quick Recap:

‍Joe moves to London, fakes his identity (again), and gets tangled up with a group of rich, insufferable elites. Meanwhile, he battles a hallucinated "killer" inside his own mind. Split into two parts, the season lost steam fast.

What Went Wrong:

• Split release. Two parts = broken pacing.
• Too many bodies. Even for Joe, it felt excessive.
• Kate as the love interest. Meh chemistry at best.
• Unlikable side characters. Seriously, where’s my Ellie? My Forty? My Delilah?

Biggest Crime:
Joe framing Nadiya — an innocent — just to save himself.
Old Joe at least had a twisted code.
New Joe? Straight-up villain mode.

Final Verdict:
Not awful, but the weakest season.
Still worth a watch — just not the Joe we fell for (or feared) originally.

🧩 Number 4: Season 5

Quick Recap:

Joe returns to New York City, embracing his dark side fully for the first time. Haunted by guilt, hunted by enemies, and caught in a final spiral of violence, Joe tries to rewrite his story — but old habits die hard. His final downfall brings closure... but not redemption.

Joe’s Final Act... Sort Of.

What Worked:

• The return to New York? Chef’s kiss.
• Joe getting besotted and murderous again? Classic.
• That Mooney’s bookstore fire? Symbolic brilliance.

What Flopped:

• Joe somehow escaping murder charges again? Suspension of disbelief = shattered.
• Louise as a love interest? Snooze.
• Exaggerated plotlines that pushed the show past its own "rules."

Final Moments:
Joe trapped in his personal hell (prison) = fitting ending.
But the season overall? It didn't quite stick the landing.

🎭 Number 3: Season 1

Quick Recap:

‍Joe falls for Beck, a struggling writer, and will stop at nothing (including murder) to "protect" their relationship. His carefully curated life spirals out of control — and we see just how deep his darkness goes.

The Origin Story.
Where it all began.

Why It’s Great:

• Introducing Joe Goldberg as a charming psycho was pure genius.
• New York City bookstore vibes? Aesthetic goals.
• The relationship with Beck had genuine tension (and heartbreak).

Unforgettable Moments:

• Paco and the heartbreaking neighbor dynamic.
• Beck’s discovery of Joe’s creepy "box of souvenirs."
• That final gut-punch when Joe wins... by killing her.

What Made It Special:
The show tricked us into caring for a serial killer.
First seasons don't get much stronger than this.

💘 Number 2: Season 2

Quick Recap:

‍Joe flees to LA, reinvents himself as "Will Bettelheim," and falls for the sweet — but secretly psychotic — Love Quinn. Past mistakes (Candace!) catch up to him as everything unravels.

The Show Finds Its True Identity.

Key Upgrades:

• Moving Joe to Los Angeles = fresh vibe.
• Enter Love Quinn — Joe’s perfect match (in the most horrifying way possible).
• Major twist: Love is just as psychotic as Joe!

Fan Favorites:

• Ellie and Delilah (RIP 💔) added layers to Joe’s "hero complex."
• 40 (yes, he’s chaotic, but iconic).

Emotional Punches:

• Candace’s revenge arc gave Joe real consequences.
• The reveal of Love’s true nature? Still chills.

Why It's #2:
This was YOU firing on all cylinders — but something even better was coming.

🔥 Number 1: Season 3

Quick Recap:

‍Joe and Love settle into suburban life — but domestic bliss quickly turns deadly. Their marriage implodes in spectacular, bloody fashion, leading to the most explosive season finale yet.

Peak YOU. No contest.

Everything Clicked:

• Joe + Love = nuclear meltdown relationship.
• Moving to the suburbs? Brilliant setting shift.
• New characters like Sherry and Cary Conrad = perfectly insufferable neighbors.

Best Finale Ever:

• That kitchen showdown between Joe and Love? Absolute TV gold.
• Love outsmarts Joe… right up until she doesn’t.
• Bon Iver’s "Exile" playing during the fire? Chef’s kiss times a thousand.

Also:

• Joe’s romance with Marienne was the last believable one.
• Fewer kills = more impact when they happened (Ryan deserved it).
• Love Quinn = the best and most terrifying love interest period.

Why Season 3 Wins:
It was the perfect storm of chaos, tragedy, love, and murder.
This is the season that defines YOU.

YOU Was Always About the Monster We Loved (and Hated)

From charming bookworm to full-blown monster, Joe Goldberg's journey was captivating, chilling, and honestly?
Sometimes way too relatable.
(We all stalked a crush's Instagram once, right? Just... not like Joe.)

Netflix’s YOU wasn’t perfect — but when it was good, it was phenomenal.
Season 3 remains the crown jewel.
And even though Season 5 had its bumps, it ended Joe’s story in a way that felt earned: trapped by his own darkness.

Stay tuned for more Netflix deep dives, character breakdowns, and ranking battles right here at Land of Geek Magazine!

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