Warning! SPOILERS ahead for You season 4.You star, Penn Badgley, reveals that he believes Joe Goldberg will never find redemption. The first half of You season 4 shows that Joe was successful in tracking Marienne (Tati Gabrielle) down, but to prove that she was wrong about him being a murderer, he lets her walk away. Enjoying his new identity as a professor named Jonathan Moore, Joe attempts to avoid any new relationships but suddenly finds himself thrown into a murder mystery, stalked and eventually confronted by the "Eat the Rich" killer.
After seeking to protect people he detested, and confessing to Kate (Charlotte Ritchie) about what happened to Malcolm (Stephen Hagan) and how he had been threatened by the killer, it appears that Joe might be different now. However, in a recent interview with E! News, Badgley touched on the idea of being redeemable, and shared that he does not think Joe will change. Read his comments regarding Joe Goldberg's possible redemption below:
"Who is anyone to accurately judge whether or not someone can be redeemed? Okay, if you're taking a serial killer, maybe it's safe to say people who've killed that many people cannot be redeemed... Sorry to get kind of heavy, but what about people who go to war and have to do it in a certain context? So where do we draw the line? If we're in power, if we're in the seat of deciding who is redeemable or not, it's a seriously moral question. And I don't know who has that power. I'll go ahead and say Joe can't change, won't change."
What's Next For Joe When You Season 4 Returns?
While Joe did kill Vic (Sean Pertwee) in what could be perceived as an act of self-defense, he was not involved in any of You's season 4 murders. He seems to be content with his new circumstances early on and becomes upset at the thought of the "Eat the Rich" killer learning so much about his past. In episode 5, titled "The Fox and The Hound," it's revealed that Rhys (Ed Speleers) was responsible for the deaths and anonymous messages sent. Chaining Joe beneath Phoebes' (Tilly Keeper) property, he explained his motives and referred to Badgley's character as his "project," and by the end, Rhys stated that he would be running for mayor of London.
When the second half of You season 4 premieres on March 9, it will be interesting to see the battle that ensues between Joe and Rhys. The latter knows all about Joe's crimes, and Joe did not appear to say anything about him, as the killer's identity is never confirmed on the news or discussed among the friends. The show will likely continue to explore Joe's potential romance with Kate in You season 4, who he was last seen turning down, as well.
Part 1 of You season 4 still manages to raise some questions, mainly concerning Marienne and whether Joe will pursue her again given his dynamic with Kate. Gabrielle is listed in the main cast, so it is worth wondering if Marienne, who is another person aware of Joe's past, plays a larger role in the remaining episodes. Then there is the woman who appears outside of Simon's (Aidan Cheng) art show, as well as at his funeral, taking pictures of Joe. Those eager to find out how everything comes together and to see what Joe Goldberg does next can be sure to catch You season 4 when it returns to Netflix soon.
Source: E! News