Warning: MAJOR SPOILERS ahead for You season 4The Eat the Rich killer has been revealed in You season 4, and the actor is speaking out about the role. A psychological thriller exploring the life of serial killer Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley), who moonlights as a bookstore manager, You has gained acclaim for its depiction of a dark and monstrous protagonist. Yet in season 4, another killer comes into the picture who has been tormenting Joe and killing along the way.
Targeting a wealthy group of friends, the Eat the Rich killer is a mysterious aspect of the first half of You season 4, before he is eventually revealed to be none other than Rhys Montrose (Ed Speleers). While Joe is done murdering, the Eat the Rich killer isn't done with him and drags him right back to the scene. Rhys' actor, Speleers, speaks out about the role in an interview with Entertainment Weekly, where he explains Rhys' motivations and his own part in developing the character. Check out his quote below:
"But what fans really want to know is what drives Rhys. And based on how the first half of season 4 ended, it's safe to say he's willing to take out anyone who gets in his way. He is driven by success. He is really driven by wanting a second chance for himself. This is one of the joys of when you're fortunate enough to do this sort of work. You get to be in on it. And with a show that is so universally loved, you are gonna be part of keeping that secret and keeping it under wraps. It was a lot of fun to be part of that."
What Makes The Eat The Rich Killer So Engaging?
While Joe may have moved to Europe to start a new life for himself away from his old obsessions at the start of You season 4, they have a habit of dragging him right back in. Despite befriending Rhys in a completely typical and non-murderous setting, Joe manages to find himself forced back into the life of a killer. It's part of what makes Rhys such an interesting villain, as Joe's new You season 4 stalker puts the character in an entirely different position.
Instead of being the hunter, Joe is now the hunted, which plays into his role of figuring out his new place in the world. Not only is he being stalked, but his life is in danger as he faces off against his supposed friend. With Rhys attempting to become the mayor by framing Joe, the former serial killer now needs to play the part of the hero in order to prevent Rhys from killing even more people in the back half of You season 4.
You generally serves as a show that satirizes the world of the rich, which is why it can be so intriguing to have a killer specifically target the rich and powerful while attempting to gain more power for himself. With Badgley hinting that You will only have one more season, the Eat the Rich Killer serves as an interesting penultimate threat for the show, as he serves as a direct foil for Joe. However Joe manages to take down Rhys in the second part of You season 4, it will massively change the scope of the show.
Source: EW