Who is the New Killer in You Season 4? Unmasking Joe Goldberg’s Latest Obsession and the Rhys Montrose Mystery

Unmasking the New Killer in You Season 4: The Rhys Montrose Revelation and Joe Goldberg’s Twisted Obsession

The question echoing through the minds of You fans since the premiere of Season 4 is a chilling one: Who is the new killer in You season 4? For viewers who eagerly devoured the latest installment, the answer, or rather the *misdirection*, surrounding this central mystery proved to be one of the season’s most captivating and, for some, utterly shocking developments. As Joe Goldberg attempts to bury his past and forge a new, seemingly respectable identity as Professor Jonathan Moore in London, he finds himself entangled in a deadly game of cat and mouse, where the predator might just be the prey, and the true killer is closer than anyone – especially Joe – could have imagined. My own initial viewing was a whirlwind of suspicion, constantly shifting my gaze between the various wealthy and enigmatic figures surrounding Joe. Each episode seemed to weave a new thread of doubt, making the eventual reveal all the more impactful.

At its heart, You Season 4 is a masterclass in psychological manipulation, not just by Joe, but by the very narrative itself. We are led to believe that Joe is being stalked by an unknown murderer, a serial killer targeting the elite of London. This “Eat the Rich Killer,” as they become known, is systematically eliminating members of a privileged social circle, leaving Joe to navigate this dangerous landscape while desperately trying to avoid his own dark past catching up with him. The season brilliantly plays on our assumptions about Joe’s role – is he the hunter, the hunted, or perhaps even the accidental accomplice? The introduction of Rhys Montrose, a charismatic and seemingly benevolent author and mayoral candidate, quickly positions him as a prime suspect. However, as the season unfolds, the layers of deception peel back, revealing a truth far more intricate and devastating than a simple case of Joe being targeted by an external threat.

Joe Goldberg’s New Persona and the London Elite

Joe Goldberg, ever the chameleon, has relocated to London, shedding the skin of the seemingly harmless bookstore owner and adopting the guise of Professor Jonathan Moore. This new identity is a desperate attempt at reinvention, a chance to escape the consequences of his past actions and perhaps, just perhaps, to achieve a semblance of normalcy. He’s surrounded by a cast of characters that epitomize the “eat the rich” critique that permeates the season: the spoiled scions of wealth, the social climbers, the art dealers, and the influencers. These individuals, while seemingly distinct, are united by their privilege and, as it turns out, their shared secrets and vulnerabilities, making them ripe targets for a killer.

Joe’s internal monologue, a staple of the series that offers us an intimate, albeit disturbing, look into his psyche, is now focused on his supposed mission to unmask the killer among his new acquaintances. He finds himself observing them with the same predatory instincts he once reserved for his victims, but this time, he believes he’s on the side of justice, or at least, self-preservation. His interactions with this group are fraught with tension. He’s constantly aware that any misstep could expose his true nature, and he’s equally, if not more, concerned about the identity and motives of this elusive murderer who seems to be targeting his new circle.

The introduction of Rhys Montrose into this milieu is particularly significant. He’s presented as a figure of integrity and public service, a stark contrast to the often shallow and self-serving individuals Joe is now forced to associate with. Rhys is charming, intelligent, and has a seemingly genuine desire to improve the lives of London’s citizens. Joe, initially wary of anyone who draws his attention, finds himself drawn to Rhys’s apparent authenticity. Yet, as the season progresses, the “Eat the Rich Killer” continues their spree, and Rhys remains a constant, albeit often unconvincing, presence. The narrative expertly plants seeds of doubt about Rhys, making him the logical suspect for many viewers, and for Joe himself.

The “Eat the Rich Killer” Phenomenon

The moniker “Eat the Rich Killer” isn’t just a catchy label; it encapsulates the thematic undercurrent of You Season 4. The series uses this central mystery to explore themes of class disparity, privilege, and the corrupting influence of extreme wealth. The victims, while presented as antagonists in Joe’s narrative, are also portrayed as flawed individuals whose luxurious lifestyles mask deeper insecurities and moral failings. The killer’s actions, while undeniably violent, are framed within this critique, suggesting a possible, albeit twisted, form of societal reckoning.

Joe’s obsession with identifying the killer is driven by a primal need for control and a desire to remain unseen. He believes that if he can expose the murderer, he can then extricate himself from the dangerous situation and continue his quest for a peaceful existence. His investigative methods are, naturally, Joe-esque: stalking, eavesdropping, and employing his particular brand of psychological manipulation. He uses his keen observational skills, honed over years of predatory behavior, to piece together clues, often finding himself in precarious situations as he gets closer to the truth. The suspense builds as Joe gets closer to the killer, and we, the audience, are left to wonder if he’ll succeed or become another victim in this deadly game.

The initial targets are often portrayed as overtly unpleasant, making their demise, in a darkly comedic way, almost satisfying. However, as the season progresses, the victims become more sympathetic, or at least, their deaths have more complex ramifications, forcing Joe – and the audience – to question the morality of the killer’s actions. This gradual shift in perspective is crucial to the season’s overall impact, as it blurs the lines between good and evil and compels us to consider the societal commentary the show is attempting to make. The “Eat the Rich Killer” becomes a symbol of a more pervasive dissatisfaction with the established order.

Rhys Montrose: The Obvious Suspect and the Master Manipulator

From early on, Rhys Montrose emerges as the most prominent and, for many, the most obvious suspect for the “Eat the Rich Killer.” His backstory as a working-class man who has risen to prominence through sheer talent and ambition makes him an interesting foil to the inherited wealth of the other characters. His public persona as a champion of the common man, coupled with his intimate knowledge of the city’s elite, makes him a compelling candidate for someone seeking to exact revenge or enact a form of social justice. Joe himself, in his relentless pursuit of the killer, fixates on Rhys, seeing him as the most likely perpetrator.

Joe’s investigation into Rhys is meticulous. He pores over Rhys’s past, his writings, his public appearances, looking for any crack in the facade. He infiltrates Rhys’s social circles, uses his skills as a stalker to gather information, and constantly scrutinizes Rhys’s interactions with the other characters. The narrative seems to be building towards a confrontation between Joe and Rhys, a showdown between two men with dark secrets, one a celebrated author and politician, the other a prolific murderer trying to go straight. The tension is palpable, and the audience is led to believe that Joe is on the verge of exposing Rhys for the killer he believes him to be.

However, what makes Season 4 so brilliant is its subversion of these expectations. Rhys Montrose, while undoubtedly a significant figure in the season’s narrative, is not the “Eat the Rich Killer” in the way the audience is led to believe. The true genius of the season’s twist lies in the fact that the killer has been operating in plain sight, a perpetrator who Joe has been interacting with, and even confiding in, all along. This reveal is not just a plot twist; it’s a fundamental redefinition of Joe’s role in the narrative and a profound exploration of his own fractured psyche.

The Shocking Reveal: Joe is the Killer

The bombshell dropped at the end of You Season 4 is that there isn’t an external killer stalking Joe’s elite friends. Instead, Joe Goldberg himself has been the “Eat the Rich Killer” all along. This isn’t a case of him being framed or manipulated into killing; it’s a terrifying manifestation of his own fractured psyche. The Rhys Montrose Joe has been obsessing over, the one he believed was the killer, is a character Joe invented in his own mind, a projection of his own darker impulses and a way for him to process his guilt and his compulsion to kill.

This reveal is incredibly powerful because it shifts the entire focus of the season. What we thought was Joe trying to solve a mystery and protect himself from an external threat was, in reality, Joe grappling with his own pathology. He was creating a narrative for himself, a way to distance himself from the horrific acts he was committing. The “Eat the Rich Killer” was a phantom, a construct of Joe’s mind, allowing him to engage in his murderous tendencies while maintaining the illusion of being a victim or an amateur detective.

My own reaction to this twist was a mix of disbelief and a dawning, chilling realization. It’s a testament to the show’s writing and Joe’s character that the reveal feels both shocking and, in retrospect, incredibly inevitable. We’ve always known Joe is a master manipulator, not just of others, but of himself. This season takes that to a new, terrifying extreme. The “new killer” in You season 4 wasn’t a new character; it was the oldest one, re-emerging in a more insidious form. This twist forces us to re-evaluate every interaction Joe had, every piece of “evidence” he uncovered, knowing that it was all part of his own elaborate delusion. It’s a deeply unsettling and brilliant narrative choice.

The Mechanics of Joe’s Dissociation and the “Rhys” Persona

To truly understand the revelation that Joe is the killer, we need to delve into the psychological mechanisms at play. Joe Goldberg suffers from severe dissociative disorders, exacerbated by his extreme narcissism and sociopathy. In Season 4, this manifests as a highly sophisticated form of self-deception. The “Rhys Montrose” he perceives as the killer is not a real person he’s interacting with; rather, he is a fictional character Joe has constructed within his own mind to act as a scapegoat for his actions. This invented Rhys serves multiple purposes.

Firstly, it allows Joe to maintain his carefully crafted persona as Professor Jonathan Moore. By externalizing the homicidal impulses onto this imaginary figure, Joe can convince himself that he is not the killer. He can then engage in the act of hunting down and eliminating the “killer” (which, in reality, is him killing his victims) with a sense of righteous purpose, believing he is ridding the world of a monster while simultaneously being that monster himself. This allows him to avoid the crushing weight of guilt and the terror of self-recognition, which would shatter his fragile illusion of control and normalcy.

Secondly, the “Rhys” persona acts as a narrative device for Joe. He needs a compelling story to explain the disappearances and murders occurring around him. By inventing a killer who targets the rich, he creates a compelling motive and a tangible threat that allows him to occupy the role of the detective. This gives him a sense of purpose and agency in a situation that would otherwise expose his complicity. It’s a brilliant, albeit horrifying, way for Joe to continue his cycle of violence while maintaining his carefully constructed facade.

The season meticulously lays the groundwork for this reveal. Joe’s internal monologues are filled with misinterpretations and selective focus, all designed to steer the audience (and himself) towards the false conclusion that Rhys is the killer. When Joe confronts “Rhys,” the dialogue often reflects his own internal struggles and justifications. It’s a brilliant piece of writing that allows the show to explore the complexities of Joe’s mind without explicitly stating his self-deception until the crucial moment of revelation. The audience is essentially experiencing Joe’s delusion alongside him, making the eventual unmasking all the more impactful.

Analyzing Joe’s Internal Conflict and the Echoes of Past Obsessions

While Season 4 presents a new killer *within the narrative* of Joe’s perceived reality, it’s crucial to analyze how this connects to his history. Joe’s pattern of obsession, stalking, and murder is well-established. Each season has seen him fixate on a woman, believing he can mold her into his ideal partner, only for his possessiveness and violence to lead to their demise or his eventual downfall. In Season 4, this obsessive energy is redirected towards solving the mystery of the “Eat the Rich Killer.” However, the underlying drive remains the same: the need for control, the inability to accept responsibility, and the deep-seated desire to believe he is a fundamentally good person, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

The “Eat the Rich Killer” is, in a way, the ultimate manifestation of Joe’s self-loathing and his projected criticisms of society. He is surrounded by the wealthy elite, whom he despises for their superficiality and their privilege, yet he is also drawn to their positions of power and influence. By framing himself as the hunter of a killer who targets them, he is, in essence, enacting his own judgment upon them, a judgment he feels empowered to make because he sees himself as somehow separate from their moral decay. This is a twisted form of self-cleansing; by “punishing” the rich, he rationalizes his own continued existence and his own violent tendencies.

Furthermore, the season subtly mirrors Joe’s past obsessions. The women in his new circle – Phoebe, Nadia, Kate – become potential objects of his attention and, in some cases, potential victims or obstacles. His interactions with them are tinged with his characteristic possessiveness and his misguided attempts at romance. Yet, his primary focus is on the killer, allowing him to operate under the guise of a protector, a role he has often tried to assume in his previous relationships. This redirection of his obsessive energy, while seemingly a step towards reform, is actually a more sophisticated form of his enduring pathology. He’s still driven by the same internal desires, just with a new target and a new narrative framework.

The Significance of Rhys Montrose in Joe’s Psyche

Even though the “Rhys Montrose” who appears to be the killer is a figment of Joe’s imagination, the character of Rhys Montrose, the *real* author, plays a crucial role in the season’s thematic and narrative development. The real Rhys, as a successful, socially conscious figure, represents a type of person Joe might aspire to be or, conversely, someone he deeply resents for embodying the public virtue he can never truly possess. Joe’s fixation on this real Rhys, and then his subsequent creation of the killer persona based on him, speaks volumes about his internal conflicts and his desperate need for validation.

The invented Rhys, the killer, is a dark reflection of the real Rhys’s public image. The real Rhys is celebrated for his empathy and his understanding of societal issues. The killer Rhys, in Joe’s mind, perverts these qualities into a brutal form of vigilante justice. This highlights Joe’s inability to reconcile the outward perception of goodness with his inner reality. He craves the admiration and respect that someone like Rhys receives, but his own nature prevents him from achieving it through genuine means. Therefore, he creates a monstrous doppelgänger, a twisted mirror of the man he might envy, and then uses this doppelgänger as the villain in his own personal drama.

The final confrontation between Joe and the *real* Rhys Montrose, after the truth about Joe’s own actions has been revealed, is pivotal. It’s a moment where Joe can no longer hide behind his delusions. The real Rhys, who has been a victim of Joe’s manipulation and violence in his own right (his murder was staged by Joe), serves as a stark reminder of Joe’s destructive capacity and the real-world consequences of his actions. This encounter underscores the fact that while Joe may create elaborate internal narratives, the damage he inflicts is all too real, impacting the lives of those around him, even those he has only imagined as enemies.

The Role of Kate and Nadia in Unraveling the Truth

While Joe is largely responsible for his own delusion, the season doesn’t entirely let him off the hook in terms of external forces pushing towards the truth. Kate, Joe’s enigmatic and seemingly detached love interest, plays a crucial role in the latter half of the season. Initially appearing as a victim of the “Eat the Rich Killer,” Kate begins to suspect Joe’s involvement. Her intelligence and her own secretive nature make her a formidable opponent. She notices inconsistencies in Joe’s stories and observes his increasingly erratic behavior, all of which begin to chip away at his carefully constructed facade.

Nadia, Joe’s brilliant literature student, is another key player. Nadia, possessing a sharp intellect and a deep understanding of literary tropes, becomes suspicious of Professor Moore. She starts investigating him, noticing his unusual knowledge of certain events and his disturbing patterns of behavior. Her investigation, driven by a combination of intellectual curiosity and a growing sense of unease, provides a much-needed external perspective on Joe’s increasingly elaborate deception. Nadia’s determination to uncover the truth about Joe is one of the strongest counterpoints to his self-deception, and her efforts are instrumental in bringing Joe’s true nature to light, at least to a select few.

The combined efforts of Kate and Nadia, though they don’t fully comprehend the extent of Joe’s delusion until the very end, are what put Joe on notice. They represent the persistent threat of exposure that Joe is constantly trying to evade. Their suspicion forces Joe to become even more paranoid and desperate, further fueling his dissociative tendencies as he tries to maintain control of his narrative. Their presence in the season acts as a narrative engine, driving the plot forward and ensuring that Joe’s reign of terror, however internally justified, cannot remain entirely unchecked.

Thematic Resonance: Class, Art, and Identity in Season 4

You Season 4 delves deeper into thematic territory than ever before, using the “Eat the Rich Killer” mystery as a vehicle to explore complex issues of class, the nature of art, and the elusive quest for identity. The juxtaposition of Joe’s violent impulses with the privileged world of London’s elite provides fertile ground for social commentary. The show uses the characters’ wealth and status to highlight their superficiality, their moral compromises, and their vulnerability, offering a stark critique of the upper echelons of society.

Joe, as a self-proclaimed intellectual and admirer of literature, finds himself both disgusted by and drawn to this world. His initial attempts to integrate into this environment, to become Professor Jonathan Moore, are driven by a desire for acceptance and a yearning for a life beyond his violent past. However, his innate nature inevitably clashes with the societal expectations and the superficial politeness of his new acquaintances. His obsession with the “killer” becomes a warped attempt to impose his own brand of order and morality onto a world he sees as inherently corrupt, yet also alluring.

The theme of art and creativity is also prominent, particularly through Rhys Montrose. Rhys’s success as an author, and his ability to connect with people through his writing, represents a form of power and influence that Joe perhaps covets. Joe’s own internal narratives, his elaborate justifications for his actions, and his ability to create convincing personas are, in a twisted way, his own form of perverse artistry. The season prompts us to consider what constitutes creativity and how it can be used for both good and evil. Is Joe’s ability to weave intricate lies and construct elaborate delusions a form of art, however deranged?

Ultimately, the season is a profound exploration of identity. Joe’s constant reinvention, his attempts to shed his past and become someone new, are central to his character. In Season 4, this quest for a new identity reaches its most desperate and self-destructive peak. By projecting his killer persona onto Rhys, Joe is desperately trying to compartmentalize his evil, to create a version of himself that is still redeemable. The reveal that he is the killer forces him – and us – to confront the undeniable truth: his identity is inextricably linked to his violence, and no amount of reinvention can truly erase who he is at his core.

A Critical Look at Joe’s “Redemption Arc”

Throughout the series, audiences have often been drawn to Joe’s intelligence, his wit, and his internal struggles, leading some to question whether he is capable of redemption. Season 4, with its intricate plot and its focus on Joe’s supposed escape from his past, initially seems to set the stage for a more profound transformation. However, the reveal that Joe is the “Eat the Rich Killer” shatters any notion of a genuine redemption arc. Instead, it highlights the deeply ingrained nature of his pathology and his unparalleled ability to deceive himself.

His attempt to become Professor Jonathan Moore was not a genuine effort to change, but rather a more sophisticated strategy to avoid detection and to continue his cycle of violence under a new guise. The “Eat the Rich Killer” was not an external threat for him to overcome, but a manifestation of his own repressed guilt and his continued urges. This twist is crucial because it reinforces the show’s core message: Joe Goldberg is not a character who can be redeemed. He is a serial killer, and his ability to manipulate others, and himself, is his most dangerous weapon.

The season’s ending, with Joe seemingly embracing his true nature and setting his sights on a new victim, is a stark reminder that his reign of terror is far from over. He has not learned from his mistakes; he has merely refined his methods and become even more adept at hiding in plain sight. The “Eat the Rich Killer” may have been a phantom, but the real killer, Joe Goldberg, remains a clear and present danger, a chilling testament to the darkness that can fester beneath even the most polished of exteriors. His “redemption arc” is, in fact, a descent into an even deeper and more self-aware form of his own villainy.

Frequently Asked Questions About the New Killer in You Season 4

How was Joe Goldberg the killer in You Season 4?

The revelation that Joe Goldberg was the “Eat the Rich Killer” in You Season 4 is a masterful subversion of audience expectations. The season leads viewers to believe that an external, unknown serial killer is targeting the wealthy elite of London, and that Joe, as Professor Jonathan Moore, is trying to unmask this individual. However, this was all a carefully constructed delusion within Joe’s own mind. Joe, suffering from severe dissociative disorders, created an imaginary persona named Rhys Montrose, who he believed was the killer. This invented Rhys served as a scapegoat, allowing Joe to continue his murderous impulses while maintaining the illusion that he was a victim or a detective trying to stop a monster.

In essence, every murder attributed to the “Eat the Rich Killer” was committed by Joe himself. He would enter a dissociative state, carry out the act, and then, upon regaining consciousness, would project the responsibility onto his imagined Rhys. His internal monologues were not objective observations of an external killer, but rather his own rationalizations and attempts to piece together a narrative that distanced him from his own crimes. The entire premise of Joe investigating a killer was a complex psychological defense mechanism, a way for him to continue his violent pattern without confronting the devastating reality of his own actions. The real “new killer” was, in fact, the most familiar one: Joe Goldberg himself, operating under a sophisticated layer of self-deception.

Why did Joe create the Rhys Montrose persona?

Joe created the Rhys Montrose persona as a coping mechanism and a sophisticated form of self-deception, born from his deep-seated narcissism and sociopathic tendencies. His primary motivations were to avoid confronting his own guilt and to continue his cycle of violence without shattering his carefully constructed illusion of being a decent person. By externalizing his murderous impulses onto an imaginary figure, Joe could:

• Maintain his facade of normalcy: He desperately wanted to be Professor Jonathan Moore, a respected academic, and not Joe Goldberg, a serial killer. The Rhys persona allowed him to maintain this outward appearance by convincing himself he was not the perpetrator.
• Rationalize his actions: The “Eat the Rich Killer” narrative provided a compelling reason for the murders. By believing someone else was responsible, Joe could avoid the psychological burden of his crimes and justify his continued existence as someone who was “solving” a problem rather than creating one.
• Engage in his compulsive behavior: Joe’s compulsion to kill is an intrinsic part of his being. The Rhys persona allowed him to satisfy this urge while still feeling like he was in control and acting with a degree of purpose. He could “hunt” and “eliminate” the killer, which was, in reality, him eliminating his victims.
• Seek a form of psychological relief: The immense guilt and self-loathing that would naturally accompany his actions were likely too much for Joe to bear directly. The dissociation and projection onto Rhys provided a buffer, a way to process his internal turmoil without succumbing to complete mental breakdown. He was, in a twisted sense, creating a villain to absorb his own villainy.

The real Rhys Montrose, the author and mayoral candidate, likely represented certain qualities Joe either envied or despised, making him a potent figure to co-opt into his delusion. This invented Rhys became the embodiment of Joe’s own dark desires, a phantom antagonist in his real-life horror story.

What was the significance of the “Eat the Rich Killer” theme?

The “Eat the Rich Killer” theme in You Season 4 served as a potent vehicle for social commentary, exploring class disparity, privilege, and the inherent corruption that can accompany extreme wealth. The season used the supposed actions of this killer to critique the superficiality, moral failings, and often exploitative nature of London’s elite.

For Joe, this theme resonated deeply, albeit in a warped way. He himself was an outsider, often resentful of the privileged world he infiltrated. The idea of a killer targeting this group appealed to his own sense of righteous anger and his desire to impose his own brand of justice. By projecting his killer persona onto Rhys, he was, in essence, enacting his own judgment upon a class he both scorned and was drawn to. The theme allowed the show to:

• Highlight societal issues: It brought to the forefront discussions about wealth inequality and the potential for societal unrest when such disparities become too extreme.
• Create a compelling narrative framework: The “Eat the Rich Killer” provided a clear and engaging mystery that drove the plot forward and kept viewers guessing.
• Reflect Joe’s internal state: The targets of the killer were individuals who, in Joe’s eyes, embodied the flaws he detested in the privileged class. This allowed the season to delve into Joe’s own judgments and resentments, even as he was orchestrating the events himself.
• Offer a dark, ironic commentary: The ultimate reveal – that Joe, a self-proclaimed intellectual, was the killer – added a layer of dark irony, suggesting that the true monster wasn’t necessarily the one targeting the rich, but the one who harbored such deep-seated rage and possessiveness towards everyone around him, regardless of class.

The theme was more than just a plot device; it was integral to the season’s exploration of Joe’s character and the societal critiques the show aimed to make.

Did the real Rhys Montrose know Joe was creating a persona based on him?

No, the real Rhys Montrose did not know that Joe Goldberg was creating a killer persona based on him. Throughout the majority of Season 4, the Rhys Montrose that Joe was interacting with and obsessing over was an imaginary construct. The real Rhys Montrose, the author and mayoral candidate, was a victim of Joe’s actions, albeit in a different way. Joe manipulated and ultimately murdered the real Rhys, staging his death to look like a suicide or disappearance, and then used the real Rhys’s identity and public persona to construct the imaginary killer.

The season’s plot unfolds with Joe believing he is interacting with two separate figures: the real Rhys Montrose (whom he murdered) and the imaginary “Eat the Rich Killer” Rhys. The complexity arises because Joe’s delusion is so profound that he seemingly separates these two entities in his mind. The real Rhys Montrose, in his actual interactions with Joe (before his death), would have had no inkling of Joe’s specific psychological disorders or his capacity for elaborate self-deception. He would have likely seen Joe as a fellow, albeit perhaps eccentric, member of his social circle. The reveal of Joe as the killer and the true fate of the real Rhys highlights the extent of Joe’s deception and the tragic consequences of his actions, even for those he never directly targeted in his obsessive way.

What does the ending of You Season 4 mean for Joe’s future?

The ending of You Season 4 signifies a pivotal, yet unsettling, shift for Joe Goldberg. Having embraced his true nature as the killer, and having seemingly overcome his internal conflict by accepting his pathology, Joe is poised to continue his reign of terror, but with a newfound self-awareness. The final moments show him relishing in his true self, free from the pretense of being Professor Jonathan Moore or a hunter of phantoms. He has fully integrated his killer identity, embracing the darkness he once fought so desperately to suppress.

This ending suggests that Joe is not seeking redemption, but rather embracing his identity as a predator. He has, in essence, come to terms with who he is. This doesn’t mean he’s any less dangerous; in fact, he might be more so. His self-deception has been replaced with self-acceptance, making him even more unburdened by guilt and more committed to his destructive impulses. The fact that he has a new victim in his sights indicates that the cycle of obsession and murder will undoubtedly continue. The ending implies that while Joe may change his location and his persona, his core identity as a dangerous stalker and murderer remains unchanged. His journey is not one of reform, but of a deeper, more conscious descent into his own inherent darkness, setting the stage for future seasons where he will likely continue to hunt, obsess, and kill, perhaps with an even greater sense of entitlement.