As the fifth and final season of You unfolds, fans are eagerly watching Joe Goldberg’s twisted journey come to a dramatic close. Over the course of the series, Joe has left a trail of victims in his wake, making him one of the most notorious characters in modern TV. From his early obsessions to his shocking acts of violence, Joe’s criminal history is as complicated as it is chilling. By the end of the series, Joe will have committed 22 murders, each one more horrific than the last.
Joe’s First Kill: Raphael Passero
Joe’s descent into darkness began early in his life. As a child, he shot and killed his own father, who had been abusive towards his mother. This event, revealed in Season 2, set the stage for his later actions, driven by a combination of deep emotional trauma and a twisted sense of justice.
The Music Producer: Elijah Thornton
In Season 2, Joe’s jealousy led to the death of Elijah Thornton, a music producer who had been involved with Joe’s ex, Candace Stone. When Elijah crossed paths with Joe, things took a dark turn. After a confrontation, Joe pushed him off a building, ending Elijah’s life.
Benjamin Ashby: The First Victim of Joe’s Library
Joe’s first murder in Season 1 involved Benjamin Ashby, the ex-boyfriend of Guinevere Beck. Joe trapped him in a plexiglass cage in his bookstore and poisoned him with a drink containing peanuts, knowing Benjamin had a severe allergy. After Benjamin suffered a fatal reaction, Joe disposed of his body in the woods.
Peach Salinger: The First True Obsession
Peach Salinger, Beck’s best friend, became Joe’s first true obsession. After she caught onto Joe’s unhealthy fixation, she tried to intervene, leading to her tragic end. Joe initially struck her with a rock during a run in Central Park, and later shot her at her home, making it appear like a suicide.
Ron: The Neighbor With a Dark Side
Joe’s need to protect those he loved led him to murder Ron, a violent neighbor who had been abusing his wife and stepson. Joe stabbed him in the garden after another brutal episode of violence, taking matters into his own hands.
Guinevere Beck: Joe’s First True Love
Guinevere Beck, Joe’s first major obsession, was the one to discover the true nature of Joe’s dark side. After being locked in his bookstore’s basement, she was eventually murdered. Joe buried her body on the property of her ex-therapist, Nick Angevine.
Jasper Krenn: The Debt Collector
In Season 2, Joe assumed a new identity, Will Bettelheim, in Los Angeles. He found himself entangled with Jasper Krenn, a debt collector. When their business dealings turned sour, Joe killed Jasper by stabbing him in a warehouse and then disposed of his body.
Henderson: The Predatory TV Star
Henderson, a famous actor who preyed on young girls, met his demise at Joe’s hands after Joe discovered his true nature. He kidnapped Henderson, and when he tried to escape, Joe pushed him down a flight of stairs, ending his life.
Ryan Goodwin: A Journalist in the Way
Ryan Goodwin, Marienne Bellamy’s ex, posed a threat to Joe’s obsession. When he tried to gain custody of their child, Joe eliminated him by pushing him off a parking structure and then finishing him off with a knife.
Love Quinn: The Love That Ended in Tragedy
Love Quinn, Joe’s love interest in Season 3, became one of his most tragic victims. After a tumultuous relationship, Love tried to kill Joe. In an ironic twist, Joe managed to turn the tables, poisoning her and staging her death as a suicide before setting their house on fire.
Malcolm Harding: The Tragic Professor
Joe’s time in London led him to a tragic encounter with Malcolm Harding, a fellow professor. After a night of heavy drinking, Joe woke up to find Malcolm dead in his kitchen, stabbed in the heart. He couldn’t remember what had happened but disposed of the body nonetheless.
Simon Soo: The Artist’s Last Exhibit
In Season 4, Joe’s dark path continued with Simon Soo, an artist in Kate Galvin’s circle of friends. Simon became another victim after a brutal attack that left him mutilated. Joe disposed of his body without even realizing what he had done in his altered state.
Rhys Montrose: Joe’s Final Confrontation
Rhys Montrose, a politician and Joe’s biggest antagonist in Season 4, represents the culmination of Joe’s paranoia. Joe believed Rhys was blackmailing him and threatening Marienne, so he trapped and tortured him. In the end, Joe strangled Rhys, ending his life and his own mental turmoil.
As Joe Goldberg’s reign of terror finally comes to an end in You Season 5, fans are left reflecting on the long and disturbing list of victims. From his childhood trauma to his twisted relationships, Joe’s actions throughout the series have solidified his place as one of TV’s most infamous antiheroes. But as the final season unfolds, it’s clear that justice will catch up with him, and these 22 murders will be his undoing.
