You Season 5: BookTok’s Darkest Fantasy?

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In a playful critique, You Season 5 satirizes common trends from BookTok (Book Tok-tic) through Joe Goldberg’s latest infatuation, Bronte. While she has sparked intense debate among fans of the Netflix series as one of its most contentious new characters, there is a lot more depth to her than initially perceived.

Perhaps you’re curious about the fate of Joe’s wife, Kate Lockwood, whom he was saved by at the end of You Season 4. Rest assured, she continues to be present in his life, as marriage has never been a barrier for Joe before.

In Season 5’s first episode, I popped by Mooney’s – the bookstore that my partner, Kate, gifted me upon our return to New York. While exploring, I stumbled upon Bronte, who had been sneaking in due to the books appearing rather solitary.

In the course of events, it’s revealed that Joe offers her a position to revitalize the store, and as time passes, we uncover her passions and hobbies. Caution: potential plot details follow!

Bronte is a BookTok dream girl

To put it simply, at first glance, Bronte’s character seems as if an AI, given the task to distill the essence of BookTok’s dark fantasy dream girl, would create a character that dons tattered cardigans, indulges in “fairy smut” literature, and navigates the delicate balance between innocence and allure.

To put it simply, she’s perfectly suited for the popular themes that BookTok devours, and it appears the authors intentionally emphasized these aspects to appeal to this specific online community (while perhaps adding a touch of humor).

In the role made famous by Madeline Brewer from The Handmaid’s Tale, Bronte is a budding playwright who develops a unique connection with Joe through literature, albeit not the type he’s accustomed to. She motivates him to broaden Mooney’s romance section and introduces him to the realm of steamy, dark fantasy novels.

In the third episode of Season 5, she skillfully recreates a scene from ‘The Relentless Rancher’ for TikTok, complete with a soft purr near Joe’s ear and an expressive lip bite. This type of scene could easily become popular as a viral thirst trap or reenactment challenge on BookTok.

However, the fifth season of “But You” doesn’t end with just that. In a subsequent sequence, Bronte delves into the Dungeons & Dragons “ethical alignment chart,” a popular internet sensation that book enthusiasts on BookTok and Tumblr are fond of employing to categorize characters.

Moral alignment chart

— PIV (@piv_piv) November 18, 2022

Through BookTok, these genres such as erotic fiction, dark romance, and complex characters have been thrust into the spotlight, and “Bronte” appears to be a subtle nod towards acknowledging this trend before poking fun at it in a satirical manner.

Some fans have been taken aback by this situation, with one commenting on X’s Twitter, “It seems unusual to me that Joe got fooled by what appeared to be an image of a Wattpad character.

A user on Reddit commented, “The writers seem different now. I grew fond of Beck and Love, even tolerated Marianne, but I find it hard to accept the unrealistic nature of the Bronte character.

There’s more to her character in You Season 5 

However, don’t let her deceptive exterior mislead you. As more Netflix viewers discover, Bronte is not her genuine identity. In reality, her true name is Louise, and she’s involved in a plot to bring Joe down.

She didn’t break into Mooney’s as it was not necessary, since months prior, she had joined forces with a team of cyber detectives, which included Clayton, the son of Dr Nicky, to unmask Joe for the alleged crimes they suspected him of committing.

In Episode 5, it’s disclosed that their scheme unfolds as Joe defends Bronte or Louise by killing Clayton. Surprisingly, her companions suddenly emerge and unveil that they are broadcasting the entire incident live.

Incredibly, even with Bronte wise to his tricks, Joe somehow continues to deceive me, albeit briefly. Yet, just as fate would have it, come the end of You Season 5, Joe receives a well-deserved comeuppance for his misdeeds.

Prior to the unveiling of this plan, many viewers had already expressed support for Bronte, with one commenting, “I secretly admire her because I believe she’s out to undermine Joe. Everything she does and says seems meticulously planned to keep Joe fixated.

Another person expressed their affection for Nronte, finding her amusing and reminiscent of Beck, Candace, Marienne, and Love combined. They’re curious to uncover her true intentions since there seems to be more than meets the eye.

Due to her strategy, long-awaited justice has been achieved for Joe. While it’s true that Bronte may embody popular literary tropes, such as the complex romantic lead, she is not merely a stereotypical “literary girl with quirks.

She’s reflecting Joe’s idealized image right back at the original platform, and this reflection is now turning into a bite from the dream itself.

Right now, you can stream season 5 of “You” on Netflix! Curious if Maddie and Reagan are real-life twins? Or wondering why there might not be a season 6? Look no further! Additionally, discover other great shows currently streaming on Netflix this month.

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2025-04-24 18:19