Every Heartbreaking Death in ‘You,’ Ranked: Which Victim Suffered Most?

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Proceed with Caution: Major plot reveals from all 5 seasons of the Netflix series “You” are approaching. The final season, though met with mixed reviews, offered a conclusive and fulfilling ending for TV’s most persistent serial killer. Ultimately, Joe Goldberg came to understand his true nature. He was incarcerated for his crimes, destined to spend the remainder of his life without the love he yearned for so deeply, and left to grapple with the knowledge that his son is fully aware of the monster he truly is.

Penn Badgley delivered an extraordinary and spine-tingling portrayal throughout all five seasons, embodying Joe as he pursued, manipulated, and killed numerous individuals. The character of Joe significantly affected almost everyone he crossed paths with, causing devastation in his path. Although Joe may not have been the immediate cause of every death on the series, it’s essential to understand that the trail of blood always points back to him. While some of his victims might not have been missed by society, others certainly didn’t deserve the fate they met.

In this list, I have arranged the saddest deaths depicted within the TV series ‘You’, starting from those that were distressing and moving towards those that were heartrendingly catastrophic.

10
Raphael Passero (Played by Billy Lush)

Killed by Joe in Season 2

In Season 2, the viewers come to know about Joe’s dismal and traumatic childhood history. His father, Raphael, was abusive towards him as well as his mother, Sandy (Magda Apanowicz), who, though never physically violent with Joe, was a negligent parent in a harmful way. She even showed her son where she kept her gun, which is extremely inappropriate, and hinted that one day they would be free of Raphael. However, it was ultimately Joe’s responsibility to safeguard them both.

A Traumatic Death, But a Serious Misstep

One day, Joe takes out a gun during an instance of his father abusing his mother, fatally shooting him. This is not meant as a tribute to the abuser, but rather a recognition that such a heavy burden should never have been placed on a child. The reason Raphael’s death does not rank higher in this context is because the flashbacks to Joe’s past may have led the audience to feel that being an abuser and murderer might not have been entirely Joe’s fault. However, it’s important to clarify that the blame lies squarely with Joe. His traumatic upbringing or the sympathy generated by exploring it do not absolve him of responsibility. He made a conscious choice to act on his impulses, aware of right and wrong. His past trauma cannot be used as an excuse for his actions.

9
Reagan Lockwood (Played by Anna Camp)

Killed by Maddie in Season 5

Joe mistakenly captures Maddie instead of Reagan, confuses the two sisters who had been investigating his and Kate’s (Charlotte Ritchie) criminal activities and were preparing to file charges against Henry (Frankie DeMaio). Realizing his error, he devises a plan to free Maddie while avoiding implicating himself. His idea is to manipulate Maddie into committing Reagan’s murder.

The Loss of a Twin’s Other Half

Following the confinement of Reagan alongside Maddie, Reagan deceives the kinder twin into administering insulin to kill her sibling and subsequently seizing control over her life. The incident leaves Maddie emotionally shattered. While Reagan may not have been an admirable individual, her demise was a grave injustice. Despite Joe sharing equal culpability, Maddie will bear the weight of Reagan’s death for eternity. She might find contentment with Harrison (Pete Ploszek) and Gretchen (Lillian Tardie), but she’ll need extensive therapy throughout her life, and even then, she’ll struggle to escape the consequences of her actions.

8
Natalie Engler (Played by Michaela McManus)

Killed by Love in Season 3

In Season 3, Joe’s neighbor catches his attention, but, much like other situations, it doesn’t slip by his wife unnoticed. When Love starts to convince herself that it’s merely a figment of her imagination and Joe is innocent, she stumbles upon a secret shoebox filled with Natalie’s mementos, including the underwear he had stolen. Unsurprisingly, Love feels driven to remove the competition and safeguard her apparently flawless family image. To achieve this, she lures Natalie into the basement of the bakery and brutally attacks her, striking her with an ax at the back of the neck.

You Never Know Your Neighbors

Throughout the season, Natalie’s passing cast a profound shadow, affecting the rest of the storyline deeply. Her demise left a lasting impact on her husband Matthew (Scott Speedman), pushing him towards despair and disrupting his bond with his son Theo (Dylan Arnold). Moreover, it set off a chain of events that almost cost Theo his life, as he became entangled in Love’s dangerous web. Unfortunately, Natalie, who lived next door to Joe, didn’t have much chance for survival. If not for Love taking her life, it would likely have been Joe who ended hers eventually.

7
Peach Salinger (Played by Shay Mitchell)

Killed by Joe in Season 1

The tragic demise of Peach is especially heart-wrenching due to her near revelation about Joe. He managed to deceive everyone in Beck’s circle, except for Miss Salinger. Regrettably, given her position as a barrier between Joe and his romantic obsession, she was destined for peril from the outset. However, she did not back down quietly; instead, she put up a fierce resistance. Remarkably, it took Joe two attempts to end her life. Initially, while she was jogging, he struck her with a rock. In the second instance, he shot her at her family estate and orchestrated her death to appear as a suicide.

One of You‘s Best Characters

In simpler terms, Peach was often seen as elitist and domineering, particularly towards Beck, but her death at the hands of a psychopath like Joe was unjustified. It was enraging to witness a dangerous individual like him escape justice for taking an innocent life. Moreover, Peach’s absence on the show is deeply felt, as her complex and intriguing character was one of the standout personalities, with Mitchell delivering a remarkable performance in her role.

6
Forty Quinn (Played by James Scully)

Killed by Officer Fincher in Season 2

forty played a significant role in nearly revealing joe’s identity. Unfortunately, Officer Fincher (Danny Vasquez) ended up taking forty’s life when he went to Anavrin armed with a gun, intending to warn love about her boyfriend. The news of forty’s death was devastating. Despite his shortcomings, forty was a likable character who hid a wellspring of goodness beneath his exterior.

A Tragic Character All Around

Following a challenging, melancholic existence filled with hardships, his death carries an even greater sense of sorrow. At a tender age, he was sexually exploited by his babysitter, a fact he struggled to accept throughout his life. His battles with substance abuse were persistent. Regrettably, those around him failed to offer the necessary support and intervention, instead enabling his self-destructive behavior. Despite his family’s wealth, he never received the help he desperately needed. Tragically, even his own twin sister exploited his mental health issues and addiction, portraying him as unstable whenever he attempted to expose Joe’s wrongdoings. Ultimately, whether it was Fincher who pulled the trigger or not, Love and Joe share a significant portion of the blame for this untimely demise.

5
Love Quinn (Played by Victoria Pedretti)

Killed by Joe in Season 3

When Love stumbles upon a bloodstained t-shirt in Henry’s trash bin, she deduces that he might have murdered Ryan (Scott Michael Foster) due to his affection for Marienne (Tati Gabrielle). There’s no anger like the anger of a woman betrayed, especially when that woman is capable of killing. Following her revelation, Love prepares an extravagant meal for her husband and incapacitates him with poison, hoping to make him slow down so she can win his love once more. She also intended for him to witness her killing Marienne, but after a moving conversation with the librarian, she recognizes that Joe was the source of the problem. Just as Love is about to end his life with a newly sharpened knife, he strikes her with a poisoned needle, outwitting her and administering an antidote.

An Amy Dunne-esque Character

In a captivating and engaging manner, Love was a character who was both unpredictable and perilous. She could easily be labeled as a psychopathic killer. Yet, she was adored by fans for her intricate and multifaceted nature. Her demise was undeniably sorrowful. If she had continued to torment Joe in future seasons, it would have made for an enthralling spectacle. It’s regrettable that her character’s full potential wasn’t realized. Victoria Pedretti delivered one of her finest performances as this Amy Dunne-like figure. Farewell, Love Quinn, you will always be remembered!

4
Eddie (Played by Brad Alexander)

Killed by Joe in Season 4

In the final episode, after spending the entire season deceiving himself into thinking he could be a decent person and hiding his innate cruelty, Joe carries out one of his most horrific acts. As soon as he realizes that Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) and another student, Eddie, are on to him, Joe takes two strategic steps ahead. While Nadia searches for incriminating evidence in his apartment, Eddie stands watch outside. Upon returning outside, she encounters Eddie’s lifeless body with a knife planted in her hand, which Joe uses to frame her and send her to prison.

A Life Gone Too Soon

Amidst a time overflowing with affluent, elite individuals, the demise of the young, kind-hearted author was undeniably heartbreaking. He had a lifetime of potential ahead of him, and his budding romance with Nadia never truly blossomed as it ought to have. They both deserved so much more than what life gave them. Fortunately, Nadia found her liberation in the last season, but the hardships she endured, including Eddie’s passing, would forever remain a part of her journey.

3
Candace Stone (Played by Ambyr Childers)

Killed by Love in Season 2

Among Joe’s first known romantic partners (with many others possibly unknown) is Candace, who reappeared alive in the finale of Season 1 after being believed dead throughout the season. This revelation shocked Joe deeply and prompted him to flee to Los Angeles. Unbeknownst to him, he had buried her alive. Fueled by anger and a thirst for vengeance, Candace spent Season 2 relentlessly pursuing Joe in an attempt to expose his crimes. In the season’s most shocking turn of events, Love ended up killing Candace to shield Joe, demonstrating her own ruthless, murderous nature, mirroring that of her lover.

Justice for Candace

As a fervent admirer looking back, the realization that Candace – a woman who endured unimaginable torment at Joe’s hands – met her untimely demise was nothing short of heart-wrenching. It was agonizing to witness a beacon of resilience in the face of domestic violence succumb to such an unjust fate, especially when she had been steadfast in her pursuit of justice against a serial abuser like Joe. While it may have been Love who delivered the fatal blow, the blood on Candace’s throat is as much on Joe’s hands for his role in creating the environment that led to her death. If he truly sought redemption, Joe would have surrendered himself to justice instead of continuing down a path that ultimately claimed Candace’s life. Regrettably, there seems little hope for men like Joe to find redemption.

2
Guinevere Beck (Played by Elizabeth Lail)

Killed by Joe in Season 1

As soon as Guinevere Beck stepped into Mooney’s bookstore, she was irresistibly captivated. Joe instantly develops an unhealthy obsession, erroneously perceiving a casual interaction as a romantic destiny from a romantic comedy. After following her, intruding on her life, and causing harm to those close to her, Joe eventually brings Guinevere into his control. At the pinnacle of their relationship, she discovers his unsettling collection of keepsakes. When Joe learns about her discovery, he imprisoned her in a glass enclosure, claiming it was meant to help her comprehend his affection and ensure he could trust her completely.

The One Who Almost Got Away

Since she could no longer return his love after discovering his hideous nature, he ended her life. The book’s readers knew that the aspiring writer was fated to be a sorrowful figure, yet her demise still tugged at their heartstrings. In her final moments, Beck lay by a urinal, held captive by the man who exploited and deceived her into loving him, fearing for her survival. Her death struck even deeper because she almost managed to outwit Joe and escape that basement. The fifth season’s finale provides a sense of fulfillment as Joe is finally prosecuted for his crime, and her book is reissued without any modifications or alterations from him.

1
Delilah Alves (Played by Carmela Zumbado)

Killed by Love in Season 2

Among all the tragic events in the story of ‘You’, Delilah’s demise stands out as the most heart-wrenching. Originally introduced as Joe’s property manager, Delilah resides with Ellie (Jenna Ortega), her younger sister whom she has taken care of since childhood. Initially finding Joe off-putting, they later form a bond, sharing confidences. Delilah even reveals to Joe that she was sexually assaulted by Henderson (Chris D’Elia) when she was a teenager. Her intuition becomes active when Fincher alerts her about Joe, hinting at his suspicion that he may have played a role in Henderson’s death.

A Tragic Loss for Ellie

Delilah’s prying resulted in a dangerous situation known as “the glass confinement,” where Joe imprisoned her. Regrettably, Love ended up taking Delilah’s life. This left Ellie exposed and defenseless in the world, as she lost her primary guardian figure. Neither of them deserved such a harsh fate. Delilah had just started recovering from her ordeal and found the courage to express herself. It’s heartbreaking to imagine what became of Ellie without her sibling. Once more, Love was responsible for the death, but one could argue that Joe also shares blame.

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2025-05-03 02:04