YOU review – Hampsie (404)

Whoever writes this season of YOU is really a murder mystery fanatic because I feel like Joe Goldberg and I have just been dropped into a huge game of Clue… on designer drugs.

The last installment, YOU Season 4, Episode 4 takes us on a field trip to “Hampsey,” where the elite group aims to hide while avoiding the eat-the-rich killer. Of course, locking up a bunch of empty, selfish, and privileged psychopaths in a very large castle is a recipe for disaster—and that’s what made this one of the best episodes of the season so far.

Joe set out on the journey with one goal in mind—to find out which one he was You aka his stalker and killer, but he finds himself uncovering much more than he bargained for in a murder mystery within a murder mystery dinner. No, I’m serious, these people think it’s a good idea to have a murder mystery dinner while there’s a killer on the loose. It is so on the nose, it actually makes sense.

Joe also grew closer to Kate than he ever expected, while Roald shot straight to the top of the suspect list. Not to mention that the episode ended with a murder, but that wasn’t nearly as shocking as the reveal of the person holding the murder weapon.

But let’s back it up a bit, because the episode opens with Joe being questioned by the police…again. While it definitely seemed like the elite group was hoping Jonathan would be caught, the police were quite taken aback by his charming personality and the fact that the tip he gave them proved to be fruitful. He’s not off the hook yet, but he’s definitely not their top priority, which works in his favor for now.

He was quite shocked to get an invitation to the farmhouse, but Phoebe had asked him, so it wasn’t all that unusual. We already know she has a soft spot for Joe. However, he later learned that this was not a pity invitation from Phoebe, but rather a suggestion from Roald, who seems to have adopted a “keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer” attitude when it comes to ” Jonathan.”

While there are some redeeming members of the elite group, the majority of them are absolutely horrible and downright horrible people. Privilege oozes from them as they truly believe they are better than the rest of the world because of their undeserved wealth. Gemma in particular feels that being rich allows her to treat the staff as her personal servants, as we’ve seen her belittle them at every turn. It was disgusting to watch, but it also proved that there was no shortage of people who would want them – and her— dead. So when she was the next to show up gutted with a knife, it wasn’t the least bit shocking.

Roald’s attitude and behavior were not as extreme as Gemma’s, and much of it could be attributed to jealousy. He didn’t want much to do with Joe, dismissing him as some lost mutt the group adopted and couldn’t shake, but over time we learned that his hatred stemmed from his obsession with Kate. In fact, the obsession was so deep that Joe even found her pictures on his camera particularly creepy. I’ll say it again – Joe was troubled by the stalking nature of someone else.

At this point, Roald checks off too many boxes – not only does he have a pursuer, but he has motive and opportunity, and we know he’s dangerous and capable because he hits Joe not once, but twice.

The first time, he pointed a hunting weapon at the back of Joe’s head, but was interrupted by Kate, who looked quite shaken. I don’t think he would have called the shot, but she certainly didn’t believe it was possible, which was further proof that he was no better off considering killing someone. The thought has definitely crossed his mind, and that’s half the battle.

The second time he finds Joe lurking around his room, Roald actually commits an act of violence by pushing him out the second floor window – meaning he’s definitely capable of killing. He didn’t even check on Joe to see the extent of the damage.

Joe survived, thankfully (and yes, I realize I’m rooting for Joe this season, but honestly, how could I not?), but it pissed him off. Before he could even process the chain of events, he heard a scream and went looking for Kate. There is an unspoken chemistry between Joe and Kate that definitely surprised them both. I guess there really is a fine line between love and hate… and it’s possible that he found his true soulmate because she was the one holding the bloody knife and standing over Gemma’s lifeless body.

Here we go again folks. Perhaps? Possibly.

As I mentioned before, Gemma’s death wasn’t the least bit shocking, but Kate’s possible involvement kicks things into a higher gear. There are a million ways this could play out, though, and like the cliffhanger from the previous episode, my guess is that this is once again a bad situation. I don’t think Kate is the next love because that wouldn’t be very exciting now would it? It’s more plausible that Kate found Gemma already dead and picked up the murder weapon just as Joe walked in than the theory that Kate actually committed the crime.

But there’s no denying that it doesn’t look good on her.

And Joe has to play it so smart because he can’t reveal that he knows exactly what to do to cover it up and clean up the body because that would reveal too much about him.

If you think about it, they’re playing this cat and mouse game because neither of them has been completely honest with the other about who they are.

Kate is different from the other women Joe has dated or even fallen in love with. The attraction wasn’t immediate, nor did he pursue Kate in hopes of finding romance. He didn’t even obsess over her the same way he did with the others. This season, among all the crazy, Joe actually seems normal, and that’s a scary thought. It’s so easy to forget all the sins of his past, so in a way it’s good You holds him somewhat accountable.

Kate possesses darkness and coldness, but is still shrouded in so much mystery. We think we know she’s innocent, but we don’t really know what she’s capable of, just that she’s trying to become a better person and is terribly ashamed of the fact that her father is one of the richest men on the planet, who has made his profits off the backs of innocent people.

They’re also alike in the damage they’ve suffered, both wanting to do better as they find themselves drawn deeper into this chaotic world.

The only reason we learned the truth about Kate was because of Roald, who took pleasure in revealing her “true identity” to Joe, or at least hinting that there was more to the story. Honestly, it’s no surprise that she despises him so much and wants nothing to do with him romantically. Why would Roald think that a strong-willed woman like this would be with someone who didn’t value or respect her? If he really knew Kate as well as he says he does, he would have figured this out by now. She doesn’t want to be like the others in the group – she doesn’t want her family’s wealth to define her.

All of this will play a role in what happens next between Joe, Kate and Gemma’s body. And I have no doubt that it will be more than fun.

Gemma’s death will likely send our characters into a downward spiral and steal the spotlight from other storylines, including Phoebe’s discovery that Adam is cheating on her. She stumbles upon his conversation with one of the staff members who seems to have indulged in Adam’s sexual perversions in the past. I’m actually surprised she isn’t the next victim as she would have been tracked down with the eat the rich killer who took out the people harboring dark secrets and desires.

Rhys was not present at the escape into the countryside, but it is not impossible that he followed them all there. Joe expected the killer to be pulling him, but given all the security, it would be impossible for anyone to sneak in unless they knew the escape route into the home, which confirmed that it was definitely someone inside.

We still don’t have anything to do with the suspect, but we do know that the three dead – Malcolm, Simon and now Gemma – have all wronged Kate in some way. Kate is the center, she’s the focal point, and it’s entirely possible that these deaths are happening because of someone’s love for her.

Roald is the obvious choice because of his obsession, even calling Malcolm and Simon’s deaths “happy”, but no one would ever suspect Nadia. And I can’t shake the feeling that she’s somehow involved in this. Why else would she get so much screen time as an outsider? Unless she’s crucial to the second half of the season, I feel like there’s a reason to bring her in and get us and Joe to trust her.

We know she had a relationship with Malcolm, so there’s a chance she used him to get to Kate. Or maybe she is Kate’s long lost sister? Kate’s family history makes me think there are siblings we’re not considering in this scenario.

Plus there’s Nadia’s love letter to Malcolm, which Jo pulled out but didn’t read. We thought Joe was a decent gentleman and respected her privacy, but what if this would expose her sinister thoughts?

She was the one who got Joe to hook up with Rhys, so maybe she’s in contract with him this whole time?

It might be a little, but at this point the game is more than halfway through, and all of Joe’s “working theories” fell apart as quickly as he put them together.

Then again, maybe the twist is that this has been Kate all along, and she’s just removing the people who despised her side by side—she’s always said she never needed a man to save her, since she’s not a damsel in distress so maybe this is her way of taking matters into her own hands.

What do you think? What are your working theories? Do you find yourself on Joe’s side and rooting for him this season, or is it just me? Share them in our comments section below!