Who Is Joe's Stalker in Season 4
In You season 4, Joe Goldberg is stalked by a character named Rhys Montrose, a British aristocrat and former classmate who becomes dangerously obsessed with Joe. Rhys frames Joe for a series of murders in London, positioning himself as both a victim and a vigilante while manipulating public perception and law enforcement. The season explores how Rhys's fixation on Joe blurs the line between fan devotion and criminal obsession, echoing themes from previous seasons. The dynamic between Joe and Rhys is central to the season's tension, as each tries to outmaneuver the other while concealing their true motives. This storyline draws on real-world issues around celebrity obsession and toxic fan culture, a topic widely discussed in media coverage of the show. For background on the show's themes, see this overview from Forbes The Dark Side of Fame.
Rhys Montrose is portrayed by actor Ed Speleers, whose performance emphasizes charm masking calculated manipulation. The character is a Oxford-educated aristocrat with a history of violent behavior, which he uses to frame Joe for killings he commits himself. Rhys's obsession with Joe is rooted in a warped sense of kinship and admiration, making him a more personal threat than anonymous stalkers from earlier seasons. The show's writers use Rhys to examine how parasocial relationships can escalate into real danger, a theme supported by research on celebrity worship and mental health. For a deeper look at the psychology of obsession, see this article from Psychology Today Understanding Obsession.
Key Plot Points of the Stalker Storyline in Season 4
The stalker storyline begins when Rhys inserts himself into Joe's life in London, posing as a supportive friend while secretly documenting Joe's actions. Rhys orchestrates murders that mirror Joe's past methods, deliberately leaving clues that point to Joe as the perpetrator. This forces Joe to navigate a city-wide manhunt while trying to expose Rhys's true role in the killings. The season's midpoint reveals Rhys's dual identity as both the stalker and the copycat killer, raising the stakes for Joe and his allies. The plot also highlights how Rhys uses media and public sentiment to shape the narrative, turning Joe into a fugitive in the eyes of London's residents. For context on how streaming platforms shape such narratives, see this report from Variety You Season 4 on Netflix.
Rhys's manipulation extends to his interactions with Joe's new circle, including Love Quinn and their son, whom he uses as leverage to control Joe. The stalker storyline reaches its climax during a confrontation where Rhys's crimes are exposed, but not before causing significant fallout for Joe and those close to him. The resolution emphasizes the psychological toll of being hunted by someone who knows your patterns and vulnerabilities intimately. Season 4 also introduces a new generation of characters who reflect modern dynamics of online obsession, tying Rhys's behavior to broader cultural conversations about privacy and surveillance. For regulatory perspectives on privacy and data in media, see this overview from the FTC Protecting Personal Information.
How the Stalker Arc Compares to Previous Seasons
Unlike earlier seasons where Joe was the pursuer, season 4 inverts the dynamic by making him the