You season 4 introduces many new characters as the previous season sees Joe fake his own death and flee the country. Now he's in London, posing as a university professor and living under the name, Jonathan Moore. While trying to adjust to his new life, Joe/Jonathan begins falling into the same dangerous routines he used to.

In You season 4, Joe continues to follow Marienne Bellamy (Tati Gabrielle), tracking her across Europe. Mostly, however, he remains in London, set on cultivating his new identity. While doing so, he becomes close with a group of wealthy London socialites who invite him into their circle. In their circle, he meets Rhys Montrose, a mysterious but enticing individual who Joe attempts to get to know, as he does, but always seems to be on the back foot while confronting the man. It takes the whole season for the mysteries at play to finally be unveiled.

Rhys Montrose Is The Main Antagonist In You Season 4

Rhys Pins Multiple Murders On Joe

Rhys Montrose first appears in season 4, episode 1, "Joe Takes a Holiday". When Joe is invited to a party of wealthy elites, he stumbles into a room where he finds Rhys reclining. Rhys introduces himself as an author and an aspiring politician who, like Joe, had a difficult upbringing. The pair become bonded thanks to a shared history and how they are both outsiders when it comes to the wealthy British elite. However, Joe soon learns that Rhys is a serial murderer who intends to place the blame for his killings on Joe.

Rhys Turns Out To Be One Of Joe's Hallucinations

Joe Created Rhys Montrose To Hide His Dark Desires

As You season 4 goes on, Rhys reveals himself to be the killer behind the murders Joe is being blamed for, as well as all the taunting messages he's been receiving. However, it turns out there are two Rhys Montroses. One is the man Joe met at the party, a real person who wrote an autobiography about his sordid past and becoming a better person, and the other is a complete hallucination. This is Joe's alter ego, made up to look and act like Rhys, allowing Joe to commit acts of cruelty that the "reformed" Joe would hesitate to do.

In season 4, episode 7, "Good Man, Cruel World", Joe learns Rhys has abducted Marienne, and he abducts his rival and tortures him to figure out the whereabouts of Marienne. He is forced to kill Rhys only for "Rhys" to appear right next to him. The Rhys causing Joe this trouble, murdering people, and abducting Marienne is a figment of Joe's imagination. Horrified, Joe leaves to free Marianne.

How Rhys Montrose Affects Joe And You Season 5

Rhys Is Still A Part Of Joe Even After "Dying"

The revelation that Rhys Montrose is a figment of Joe's imagination completely rocks the character. Joe had believed himself partially cured of the tendencies he had struggled with and embraced in the past three seasons of You, but as the Rhys reveal proves, he never got over those predilections. He simply pushed them so far down in his mind, that they manifested into someone else so that he could absolve himself of guilt.

At the end of You season 4, after Joe "kills" Rhys by throwing him off a bridge, Joe seems to have overcome the demon that he created.

At the end of You season 4, after Joe "kills" Rhys by throwing him off a bridge, Joe seems to have overcome the demon that he created. However, while looking into a window, he sees a reflection Rhys staring back at him. You season 5 will show just how connected Rhys remains to Joe and whether it will be a continuing part of his struggle.