‘You’ Season 4: Your Guide to This Season’s 14 New Characters

It’s official — production for You Season 4 has started. Today, Netflix revealed this season’s first behind-the-scenes photo of Penn Badgley on the London set of this upcoming installment. But that’s not all. Netflix also dropped the names and character descriptions of three new series regulars and 11 new recurring characters. We really are in a brand new land.

The last time we saw Joe (Badgley,) he had faked his death and fled to Paris, leaving behind his son. Well, it seems like Joe’s world tour is just beginning because the series has starting filming in England. In addition to Badgley, it was already announced that You Season 4 will star Tati Gabrielle (The 100), Charlotte Ritchie (Call the Midwife, Feel Good), and Lukas Gage (Euphoria). Here’s your guide to these new faces as well as their official character descriptions. Let the murders commence.

Tilly Keeper (EastEnders) as Lady Phoebe: As sweet and kind as she is rich, famous, and chaotic, Phoebe’s every bikini wax has been documented by the tabloids since she was 15 years old. An aristocratic socialite with an avid fan base, Phoebe’s true colors show when she’s alone with her friends. She’s a steadfast cheerleader, especially to American entrepreneur boyfriend Adam. She’s also a wild card: When misfortune strikes, will she rise to the occasion, or shatter?

Amy Leigh Hickman (The Dumping Ground) as Nadia: A literature major with a love of genre storytelling and the aspiration to be a serious author, Nadia’s outspokenness and intensity are a perfect cover for the insecurities carried by a young woman who’s never been accepted by her peer group. She’s made some big mistakes; now, they threaten to destroy her life. She’ll need help, even if it’s from the wrong people.

Ed Speleers (Downton Abbey, Outlander) as Rhys: Dry, irreverent Rhys is an author whose memoir garnered him acclaim and pressure to launch a political career. Born into poverty, Rhys lived a traumatic early life before he came into money, going to Oxford and making all the right friends. Now, he moves easily in any social circle, while also seeing through those around him. He doesn’t have much time for partying, though he enjoys staying in touch with his eccentric circle of friends. After all, they were there for him in his troubled youth.

That wraps up the new series regulars. But what about the more disposable characters? Here’s your guide to Season 4’s recurring stars/fodder for Joe’s murderous tendencies.

Niccy Lin (Official Secrets) as Sophie: Sophie is an entrepreneur in the body of a pampered jetsetter. Sure, it looks like she’s lying around in a bikini on social media, but every aspect of her feed represents cannily-negotiated high-end sponsorship deals. Underneath her whimsical exterior, Sophie is a watchful protector of her introverted artist brother, Simon.

Aidan Cheng (Devils, Harlots) as Simon: Simon is impossible to impress and abhors small talk and strangers. The Oxford-educated son of a Chinese technology magnate, Simon proved the world wrong when, despite his wealth and sheltered life, he proved himself an artist worthy of acclaim.

Stephen Hagan (Risen, Lucky Man) as Malcolm: Born to privilege, Malcolm is a literature professor who enjoys all the social perks of the job without working very hard. A drug-loving bon vivant, Malcolm’s friendliness can tip over into bullying if you resist. He’s dating brilliant, successful Kate, which speaks to his own intelligence and maturity. But he’s also seeing a few others on the side, which cancels out those bonus points.

Ben Wiggins (Anna and the Apocalypse, The Witcher) as Roald: Roald hails from an old aristocratic family whose names are on many an important building around Europe. He is attractive, stylish, and possessed of perfect manners, but there’s a certain cold calculation to Roald, not to mention rumors of a hidden dark side.

Eve Austin (Fearless) as Gemma: A member of a privileged circle of friends who met at Oxford, Gemma has never given a day’s thought to life beyond the next VIP event, fashion show, or date. She’s a fun friend to party with, but her insular and privileged life has rendered her shockingly tone-deaf and startlingly lacking in empathy towards those with less.

Ozioma Whenu (Ajar) as Blessing: A Nigerian princess with several post-graduate degrees, Blessing is an investor with a passion for cryptocurrency. Wry, fun-loving, unapologetically cliquish with her university friends, her carefree risk-taking in life and business has paid off time and again. What’s her secret? She believes we’re all living in a simulation, so only fools would stop themselves from doing whatever they want.

Dario Coates (Endeavour) as Connie: Connie attended Oxford with Kate and Phoebe’s friend group. He is upper-crust, posh, a sportsman gone soft. Loud, potty mouthed, loves betting, horses, drinking and cocaine. It’s safe to assume that Connie’s never had to face a negative consequence in his life.

Sean Pertwee (Dog Soldiers, Event Horizon) as Vic: Adam’s personal driver/dealer/security, proud and impeccably dressed Vic is loyal and keeps many of Adam and his friends’ secrets. He’s not afraid to get his hands dirty to protect them — the job always comes first. Outsiders are treated with polite but utter suspicion.

Brad Alexander as Edward: University student Edward’s dad owns a powerful news outlet. Edward is popular and used to being the smartest student in the room. He has a fierce rivalry with fellow student Nadia.

Alison Pargeter (Chernobyl, Catch-22) as Dawn: Dawn is not someone you’d notice in a crowd, and that helps with her work as a paparazzi photographer. But if you’re someone determined to avoid being captured on camera, well, Dawn could pose a problem.

Adam James (Vigil, I May Destroy You) as Elliot: World-weary, calm, grounded, allergic to drama, Elliot has lived in California for decades, but his job requires him to travel throughout Europe. Elliot’s employer is powerful, and Elliot always delivers, no matter how challenging the task.

Netflix even dropped some literary hints for this new season. It’s a teaser that would probably repulse Joe, but hey. The man is insanely judgmental.

On the chair seated beside Badgley, there are seven books. Some of those are ones you would expect to see based on Season 4’s UK location. Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist, Great Expectations, and Bleak House all deal with class struggles. Bleak House in particular explores those themes while also questioning the dangers of love versus passion. Based on those above character descriptions, it seems as though the divide between the haves and the have nots is going to be a huge theme this season, hence Dickens. Another huge theme seems to be celebrity, which is represented by William Makepeace Thackeray’s 1847 novel, Vanity Fair. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes makes an appearance, a necessary cameo for this series about murder and mysteries.

But it’s the remaining two books that are perhaps the most interesting. A Good Man in a Cruel World by Rhys Montrose can be seen. Based on Netflix’s descriptions, we can assume that’s the book Ed Speleers’ character wrote before launching into his political career. Then there’s one final unnamed book.

What is this blank book? Is it the great novel Nadia desperately wants to write? Is it another post-death exclusive like we saw from Beck (Elizabeth Lail) in Season 1? Has Joe tried his hand at capturing his own rampages using the written word? Or is the truth far more chilling than any of these options? No matter what it is, we’re hooked.

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