Joe Goldberg is a chameleon. We know this. He’s been a bookstore manager in New York, a grocery clerk in LA, and a suburban dad in Madre Linda. But when the first teaser for YOU Season 4 dropped, the internet didn't care about the location. They cared about the face. Specifically, Joe Goldberg with beard was suddenly all anyone could talk about.
It wasn't just a bit of stubble. It was a full, thick, "I-teach-literary-theory-at-an-elite-university" beard.
Honestly, the look served a purpose. Penn Badgley, the man behind the monologues, has a face that screams "protagonist." But that jawline is distinct. If you're a serial killer trying to hide in London's high society as "Professor Jonathan Moore," a baseball cap isn't going to cut it anymore. You need a total rebrand. The beard provided that. It aged him. It made him look less like a guy who’d follow you into a dark alley and more like a guy who’d bore you to death talking about Dante’s Inferno.
The Professor Jonathan Moore Aesthetic
Season 4 took Joe to London. He wasn't just hiding; he was blending into the "eat the rich" crowd. The beard was the cornerstone of this new identity. Paired with tweed blazers, elbow patches, and those messy, longer curls, the look was a far cry from the clean-shaven, "innocent" boy-next-door vibe he cultivated in the early seasons.
Fans were split. Some people loved it. They thought the scruff added a layer of rugged maturity that Joe desperately needed. Others? Not so much. On Reddit, some viewers joked that he looked like he hadn't showered in weeks, while others argued it was his most "distinguished" era yet.
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But why did it matter so much? Because in Joe’s world, every physical change is a lie.
Why the Beard Was a Narrative Tool
The beard wasn't just a style choice by the hair and makeup department. It represented Joe’s attempt to bury his past. In London, he wasn't looking for "the one"—at least, that’s what he told himself. He was trying to be a bystander. The facial hair acted as a physical barrier between the "old Joe" and this new, intellectual persona.
Interestingly, Penn Badgley has a history with beards. He famously grew one during his Gossip Girl hiatus years ago, telling Vulture at the time that he knew "everybody hates it" but he just wanted to try it out. Fast forward to 2023, and that same polarizing facial hair became the official uniform for one of Netflix's most popular characters.
It worked because it was jarring. When we see a clean-shaven Joe, we see the killer. When we saw Joe Goldberg with beard, we saw the mask.
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The Big Shave: Symbolism in Part 2
If you watched the full season, you know the beard didn't last forever. The moment Joe "returned" to his true self—or rather, accepted the darkness he’d been hallucinating away—the beard had to go. Shaving is a classic cinematic trope for a reason. It’s a reveal.
When Joe finally stood in front of that mirror and took the clippers to his face, it wasn't just grooming. It was the death of Jonathan Moore. The clean-shaven face that emerged was the Joe Goldberg we met in Season 1: cold, calculated, and ready to play the game again.
Getting the Look (If You’re Into That)
Look, despite Joe being a literal murderer, people still want to emulate the style. It's a classic academic look. If you’re trying to grow a similar "Jonathan Moore" beard, here’s the reality of what it takes:
- Patience: This wasn't a two-week growth. This was a solid two to three months of letting it fill in.
- Maintenance: Even though it looked "natural," it was clearly shaped around the cheeks to keep it from looking too wild.
- The Hair Connection: You can't have the beard without the length on top. The balance between the facial hair and the shaggy curls is what made it work.
The beard was a costume. It was a tool of manipulation. For a few episodes, it almost made us believe Joe could be a different person. But as the season finale proved, no amount of facial hair can hide what’s underneath.
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If you're looking to refresh your own style based on the show, focus on the "refined professor" vibe rather than the "hiding from my crimes" vibe. Stick to the tweed and maybe keep the beard a bit shorter for a more modern, less suspicious look.
Check out the Season 4 wardrobe details if you want to see how they paired the grooming with those high-end London layers. It’s a masterclass in using appearance to shift a narrative—even if that narrative is a lie.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to track Joe's evolution further, go back and compare his Season 1 "bookstore" look to his Season 5 teasers. You’ll notice the grooming reflects his level of power and control in each city. For those wanting to replicate the beard, invest in a quality beard oil to keep the texture soft rather than "stalker-scraggly."