After five seasons of romance, obsession, stalking, and murder, Netflix's psychological thriller series You has officially come to an end. The final season, released on April 24, 2025, sees the twisted central character Joe Goldberg, played by Penn Badgley, facing the consequences of his horrific actions.
In the fifth season, Joe, now married to Kate (Charlotte Ritchie), finds himself in a powerful position, living a high-profile life that he had long desired. However, his dark past looms over him, threatening to upend the seemingly peaceful existence he has crafted. Despite managing to keep his nose clean for the first five years of his marriage, Joe's murderous instincts eventually resurface, leading to a bloody climax.
The season begins with Joe on the run from New York City after committing several heinous acts, including the murder of Dr. Nicky's son during a livestream, confessing to the murder of his wife Love (Victoria Pedretti), and leaving Kate for dead in the basement of his burning bookstore. As Joe tries to navigate his chaotic life, he becomes embroiled with Bronte (Madeline Brewer), a woman who initially enters his life as a catfish, hoping to expose him for the murder of her friend Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail).
Throughout the season, Bronte grapples with her growing feelings for Joe, despite knowing the monster he truly is. In a pivotal moment, she holds Joe at gunpoint, forcing him to edit his contributions to Beck's book, which he had manipulated for his own benefit. However, in a dramatic turn of events, Joe manages to overpower Bronte, leading to a violent confrontation where he attempts to drown her in a lake.
As the police close in, Bronte, who survives Joe's attack, corners him once more, ultimately shooting him in the genitals. This moment marks a significant turning point for Joe, who is arrested and later sentenced to life in prison for the murders of Beck, Love, and others, including Benji and Peach.
In the series finale, Joe finds himself confined to a prison cell, where he reflects on his actions while reading letters from admirers. His final voiceover is haunting: "Why am I in a cage when these crazies write me all the depraved things they want me to do to them? Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s you." This line, delivered while looking directly into the camera, serves as a chilling indictment of both Joe and the audience who have rooted for him throughout the series.
Co-showrunner Michael Foley explained that Joe's closing speech is meant to address society as a whole, highlighting the disturbing reality of viewers who have sympathized with a character who embodies toxic masculinity and abusive behavior. "We wanted to show him at his most horrific and make him face what he really is and, in doing so, make us all face what we’ve been rooting for all these years," Foley remarked.
While Joe's fate was sealed in prison, the finale also provided closure for several other characters affected by his actions. Kate, who survived the fire, left the Lockwood Corporation and is now raising her son Henry as an art dealer. Marianne (Tati Gabrielle) emerged from hiding to pursue her passion for art, while Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) returned home to write and teach incarcerated women.
Bronte, having survived her encounter with Joe, takes a stand by republishing Beck's book without Joe's edits, reclaiming her friend's narrative. In her closing narration, she reflects on her journey, stating, "My life doesn’t boil down to before and after him. Every day that passes, he shrinks. Eventually, he’ll just be some asshole I dated. I still have no idea who I want to be. But I can’t wait to find out." This powerful statement encapsulates the series' exploration of identity and the long-lasting impact of toxic relationships.
Penn Badgley, who portrayed Joe, expressed his satisfaction with the character's ending, emphasizing that killing Joe would not have been justice but rather vengeance. "I always thought somebody killing Joe wouldn’t be justice. It would be vengeance," he said. Badgley added that he was ready to move on from the character, acknowledging the complexity of Joe's nature and the brutal reality of his actions.
As You concludes, it leaves viewers with a haunting reminder of the consequences of obsession and the moral complexities that arise when rooting for a character like Joe Goldberg. The series has sparked conversations about accountability, toxic behavior, and the societal issues that allow such characters to thrive in fiction and reality.
In the end, Joe's story serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of romanticizing toxic behavior and the importance of recognizing the impact of one's actions on others. As he sits in his prison cell, surrounded by the very books and fan mail that once defined him, Joe Goldberg becomes a symbol of the darkness that can lurk beneath the surface of charm and charisma.
