The twisted tale of Joe Goldberg has officially reached its conclusion. The fifth and final season of You, Netflix’s hit psychological thriller starring Penn Badgley, is now streaming — and yes, it gives Joe the ending many viewers have been waiting for. Badgley reprises his role as Joe, a seemingly sensitive, book-loving romantic who consistently leaves a trail of bodies behind him. But does he finally face justice? Is this the end of the road for one of streaming’s most disturbingly charming villains? Warning: Spoilers ahead for Season 5 of You.
Season 5 brings Joe full circle, returning him to New York City. This time, he’s living a glossy, high-profile life with his wife Kate (Charlotte Ritchie), a wealthy and powerful businesswoman, and their young son Henry (Frankie DeMaio). Thanks to Kate’s influence, Joe becomes a minor celebrity — gracing magazine covers and schmoozing at elite social events as the perfect husband. But beneath the polished exterior, things are far from perfect. Joe grows increasingly disconnected and discontent, and when he meets Bronte (Madeline Brewer), a mysterious woman with a passion for literature and a troubled past, he slips back into old habits, and they begin an affair.
Just as it seems Joe might be spiraling into familiar territory, the show delivers a major twist: Bronte isn’t who she says she is. Her real name is Louise — and she’s got a personal vendetta. Louise was close friends with Beck (Elizabeth Lail), Joe’s first known victim from Season 1, and she’s spent years trying to uncover the truth about her death. With the help of a group of amateur internet sleuths, Louise sets a trap. Her friend Dominique (Natasha Behnam) manages to film Joe committing another murder — and the footage is live-streamed for the world to see. The fallout is swift. Joe’s public image is destroyed, and the tabloids dub him “Joe Goldmurderer.”
Yet even as Louise’s plan unfolds, things get complicated. She begins to waver, unsure if Joe is truly the monster she believed him to be. Their twisted romance deepens, and she agrees to run away with him — though she’s still determined to get answers about Beck. Their escape ends at a secluded house, where Louise confronts Joe at gunpoint. A violent struggle ensues, leading to a frantic chase through the woods. Both are wounded. Louise manages to call the police, who apprehend Joe before he can vanish again.
The series ends with a voiceover from Louise, revealing that Joe was finally put on trial and sentenced to prison. The final shot is chilling: Joe, shaved head and clad in a jumpsuit, sitting alone in a cell. But in true Joe fashion, he still refuses to fully own up to his actions. He reads love letters from obsessed fans and broods over what he perceives as unjust punishment. “So in the end, my punishment is even worse than I imagined,” he narrates. “The loneliness, oh my god, the loneliness. No hope of being held…this is forever. It’s unfair, putting all of this on me. Aren’t we all just projects of our environment? Hurt people hurt people.” As he reads one particular letter, he asks himself: “Why am I in a cage when these crazies write me all the depraved things they want me to do to them? Maybe we have a problem as a society.” As Radiohead’s “Creep” plays, Joe’s voice delivers one final, chilling thought: “Maybe the problem isn’t me… maybe it’s you.”
Fans have had mixed reactions to the finale. Some argue that the ending, while satisfying in terms of justice, felt more like a lecture than the thrilling conclusion they had hoped for. “After all the thrill, the globetrotting, the gruesome murders, some fans feel the finale went out less like a thrilling conclusion and more like a lecture they never signed up for,” noted one critic. Others praised the show for holding a mirror to its audience, forcing them to confront their own fascination with Joe’s character.
Throughout the season, Joe grapples with his past, haunted by the ghosts of his previous victims, including Guinevere Beck and Love Quinn. Despite his attempts to appear reformed, the darkness within him remains, culminating in a dramatic showdown with Bronte, who ultimately seeks to expose him. The series finale sees Joe finally facing the consequences of his actions, a moment that many viewers found cathartic.
As the dust settles, it becomes clear that Joe’s journey has not only been one of horror but also a commentary on society's obsession with flawed antiheroes. The final scenes, featuring Joe in prison, highlight the loneliness and despair that come with his choices, leaving audiences to ponder the deeper implications of his story.
In the end, Joe Goldberg’s fate serves as a cautionary tale, reminding viewers that true justice is not always about death but can also mean a lifetime of reflection and regret behind bars. The series wraps up with a powerful message about accountability, leaving fans to grapple with their own feelings towards the character they’ve followed for five seasons.
