Joe Goldberg's Horrific Finale: The Moment You'll Never Forget!

Warning: Spoiler Ahead: This narrative reveals plot twists from the final episode of “You,” which can currently be found on Netflix.

I’m thrilled to see that Joe Goldberg, the captivating yet deadly character played by Penn Badgley in the Netflix series “You”, has been apprehended and will stay locked up this time. In the final episode of the show, a blend of stalker, romantic comedy, and thriller elements, Joe’s victims band together to ensure he faces justice, trapping him in a cage that he won’t be able to manipulate or escape from ever again.

As I dive back into the story in Season 5, I find myself reunited with Joe, who’s now happily married to the wealthy Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie). With her family’s substantial wealth, she’s managed to reclaim Joe’s son Henry (Frankie DeMaio) from the adoptive parents he was left with at the end of Season 3. This was after Joe, on the run and a free man again, had taken drastic measures, including murdering Henry’s mother, Love Quinn (Victoria Pedretti). Now that Joe is back in New York City, he yearns to build a family life with Kate and Henry.

Joe continues his journey in married life once more, finding solace in writing a fresh vampire tale to channel his aggressive tendencies. However, it seems as though he’s leaving his past behind, his tranquility is disrupted when he encounters Bronte, a captivating woman aspiring to enter the bookstore business. Despite an uneasy feeling that she appears too perfect, Joe initiates an affair with her. Later on, he learns that his intuition was correct; Bronte is actually a person named Louise, who adopted the “Bronte” persona in an attempt to uncover the truth about her friend and mentor, Guinevere Beck.

Despite Louise/Bronte and her companions managing to capture Joe on film as he murdered Clayton Angevine, son of Dr. Nicky from Season 1, a tragic turn of events ensued as Bronte developed feelings for Joe, ultimately testifying on his behalf and securing his release. With Bronte seemingly powerless to bring down Joe herself, Kate steps in, initiating actions that led to Joe’s former student Nadia being released from prison and enlisting Marienne, Joe’s ex-girlfriend turned victim, to aid her in exacting revenge on Joe.

In our secret mission under the bookstore, Nadia, Kate, and I managed to ensnare Joe in a trap of his own making, capturing incriminating confessions that cleared my name and pinned Love’s murder on him instead. However, the crafty fellow broke free from his cage with plans to flee with Bronte and Henry (if he could wrestle them away from Kate’s firm grasp). Little did Joe know, we had already reached out to Louise and persuaded her to betray him.

While Louise and Joe embark on their journey to start a new life together, they decide to halt at a remote cabin for the night. On the brink of intimacy, Louise confesses her deep emotional bond with Beck, both as a friend and a mentor. She then compels Joe, under threat of a gun, to remove his contributions from Beck’s book, “The Dark Face of Love.” Despite deleting himself from the book, Joe attempts to grab the weapon, leading to a violent altercation.

In a state of nudity and covered in blood, Joe pursues a terrified Louise into the forest, where they have one final confrontation. In the chaos, Louise somehow manages to summon help by calling the police. As sirens fill the air, Joe pleads with Louise to kill him. She declines, but in the ensuing struggle, she ends up shooting him. The bullet hits his private area, rendering him impotent. Arrested and cuffed, Joe is taken away, now without his manhood, facing a lifetime behind bars.

In the final episode of “You”, Joe finds himself solitary in his cell, perusing fan letters and Norman Mailer’s “The Executioner’s Song”. Pondering, he asks himself, “Why am I trapped when these individuals pen such depraved acts they yearn for me to commit?” Already knowing the answer, Joe muses, “Perhaps the issue isn’t with me. Perhaps it’s you.

Thus concludes the acclaimed Netflix series, initially produced by Sera Gamble and Greg Berlanti and first aired on Lifetime in 2018, before finding new life on the streaming platform after its cancellation. Spanning five seasons, “You” served as a witty critique of romantic literature, a condemnation of harmful masculinity, and predominantly, an exploration of the enigmatic character played by Badgley, Joe Goldberg. Despite his alluring qualities, Joe’s psychosis was always lurking beneath the surface, a fact that viewers who found themselves drawn to him were frequently made to question or even mock throughout the series. However, any lingering doubts about Joe were decisively addressed in his final narration.

Prior to the final episode of “The You” series, EbMaster sat down with co-showrunners Justin Lo and Michael Foley to discuss why character Beck plays such a significant role in Season 5, the motivations behind Joe’s literary preferences, and how the writers managed to find an appropriate ending for our beloved loathsome antagonist.

Was prison the plan for Joe all along?

Michael Foley: Our overall strategy was that Joe wouldn’t escape the consequences of his actions, and he would receive retribution. The specific method of apprehension versus death, etc., was a matter decided right up until the end. For our last season, we pondered: “What should happen to Joe?” He shouldn’t be able to evade his crimes. We don’t aim for redemption; instead, we want him to encounter those he harmed. Above all, we wanted him to confront himself.

Our intention as Sera, Greg, and the rest of us writers, was to portray Joe in such a way that everyone would be jolted awake to what we’ve been implicitly supporting. We didn’t want him to escape the consequences of his actions. He wouldn’t be able to ride off into the sunset peacefully, forever.

Louise asks Joe what ending he deserves. What conversations did the writers have about the ending Joe deserves?

Justin Lo: Neil Reynolds, a member of our team, suggested that we dedicate two days over the weekend for personal reflection on what we believe Joe deserved. On Monday morning, we’d gather together and each person would share their thoughts without interruptions or comments, giving everyone a chance to express themselves freely.

that evening, we developed our views, and the following day, we found ourselves in a position to discuss everything extensively. It was quite emotional, with some tears shed. People held strong feelings about it, sharing their personal stories. The decision-making process stretched right up until the last moment, but from then on, we had an abundance of valuable ideas to draw upon. That was the crux of our entire process.

Given that he’s previously manipulated the system — he even boasts about it to Louise in the finale — how is prison a satisfying ending for Joe?

Foley: During our discussions, we concluded that death was too simple an option, and what we truly needed was Joe confined in a cage. The idea wasn’t merely for the striking visual, but also to deny him the sensation of being loved. Besides taking away his liberty, it would be even more tormenting for him to conclude the series isolated.

In prison, we see Joe reading letters from fans and turning his nose up at them. Can you talk about the fan letters and why he was so dismissive of them?

A significant part of Joe’s self-deception is his belief that others would support him. Despite being unmasked, some individuals still express their admiration for him. This disdain he feels towards them stems from his belief in his superiority. It’s a subtle critique of the audience, yet it also emphasizes that Joe ultimately won’t be held responsible for his actions. The blame is always shifted onto others, never himself.

Initially, there was a suggestion that he might develop an obsession with someone from amongst his letter-writers. However, we decided to expand the conclusion by having him address the audience directly, rather than engaging in conversation with just one specific correspondent.

What did you want to explore by putting Joe in a position of wealth and power in Season 5?

In this rephrased version: Throughout the entire series, Joe has consistently criticized wealth and privilege, yet he benefits from his white status. In the fifth season, we aimed to explore this further by providing him with financial resources. Unfortunately, he misuses his privileged position in a harmful manner.

A number of Joe’s previous victims, including Nadia and Marienne, return for Season 5. Why did you want to revisit their stories?

I: It was essential for us to provide a platform for these women, the victims of Joe, to share their experiences. To confront him outside his cage, allowing them to express what he had done to them and witness if he would accept responsibility for his actions. Beyond that, Nadia and Marienne were characters we deeply cared about. We yearned to offer them a chance to conclude their stories in a fulfilling manner.

We also revisit Beck in the finale. Why was it important to center her in Season 5?

By involving the audience deeply when Joe murdered Beck, and requesting everyone to come back for Season 2, we as creators placed a significant burden on them. It’s not that we disliked Peach or Benji, but ultimately, our initial mistake – rooting for Joe despite his actions – was one that the audience unknowingly participated in by continuing to watch and support the show.

It seemed fitting to us that since he returned to New York, we would complete our journey by revisiting the initial wrongdoing – not only murdering Beck, but also taking her voice. This idea evolved into incorporating “The Dark Face of Love,” where Louise restores her voice by undoing what was done to the book by him.

Louise has another great moment in the finale, with Joe at gunpoint in the yard. What went into writing her monologue?

Louise saw right through Joe. Despite his claims, he’s not a feminist; in fact, he undermines feminism by stripping women of power. He attempts to dictate what they should become, effectively shaping their identities – a thing that is truly repugnant.

How much of “The Dark Face of Love,” Beck’s book, is actually written?

In the show, we intentionally didn’t reveal much of what Joe was redacting because it wasn’t important for the audience to see. During the series finale, if you were to inspect the book, you might notice some Latin, repetitive pages, and other nonsensical text. To make sure that when Joe turned the pages while being filmed from behind, he would land on ones that could be redacted, we collaborated closely with our props team member who was responsible for the on-set props during the redaction scenes.

Throughout Season 5, we see Joe working on a vampire novel. When did he get into fantasy?

Joe starts exploring genre writing, channeling his fantasies about murder into stories rather than actions – he finds it’s the easiest approach. We wanted to emphasize at the outset of the season that Joe is not a deep or skilled writer in any way, so that explains why he chooses this route initially.

Later on, he encounters Bronte, who appreciates gloomy, romantic literature and is fond of genre fiction. We could exploit this preference and incorporate hints of “Dracula” to align with the theme of Joe transforming into a monster. In Episode 9, when he sinks his teeth into his own arm, that scene perfectly encapsulated our vision.

What went into creating the sequence where Joe is naked, bloody, and chasing Louise through the pouring rain?

As a passionate film enthusiast, I can’t help but express my admiration for how Penn pushed for Joe to reach his most terrifying peak in the series finale. He exclaimed, “I want the audience to witness the culmination of what they’ve been rooting for. Let’s make him as horrifying and beastly as we can.” That’s why we see Joe stripped of civilization, and that’s also why there’s blood everywhere.

As a film aficionado, I’ve always noticed that the character’s violence towards women has been subtly hinted rather than directly shown. However, in intimate settings like his bedroom and the lawn, his brutality towards Louise is unapologetically stark. It was a chilling portrayal of his true nature, leaving no room for ambiguity as he laid bare his monstrous essence, leaving us all shuddering with the raw truth: “He’s an abominable beast.

“You” has a long-running relationship with pop music, and we hear “Guilty as Sin?” in Episode 10. Why was that the right Taylor Swift song for the finale?

The focus wasn’t primarily on the message but rather on aligning with the mood of the moment. For instance, at the end of Season 4, we had “Anti-Hero,” a subtle nod to our viewers that was less about directly conveying the series’ message and more about creating an ominous atmosphere. The song choice for this cover, which had a slightly discordant melody and lyrics, mirrored the somber tone we intended to leave our audience with.

Cardi B pops up a few times during Season 5 via social media. How did her part in the series come together?

Foley: It started because they had become acquainted on social media and appreciated each other’s work. When we were planning Episode 7, we felt the excitement about Joe Goldberg would be huge, so we thought, “Why not invite Cardi B to join in the excitement? There was absolutely no resistance when we approached her.”

Or:

Foley: They found each other on social media and admired each other’s work. For Episode 7, we believed the buzz around Joe Goldberg would be immense, so we thought, “Cardi B would make a great addition to the excitement! There was no friction at all when it came to inviting her.”

Or:

Foley: They discovered each other through social media and valued each other’s work. When planning Episode 7, we anticipated a massive response about Joe Goldberg, so we thought, “Cardi B would be the perfect fit to amplify the excitement! There was no resistance when it came to involving her.

What will you miss most about working on “You?”

Foley: This marks my 10th show, and it’s unique because the writers have remained consistent throughout its run. We’re a tight-knit team. Apart from the writers, who genuinely care for one another, Penn is simply extraordinary. There isn’t a more ideal top billing than Penn Badgley on the call sheet.

The team of writers was truly exceptional, creating an atmosphere that was both emotional and supportive despite the show’s dark themes. Mike’s assessment of Penn as an outstanding leader rings true – he’s not just diligent but also socially conscious. This series combines my favorite aspects of television: it’s intelligent, humorous, suspenseful, and sensual. Few shows manage to achieve such a successful blend of these elements.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

2025-04-26 02:48

Joe Goldberg’s Horrific Finale: The Moment You’ll Never Forget!