You Season 5: Did Joe’s Humiliating Fate Go Too Far or Just Miss the Mark?

Caution! Contains spoilers for season 5 of ‘You’! In the finale, it seemed Joe finally received his just desserts. However, one aspect of his ending felt slightly off-kilter. Given the limited possibilities for Joe’s conclusion in the Netflix show, I believe the writers made an appropriate choice. Some viewers had wished that the ruthless killer in ‘You’ might have suddenly found redemption and changed his ways, but I’m grateful it didn’t pan out that way. Spending his days in solitary confinement is precisely the fate Joe Goldberg deserved, and it was fitting that Bronte, Kate, and Nadia were instrumental in landing him there.

In the world of “You,” I found not every scene completely satisfying for me. The climax of season 5, the showdown between Bronte and Joe, was particularly intense. She even pointed a gun at her abuser. In a desperate bid to escape his fate, Joe pleaded with Bronte to end his life. However, death wouldn’t have been an easy way out for him; it would have spared him from having to confront the repercussions of his years of unrelenting violence. Despite Joe’s attempts to persuade her otherwise, Bronte saw through his manipulation. It was a poignant moment in the series, and then came the surprising twist—Joe getting shot in his most sensitive spot.

Convicting Joe Goldberg In You Season 5 Was Enough – Bronte Didn’t Need To Shoot His Penis

The Leg Would Have Been Just Fine

In a desperate attempt to evade arrest, Joe assaulted Bronte, which left the main character of the novel “You” with no other option but to shoot in self-defense. Regrettably, Joe survived, but the bullet ended up severing his penis. This act of violence can be seen as an extra form of punishment for this character. Not only was he destined for a life behind bars without any female companionship, but also without one of his vital organs. Yet, I can’t help but think that this extreme measure seemed unjustified and even contradictory.

Bronte Shooting Joe In The Groin Adds Humor That Doesn’t Fit You Season 5’s Ending

It’s Comedy Without The Meaningful Return

In the show “You,” there’s a blend of unsettling violence and humor, which makes the scene where Joe loses his penis not completely unexpected. However, the extreme nature of the event and the way it was portrayed in the montage slightly disrupted the balance. The fact that Joe’s humiliation for this incident felt more like a slapstick comedy routine detracted from the seriousness of the situation. This portrayal seems to undermine the strong character development of Joe in “You,” as his climactic confrontation with the character had been quite impactful up until then.

In the show “You”, Bronte functions as more of an idea or theme rather than a traditional character, embodying all the women Joe has wronged throughout the series. Characters like Beck and Love were unable to withstand confronting Joe about his actions. While Marienne and Kate managed to survive, they didn’t achieve what Bronte did in making Joe face his own shortcomings. The climactic moment in the ending of “You”, where Bronte ultimately gained control over Joe, was a powerful and symbolic triumph. However, it shouldn’t have been his manhood that she took from him. This change emphasizes the importance of accountability without resorting to physical harm.

This Aspect Of Joe Goldberg’s Fate Misses The Point Of His Entire Story

Joe Is Just As Dangerous Without THAT

It can’t be denied that Joe exhibits predator behavior, and his actions are undeniably influenced by sexual desires. In the novel “You”, Joe establishes romantic connections with women only to betray them in subtle ways. He engages in stalking, voyeurism in public places, and even steals personal items like underwear and used sanitary products. This is clearly a form of abuse. However, it’s important to note that Joe’s dangerousness wasn’t solely due to his physicality. Instead, his deep-seated misogyny, manifested in his belief that he was superior to typical misogynists, made him extremely harmful.

In the fifth season of You, losing his penis didn’t diminish Joe’s danger, as his brand of sexual violence wasn’t rooted in that body part. Conversely, spending the rest of his life with it might be a harsher punishment, as it would intensify the profound loneliness he will experience for the remainder of his existence. A more fitting justice for Joe in season 5 could have been unveiling him as a wealthy, elitist, misogynistic predator, which were the type of men he sought to eliminate. Leaving out his penis from the storyline might have been more appropriate.

2025-05-06 13:38