You Season 5 Ending Explained

Contains spoilers for “You” Season 5

As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but reflect on the final goodbye from Penn Badgley’s captivating character, Joe Goldberg, in the series “You”. It’s a bittersweet farewell to the alluring young woman, as Season 5 marked the end of this intriguing tale. Initially airing on Lifetime, it later found a new home on Netflix for Seasons 2 and beyond, following an obsessive man who found himself in love more times than one could count.

In truth, his love was so deep that it often led him down a precarious path, with stalking and murder becoming unwelcome companions. Yet, Joe’s intentions were always rooted in a twisted form of protection for the woman he adored at any given moment, even if his methods were far from innocent. After all, love can sometimes make us do things that might seem questionable to others.

1. It turned out that Joe lost interest in these women once their charm faded, which was merely a sign that he had found better opportunities elsewhere. He claimed it wasn’t his fault and tried to persuade both himself and the audience of this fact. The series “You,” spanning over five seasons, offered an inside look into the mind of a truly wicked man. Though Joe might have justified his actions, ultimately, he faced the consequences. Here’s what transpired at the end of “You” Season 5.

2. When the shine wore off for Joe with these women, it became clear that he had found new prospects to pursue. He attempted to convince himself and viewers that this wasn’t his fault. The show “You,” a gripping five-season drama, delved into the psyche of a very sinister character. Despite Joe’s attempts to make his actions seem acceptable, in the end, he paid the price for his misdeeds. Let me share what happened at the end of “You” Season 5.

3. The swift decline in Joe’s affection for these women once the novelty wore off was a sign that he had already set his sights on better prospects. He maintained that it wasn’t his fault, and tried to convince both himself and the audience of this. “You” was an enthralling five-season series that offered a glimpse into the mindset of a very dark individual. While Joe may have believed his actions were justified, ultimately, he faced the consequences for them. Here is what unfolded at the end of “You” Season 5.

4. As the charm faded with these women, it became evident that Joe had moved on to better things. He argued that it wasn’t his fault, and even attempted to persuade both himself and viewers of this fact. The popular series “You,” comprising five seasons, offered a fascinating exploration into the thoughts of a truly malicious character. Despite Joe’s efforts to make his actions seem innocent, he eventually had to face the repercussions for them. Let me tell you what occurred at the end of “You” Season 5.

5. It soon became apparent that Joe’s infatuation with these women waned once their appeal dwindled, suggesting that he had already found better prospects. He claimed it wasn’t his fault, and even attempted to persuade both himself and the audience of this. The critically acclaimed series “You,” spanning five seasons, delved into the psyche of a very dangerous individual. Though Joe may have thought his actions were excusable, in the end, he was held accountable for them. Here’s what took place at the conclusion of “You” Season 5.

What you need to remember about the plot of You Season 5

In Season 5, after numerous murders such as those of Beck (Elizabeth Lail), Peach (Shay Mitchell), Benji (Lou Taylor Pucci), and his ex-wife Love (Victoria Pedretti), Joe appears content. It’s been three years since Season 4, and he’s now married to Kate (Charlotte Ritchie). They reside in New York with their son, Henry (Frankie DeMaio). His fame has grown as they’ve graced magazine covers and gossip columns due to Kate’s rise as a renowned CEO and the public’s fascination with her relationship with Joe. While the murders he committed in Season 4 to achieve this success are not widely known, they do cast a shadow over his happiness.

When Kate asks Joe, who has a history of violence, to kill her “uncle” Bob because he’s causing trouble for her in the boardroom, it reminds Joe of how much he enjoys using force. He wants to eliminate more targets, specifically Kate’s tough sister Reagan, but Kate regrets her decision and refuses to entertain this idea.

Simultaneously, Joe encounters Louise Flannery, who poses as Bronte, at his bookstore, Mooney’s, which Kate had purchased for him. It’s later revealed that Louise was catfishing Joe with the intention of undermining him. However, after Joe ends up killing her friend, Clayton, due to his belief that she was truly in peril, she alters her approach. This shift in behavior culminates in Joe proposing to Bronte directly outside Mooney’s.

What happened at the end of You Season 5?

In a twist of events, Louise, or as Joe affectionately calls her, Bronte, develops feelings for Joe when he rescues her. However, during a casual stroll past Mooney’s, she encounters Marienne, the woman who Joe had tormented for weeks in a cage in London. This encounter leads Bronte to seek out Marienne and they have a conversation. Subsequently, an attempt on Joe’s life at Mooney’s by Kate, Nadia, and Marienne fails, and Maddie accidentally burns down the bookstore with Joe and Kate inside. Despite these events, Bronte saves Joe and they embark on a road trip together. However, Bronte’s feelings for Joe have waned, as she has been influenced by Marienne’s words. In an unexpected turn, when they begin to engage intimately in the house they are staying at, Bronte draws a gun on Joe from beneath the sheets.

In a different phrasing, here’s how the scene could be described: Joe consistently tries to undermine Bronte’s confidence, yet his son angrily reprimands him for mistreating Kate, labeling him as a monster. This incident leaves Joe feeling distraught and he feigns innocence. However, things take an unexpected turn. Joe chases Bronte through the forest, but she summons the police who arrive just as it starts to rain heavily. In this confrontation, Joe begs Bronte, who prefers to be called Louise again, to end his life, but instead, she shoots him in a critical area. Ultimately, Joe is imprisoned without any chance of parole. As he waits for his fate, after receiving a letter from a woman – one among many – expressing interest in him, he muses: “Perhaps the issue isn’t me; perhaps it’s you.

What the end of You Season 5 means

In essence, the final episode of “You” Season 5 serves as the series conclusion, implying that unchecked acts of murder will eventually catch up with a person, such as Joe, who exhibits no signs of stopping his killing spree. However, despite his imprisonment, Joe doesn’t seem to accept responsibility for his actions. Instead, he persists in blaming others and justifying his behavior by viewing himself as a romantic figure who acts wrongly for the right reasons. In his characteristic voice (as portrayed by Penn Badgley), Joe says, “Painful people inflict pain. I’ve never had a fair chance.” He fails to recognize his deceitful and manipulative nature, and he struggles to comprehend why taking lives in the name of protecting his family is morally wrong.

This television series has almost convincingly presented a possible motivation behind Joe’s criminal actions this season. In episode eight, titled “Folie a Deux,” we see Bronte confined Joe in his usual killing chamber, but she eventually realizes that he might not genuinely enjoy taking lives as he claims. Instead, it is suggested that he was conditioned to kill by his mother, who made him eliminate his father and later feared him because of it. Although it’s understandable that young Joe was a victim in this situation, there remains a question about whether or not Joe truly dislikes killing. Nonetheless, this theory offers the most plausible explanation for Joe’s behavior we’ve encountered so far, despite the fact that his motives may ultimately be irrelevant since he still must face consequences for his crimes.

Why didn’t Joe die?

Penn Badgley has openly stated that Joe Goldberg cannot be redeemed. In fact, he advocated for Joe’s demise on multiple occasions. However, as the series was wrapping up, a change of heart occurred due to a straightforward reason: It wouldn’t be just for whoever killed him. Badgley expressed his thoughts to Netflix’s Tudum, “Anyone who kills him would be brought down to his level, which is not fair for them. He’s puzzling in a way. What would justice for him look like? I believe we got as close as possible.” Co-showrunner Michael Foley agreed, stating, “Death would be too simple.

Essentially, the series reached its final outcome due to a blend of these two perspectives: Firstly, that Joe should continue living but do so solitarily, and secondly, that none of the women who might kill him should bear the title of murderer for his actions. These two viewpoints have led to the most suitable resolution, which involves Joe’s imprisonment. It’s also worth noting that having him shot in a sensitive area serves as an additional punishment for those who believe that jail wasn’t severe enough.

How does Joe’s end relate to You’s beginning?

As a gamer, I can’t help but feel a personal connection to Bronte’s tale. You see, Beck was more than just my professor; he was my mentor when I was pursuing my writing dreams in college. Life took an unexpected turn for me as I had to drop out to care for my sick mother back in Ohio. Tragically, it was during this time that Beck was murdered. The news left me devastated.

Years later, when Beck’s book “The Dark Face of Love” hit the shelves, I felt a deep longing to read it. However, as I delved into its pages, I found certain inconsistencies that didn’t sit right with me. This led me to an online community on Reddit where many, like myself, were skeptical about Dr. Nicky, Beck’s psychiatrist, being the true culprit in his murder.

In this digital space, I crossed paths with Clayton, who turned out to be none other than Dr. Nicky’s son. We shared our doubts and started investigating, believing that there was more to the story. Little did we know, our suspicions would eventually lead us to catfish Joe, a revelation that unfolded halfway through the fifth season.

In the final installment of the series, it appears that Bronte intentionally rescued Joe with a particular purpose in mind: She wants Joe to confess to murdering Beck and erase the passages he inserted in Beck’s book. Despite acting like a classic horror movie antagonist towards Bronte, Joe does manage to delete those specific passages from Beck’s book. As a result, Bronte republishes the book without Joe’s additions, claiming it has become more popular than ever due to this change.

Why was Bronte the one to bring Joe down?

Joe’s time had come to an end. After five seasons filled with stalking and murder, the storyline was starting to feel repetitive, leaving the series lacking freshness. Though any of the wronged women – Kate, Marienne, or Nadia – could have been the one to finally take him down, it was Bronte who ultimately succeeded. This was largely due to the fact that she was Joe’s current girlfriend, making for a more intense and climactic finale. However, this decision hasn’t pleased everyone.

Initially, it seemed like Kate, Marienne, and Nadia would be the ones to put Joe on trial, as they successfully trapped him in a cage. However, Marienne and Kate later found out that Nadia had brought a gun intending to kill Joe. Although surprised, they decided Kate should be the one to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, Joe had hidden a key to his prison within his arm, which he used when the women were absent, discussing what to do with the weapon. Upon returning with the gun, Kate was ambushed by Joe and ended up getting shot instead.

As a gamer, I found myself in a twisted scenario where Maddie, another victim Joe had wronged, lit Mooney’s ablaze. Leaving Joe to perish in the flames would have felt underwhelming, given the dramatic build-up. So, it was Bronte who had to be the one, mainly because she was the only character capable of guiding Joe into his doomed bedroom – the fitting stage for his demise. With the series taking a chilling turn towards horror in its climactic scenes, Bronte emerged as the last survivor, becoming the final girl.

Why did some people have a problem with Joe being taken down by Bronte?

Some individuals vehemently opposed Joe’s downfall altogether, but justice was necessary given his actions. Those who tolerated his fall yet disliked the conclusion might find issue with Bronte being the one to bring him down and the excessive use of plot devices. The fifth season has received the lowest audience rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with a significant number of viewers expressing strong disapproval of Bronte’s character. One user described Bronte as “the most forced character I’ve ever seen,” while another stated, “Bronte was an abhorrent character. It felt like they were blaming the audience for liking Joe, which is unwarranted.

In a somewhat inconsistent manner, Bronte appears to have feelings for Joe that fluctuate between love and hatred. Yet, it’s her proximity to him that makes her the most effective at bringing him down due to her close connection with him. However, it’s questionable why she was even present to execute this act, as several critics on Rotten Tomatoes argued. One viewer even wrote, “Somehow Bronte turned into Aquaman and survived drowning/strangling.” The character Kate also seems to die in the fire at Mooney’s, but in an unexpected twist at the end of the story, she miraculously wakes up and escapes the bookstore instead. These implausible events are problematic, as the show typically avoids such glaring plot contrivances. To have two occur in a single episode is particularly unfortunate.

What Penn Badgley has said about the ending of You Season 5

Penn Badgley has been quite open in interviews since the end of “You”, and he’s expressed his satisfaction that Joe, his character, finally faced some sort of retribution. He’s particularly pleased that Joe lost his manhood at the hands of Bronte in the show’s finale. In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, Badgley stated, “I believe it stripped him of his power and broke him down, which was crucial for me.” Essentially, Joe’s charm lay in being a romantic sexual figure, allowing him to carry out his actions for so long. So, I was delighted with that outcome.

Badgley, who was an executive producer on “You” and seems delighted with its success, made it clear in a recent Netflix interview that he’s thankful for the opportunity to play Joe but isn’t sorry to be done portraying such a despicable character. In his own words, “The joy or gratitude I feel can never outweigh the harsh truth of who Joe Goldberg is.” Therefore, after playing this role for so long, he feels ready to move on from it. He hopes that this departure will seem like a fitting conclusion.

What Madeline Brewer has said about the ending of You Season 5

Actress Madeline Brewer, who portrays Bronte (and is also known for playing Janine in “The Handmaid’s Tale”), offers a distinct perspective on the conclusion of “You” Season 5. Many viewers have criticized her character, as she shared with L’Officiel: “Many people seem to dislike Bronte, and that’s alright by me because I personally appreciate her.” However, she expresses concern about people directing personal insults at her merely because they don’t care for a character she plays in a fictional series. She further stated, “It’s astonishing how some viewers can’t distinguish the actor from the character. If you dislike my character, that’s fine – but there’s no need to label me unattractive.

Regarding Joe’s final destiny and the impact of the character Bronte, Brewer expressed excitement about being the central figure in the series finale. “Bronte is the one who controls Joe Goldberg’s future, a responsibility not taken lightly.” She admitted that while she greatly appreciated the role, not everyone might feel the same way about the ending – and that’s acceptable. “I wish everyone could appreciate the conclusion as I do, but many may dislike it, and that’s their choice. I understand that it’s impossible to satisfy everyone.” It appears that Brewer enjoyed portraying Bronte immensely and hopes this enjoyment outweighs any negative feedback from the finale.

What the showrunners have said about the ending of You Season 5

The creators, Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo, had decided from the start that the series would conclude after five seasons, and they planned for Joe to return to New York at the end. They found it satisfying to see how much Joe had changed since Season 1, and they wanted to show a full circle of his journey. The final story for Joe revolves around the contrast between his past and present. Importantly, they also decided from the beginning that Joe would eventually have to confront justice at the end of the storyline.

In a chat I had with the New York Post, it was clear that the team behind our beloved series shared my sentiment that Joe needed to confront the consequences of his actions. From the start of the season, we all felt that he wouldn’t be able to escape the repercussions of his crimes. We made a conscious decision not to redeem him, but instead let him face those he wronged. Throughout the storyline, we stayed true to Joe’s character, understanding that he would never acknowledge the destruction he caused. Ending the series with an unchanged Joe was crucial for us, and I like to call it his “last dodge” in a final twist of fate.

You Season 5’s alternate ending

The producers spent a considerable amount of time debating the specifics of the series finale, as they were certain Joe would face consequences for his actions but unsure about how it would unfold. Co-creator Michael Foley later disclosed to the New York Post that they made their decision on the final episode rather late in the season’s production. Earlier drafts of the show even featured different endings, one of which delved into the world of supernatural elements for “You.

Justin W. Lo, one of the co-showrunners, shared that they explored various possibilities, one being Joe’s death at the hands of Bronte. He also mentioned a scenario where Joe was shot, and the audience only found out in the final episode that he had become a ghost. Lo further stated that the ghost concept was an early version of the ending. Although intriguing, this ending would have deviated from the realistic storytelling that preceded it. Thus, whether you appreciate it or not, we can all agree that “You” Season 5 concluded as it should.

2025-05-26 19:32