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yesterday

Netflix’s 'You' Ends with Joe Goldberg Facing Justice and Breaking the Fourth Wall

The Season 5 finale concludes Joe's story with his arrest, life sentence, and a provocative monologue addressing societal complicity.

Penn Badgley in 'You.'
Tati Gabrielle in 'You.'
(From left) Penn Badgley and Madeline Brewer in 'You.'
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Overview

  • Joe Goldberg is arrested and sentenced to life in prison, marking the end of his violent saga across five seasons.
  • Bronte orchestrates Joe's downfall, using her online community to expose him and ultimately shooting him in a symbolic act of justice.
  • The finale features Joe breaking the fourth wall, implicating viewers and society in enabling his crimes through fascination and complicity.
  • Showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo designed the ending to confront Joe with his victims and deny him redemption, aligning with the show’s critique of power and accountability.
  • Fan reactions to the finale are divided, with some praising its moral reckoning and others criticizing the writing and choice of Bronte as the central figure in Joe's takedown.