In a world where characters are often redeemed and morally gray figures receive second chances, the Netflix series *You* serves as a grotesque irony of what happens when toxic behavior goes unchecked. The show’s final season, crafted by showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo, captures the essence of its main character, Joe Goldberg—performed masterfully by Penn Badgley—who remains unable to recognize the havoc he wreaks on those around him. The finale capitalizes on this theme, leaving viewers with a profound moral quandary: what does true justice look like for a character like Joe, whose charm coats a monstrous heart?
A Supernatural Twist That Could Have Been
While viewers brace for a concluding chapter that promises retribution and exposure, the creators initially toyed with a radically different ending. In an intriguing discussion with the New York Post, Foley and Lo revealed a previously considered supernatural twist where Joe dies and transitions into a ghost. This fantastical version would have illustrated an ironic twist of fate—Joe, notoriously manipulative, would face a realm where he continues his schemes, still oblivious to the consequences of his actions. Such an ending could have served to underscore Joe’s eternal self-delusion, but it underestimates the potential impact of his confrontation with reality.
The decision to keep Joe alive but imprisoned speaks volumes about the creators’ understanding of justice. The infamous voiceover that has characterized the series plays a crucial role in cementing Joe’s unrelenting victimhood mentality. Even in his confinement, he perceives himself wronged by the world rather than taking full accountability for his destructive choices. While a triumphantly ghostly fate may have lent an air of dark humor to the narrative, acknowledging Joe’s growth—or lack thereof—through a grounded conclusion resonates more deeply in today’s social climate, emphasizing that malignant behavior often goes unpunished in life.
The Price of Justice: Punishment vs. Redemption
As the narrative unfolds in Season 5, Joe finds himself behind bars, stripped of his luxury lifestyle and manipulated power. This setup forces the audience to reconcile their feelings about justice. Is it sufficient merely to imprison a villain like Joe? The choice not to kill Joe arguably represents a commentary on how society often fails to enact true justice for victims of abuse. The creators purposely devised an ending that dodges conventional resolutions related to murder or revenge—a testament to their desire to present a nuanced perspective on morality.
Badgley himself reinforced this sentiment, insisting that violence, particularly when proposed as a means to right past wrongs, only perpetuates a cycle of trauma. The potential of a female character taking Joe’s life would have placed an insurmountable burden on her shoulders, complicating the narrative with yet another layer of victimization. Instead, Joe’s inability to escape or prey upon others affords viewers a reflective pause, encouraging discussions around the complexities of confronting and dismantling toxic behaviors. There is no glorification in Joe’s punishment, only a biting realism—he is left to reckon with the very fabric of his destruction while being utterly powerless.
The Dynamics of Morality in *You*
Through the imaginative workings of Foley and Lo, *You* skillfully probes the depths of human morality. The series embodies a tension between love and loathing, drawing viewers into Joe’s warped psyche while simultaneously exposing the flaws in his worldview. In its finale, the show deftly avoids the traps of ‘bad guy gets the girl’ narratives or overly simplistic endings. Joe’s situation serves as a haunting reminder of what it means to be trapped by one’s misdeeds, unworthy of redemption, yet persistently haunted by their consequences.
As the series concludes on this bleak note, it underscores a challenging yet profound truth: true justice may not lie in death or traditional revenge, but rather in the acknowledgement of one’s actions and the reality of having to live with them. Joe Goldberg may be locked away, but the myriad layers of societal judgment linger, ensuring that he remains a hauntingly relevant reflection of the complexities of criminal psychology and human morality.