You Season 5 Finally Addresses Why Joe Goldberg is So Alluring

Warning! Spoilers for You season 5 ahead!

In the final episode of season 5, you skillfully highlighted one of the show’s long-standing issues. The Netflix series “You,” which debuted in 2018, has been giving us a chilling perspective through the eyes of serial killer Joe Goldberg for seven years. Throughout the episodes, we got a glimpse into Joe’s troubling mind, filled with thoughts of murder and ambition. Yet, this character’s endearing behavior and Penn Badgley’s captivating performance made Joe Goldberg quite popular despite his heinous acts, creating an unusual heartthrob figure.

As the seasons of “You” progressed, Joe seemed to deteriorate further and further, but each new episode continued to be accompanied by numerous fan-made seductive edits on YouTube. In season 5, the storyline delved into the fact that Joe had transformed into a celebrity resembling a fairy tale prince after marrying millionaire CEO Kate Lockwood. The character of Joe was excessively idolized both within the universe of “You” and beyond. Even Bronte, who initially aimed to expose Joe as the murderer of Guinevere Beck, found herself drawn to his mysterious allure. However, in the final episode of “You”, Bronte delivered a speech explaining why such enigmatic anti-heroes in fiction are so captivating.

Bronte’s Final Speech Reveals Why Characters Like Joe Are So Appealing

She Called Out The Overglorification Of Violent Male Characters

It took some time for Bronte to recall the true evil nature of Joe Goldberg in “You”. Despite her feelings towards him, she tended to disregard the signs that he was more than just a serial killer, but rather a knight in shining armor. However, after speaking with Marienne Bellamy, Bronte regained clarity and resumed her original mission – revealing Joe for the monster he truly is. In a tense situation where she held him at gunpoint, Bronte delivered an impactful speech, stating, “The illusion of a man like you is what helps us endure the truth about men like you.

This passage can be rephrased as:

The reason why characters such as Joe Goldberg, who are clearly terrible, still hold great appeal for readers is because they fit the pattern Bronte appreciates in her dark romance novels – male characters who are frequently abusive and dangerous. Despite their flaws, readers find themselves drawn to these characters. In the case of Joe, Bronte herself acknowledged his wrongdoings but was still captivated by him – much like how she feels about the characters in her books. This exploration delves into the psychology behind such fascination. It’s not that fans of characters like Joe secretly wish for mistreatment; instead, fictional villains provide a means for society to confront and cope with the real-life antagonists they encounter daily.

You Season 5’s Dark Romance Tropes Are Surprisingly Meta

The Netflix Series Reflected Audiences’ Response In Its Final Story

Season 5 of the show explored themes related to dark romance, and the creative use of metaphors worked well for its finale. Throughout the series, Joe Goldberg viewed his brand of violence as deeply romantic, a perspective some viewers shared. To depict those drawn to Joe’s character, Bronte was introduced in season 5. She became enamored with the exhilaration of being shielded in this manner. Despite it being violence and abuse, Bronte found herself captivated by Joe’s actions, finding them irresistibly dark and romantic.

Over the last few episodes, the Netflix show kept adding in more elements of twisted romance, with hints of gothic love reminiscent of vampire tales. Joe’s blood-soaked proposal to Bronte was particularly outlandish. Yet, somehow, Bronte managed to break free from the tumultuous and violent love affair, discerning the boundary between fantasy and real life. It felt like the show had responded directly to one of its major criticisms by using a self-aware approach, explaining itself as a reflection of why this series is unique.

You Used Its Final Story To Address A Common Criticism

You Purposely Set Joe Up This Way

Critics frequently argue that your show overly glorifies Joe and his actions. Yet, it’s undeniable that a large number of viewers have romanticized this questionable character, which supports this claim. Rather than dismissing the criticism, you delved deeper into it by examining the reasons behind audiences being drawn to complex, violent characters like Joe Goldberg. In essence, the series serves as an exploration and social experiment on this very topic.

The show “You” is intentionally appealing in its design, as it primarily follows Joe’s perspective, allowing us viewers to empathize with him and perceive him much like he sees himself. In his mind, Joe justifies his killings as serving a higher purpose, swiftly erasing memories of instances when his violence harms those he initially sought to safeguard. Remarkably, audiences find themselves drawn to him, despite the mounting evidence of his monstrous nature. The series’ finale introduces Bronte as the new point of view character, stripping away the illusion and making it harder to condemn the show for its unconventional methods since Joe’s allure was central to its storytelling.

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2025-04-26 03:27

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