How the ‘Why You’ Series Finale Addressed Fans Directly by Breaking the Fourth Wall
Netflix’s You utilized its series finale not just to shatter the fourth wall but to challenge Joe Goldberg’s most ardent supporters, asking if they might be the issue.
The final season premiered on Thursday, April 24, and the last scene featured Penn Badgley’s Joe reading letters from his fans while incarcerated.
“Why am I in a cage when these crazies pen all their depraved desires for me? Perhaps we have a societal issue. Maybe we should address what’s broken within us,” Joe mused, as a rendition of Radiohead’s “Creep” played in the background. “Maybe the problem isn’t me; maybe it’s you.”
The cast praised this clever narrative approach. Natasha Behnam, who portrayed Dominique, commented at the red carpet event on Wednesday, April 23, “Everybody fell in love with Joe Goldberg because it’s a TV show, and we love it. But I think adding the layer of ‘Hey, remember he’s a serial killer’ is essential.”
She remarked: “We’re having fun with the show — but let’s remember, this character has committed terrible atrocities.”
Pete Ploszek, who played Harrison, expressed his support as well.
“That was brilliantly done. It’s a significant and beautiful swing by the writers. We’ve all witnessed this fascination over the years, intrigued and demanding more,” he observed. “It’s critical to pause and reflect on our perceptions, especially in this digital age — how we treat and regard one another.”
You, which first premiered on Lifetime in 2018, features Badgley as a serial killer whose obsession escalates terrifyingly. Based on novels by Caroline Kepnes, the series found greater success after its transition to Netflix for the second season.
While fans held various opinions on how Joe’s arc should conclude, Badgley remained steadfast, expressing to Salon in February 2023, “The show never aims to provide a clinical depiction of a serial killer or a man with mental illness. The freedom we have in this narrative is not meant to mirror reality. To me, that doesn’t diminish its impact. It’s an exploration; there’s a fantastical element that allows us to navigate various themes.”
He elaborated: “If you’ve committed the acts Joe has, change would necessitate confronting the fact that you have taken more lives than you can easily count. If you were truly at that crossroads, reconciling with yourself — to say nothing of society’s judgment — would require a level of insight that he hasn’t demonstrated.”
Ultimately, Joe’s fate revealed him facing prison for his numerous crimes over the five seasons — along with sustaining an injury to his penis. Charlotte Ritchie, who played Kate, shared her thoughts on this narrative choice.
“I don’t advocate for the death penalty, and I don’t believe he should simply die,” she confided with Us. “I sometimes ponder whether there’s a lack of introspection on his part — it’s unfortunate that he never pauses for self-reflection — but that seems fitting for his character. It doesn’t feel like he’s capable of that.”
The actress, 35, observed that Joe continues to shirk responsibility for his actions.
“At the end, he’s not capable of placing blame anywhere except outward,” Ritchie said regarding Joe’s serious injury. “I thought, ‘That’s intense. I suppose symbolically it carries weight. However, there’s something about his psyche that’s the most frightening aspect of him. He exhibits brutality and physical violence, but fundamentally, his true threat lies in his mind and how he manipulates others.”
She further remarked: “While the injury is symbolic, it reflects that he still retains his manipulative nature. Whatever happens to his penis is inconsequential.”
You is currently available for streaming on Netflix.
