YOU Season 5: Alternate Endings for Joe Goldberg Revealed—What Could Have Been

The fifth and final season of Netflix’s YOU, which aired on April 24, 2025, brought Joe Goldberg’s (Penn Badgley) reign of terror to a dramatic close, leaving fans both satisfied and reflective. After years of evading justice for his numerous murders, Joe finally faced his comeuppance in the series finale, landing in jail with no hope of freedom. The intense showdown with his latest obsession, Bronte—revealed to be Louise Flannery—saw her turn against him, ensuring his downfall. However, the creators of YOU recently revealed that this ending was not set in stone. In fact, they considered several alternate conclusions for Joe, each of which could have drastically changed the tone and legacy of the series.

via Netflix

Ending a show like YOU—a cultural phenomenon that has kept audiences hooked with its blend of dark humor, psychological depth, and moral ambiguity—was no easy task. Joe Goldberg, a serial killer who justifies his crimes through a warped sense of love, has been a polarizing figure since the show’s debut in 2018. Fans have debated whether he deserved redemption, punishment, or something in between. The pressure on the show’s creators to deliver a fitting conclusion was immense, especially given the emotional investment viewers had in Joe’s journey and the women he targeted. Showrunners Michael Foley and Justin W. Lo, along with writer Greg Berlanti, explored multiple endings, each offering a different perspective on justice, morality, and Joe’s fate.

One of the most surprising alternate endings considered was allowing Joe to get away with everything. Penn Badgley, in an interview with Vanity Fair, shared that Greg Berlanti proposed a scenario where Joe achieves all his desires—freedom, love, and a fresh start—but remains utterly miserable. “It was to let him have everything he thought he wanted, and just be absolutely miserable,” Badgley explained. This ending would have highlighted the hollowness of Joe’s obsessions, showing that even in victory, he could never escape his inner torment. However, Badgley noted that this idea fell apart because it didn’t account for the impact on “her”—the woman in Joe’s life, in this case, Bronte/Louise. Ignoring her agency would have undermined the show’s exploration of the women who suffer because of Joe, a theme that has been central to its narrative.

Another alternate ending took a more ambiguous approach, reminiscent of The Sopranos’ infamous cut-to-black finale. Showrunner Justin W. Lo revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that they considered a scenario where Bronte points a gun at Joe, leaving viewers uncertain whether she pulls the trigger. “You don’t know if she’s going to shoot or not, and then it’s a cut to black,” Lo said. This ending would have left Joe’s fate up to interpretation, allowing fans to debate whether he lived or died. While this could have been a bold artistic choice, it risked frustrating viewers who craved closure after five seasons of watching Joe evade accountability.

A third alternate ending leaned into a darker, more Gothic tone. Lo described a version where Joe is imprisoned in a literal cage, buried deep underground by someone seeking vengeance. This haunting conclusion would have mirrored Joe’s own tendencies to trap and control others, turning his methods against him in a poetic twist. While intriguing, this ending might have felt too fantastical for a show grounded in psychological realism, potentially alienating fans who expected a more grounded resolution.

Ultimately, the creators settled on the ending that aired: Joe in jail, stripped of his freedom and power, forced to live with the consequences of his actions. Showrunner Michael Foley explained the reasoning behind this choice in The Hollywood Reporter, stating, “Death was too easy and wasn’t punishing enough. We liked the idea of a final image of Joe in a cage of sorts, but most of all, it was about taking away his power, taking away his ability to know the touch of a lover.” Badgley also emphasized that killing Joe off was never seriously considered, as it would have placed an unjust burden on another character to bear the trauma of taking his life.

The chosen ending resonates deeply with the show’s overarching themes. YOU has always been about the destructive nature of Joe’s delusions, particularly his belief that he can control love and rewrite his story. By placing him in a prison where he can no longer manipulate or harm others, the finale strips him of the very thing he craves most: control. It also gives agency to Bronte/Louise, who sees through Joe’s façade and ensures his downfall, a satisfying conclusion for a character who represents the resilience of the women Joe has targeted.

Fan reactions on platforms like X have been largely positive, with many praising the finale for its sense of justice. “Joe in jail feels so right—he can’t hurt anyone anymore,” one user tweeted. Others appreciated the emotional weight of the ending, with another fan writing, “Seeing Joe lose everything he fought for was the closure I needed.” While the alternate endings offer fascinating what-ifs, the final choice strikes a balance between punishment and reflection, ensuring that Joe’s story ends on a note that feels both inevitable and earned.