'You' Finale: Joe Faces Consequences, Sparks Debate

Netflix's 'You' concluded with its fifth season, featuring Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) finally facing consequences for his actions. The finale incorporates a meta-commentary on the audience's complicity in romanticizing the antihero, with critics divided over its effectiveness. Badgley returned to more intimate scenes in the final episodes, justified by the plot involving Joe's new romance with Bronte, which ultimately leads to his downfall. The season earned the lowest Rotten Tomatoes score in the series but maintained a 'Fresh' rating. Reviewers noted the show's shift away from its satirical roots, with some praising its narrative closure and others criticizing it as 'hollow' and 'offensive.' The ending has sparked significant debate among both fans and critics.