Joe’s chilling fourth wall break in YOU season five finale, explained

Okay, so we’ve all obsessed over YOU, but the series finale hits harder than expected. Joe Goldberg ends up locked up, but he delivers a final message that leaves our jaws on the floor. No, he’s not saying “sorry” for his murderous, creepy ways. Instead, he’s pointing the finger right at us. Here’s an explanation of the fourth wall-breaking moment that will haunt you long after the credits roll.

Joe questions his imprisonment

via Netflix

In the finale, Joe is captured after a brutal showdown with Louise. Shaved head, locked up, and reading letters from his “admirers,” he contemplates his fate. His line, “Why am I in a cage when these crazies write me all the depraved things they want me to do to them?” shows his twisted mindset — he’s not taking responsibility, he’s questioning why he’s the one locked away.

Joe Goldberg breaks the fourth wall

via Netflix

Then, in a jaw-dropping move, Joe stares directly at the camera and delivers his final line: “Maybe the problem isn’t me. Maybe it’s… you.” This isn’t just a random thought. Joe’s not talking to himself. He’s speaking directly to us — the viewers. And it’s not subtle.

It’s not just about Joe — it’s about us

via Netflix

This wasn’t just a throwaway line. Co-showrunner Michael Foley explained the decision to TVLine: “We wanted him to blame us. Despite getting his comeuppance, and even being made to see himself as a monster, he still won’t take the blame for it.”

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So, in other words, Joe never fully accepts that he is the problem. Instead, he convinces himself that society and the people who’ve supported him throughout the series are just as much at fault. That’s where the final wall-breaking moment comes into play. It’s the show’s way of telling us: We’ve been rooting for someone who, ultimately, is a monster. And we’ve been okay with it. It’s a bit of a wake-up call.

By breaking the fourth wall, YOU forces us to confront our own complicity in his story, making it clear that, in Joe’s world, nothing is ever truly his fault.

Season five of YOU is available on Netflix now. For all the latest Netflix news, drops, quizzes and memes like The Holy Church of Netflix on Facebook. 

Featured image credit: Netflix