Joe Badgley discloses shocking alternate destiny for character Joe Goldberg in 'You' series
Penn Badgley shares the almost-fatal twist in the final season of 'You' that nearly sealed Joe Goldberg's fate. In a candid conversation with Vanity Fair, he opened up about an alternate ending that was almost a reality, but thankfully, didn't make the cut.
Initially, the show's writers considered offing our favorite stalker and killer, but Badgley shared that they couldn't just snuff out the life of the character who had become a fan favorite. He quipped, "We figured out the one ending that wouldn't work."
Co-creator Greg Berlanti had a different vision for Joe's final chapter. Instead of the traditional route, he envisioned a bittersweet twist. Berlanti proposed letting Joe slip through the cracks, living a life of absolute misery while having everything he ever desired. But this idea faced a roadblock as it neglected "her" perspective, whoever the "her" may be.
A more chillingly eerie ending was put forth by showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo. In their vision, Joe would meet a gruesome demise at the hands of his season 5 love interest Bronte (Madeline Brewer). Here, Joe would be shot by Bronte, only to find out in the finale that he had become a ghost. This concept was a brainchild of the showrunners, who tested various scenarios where Joe "did die at the hands of Bronte" before unveiling his demise in the season finale.
In the end, the chosen finale saw Joe behind bars, receiving fan mail that hinted at his toxic cycle remaining unresolved. The ten-episode final season dropped on April 24, 2025, leaving fans hanging for more.
Joe Badgley expressed relief that the writers decided against killing off Joe Goldberg in the final season of "You," acknowledging the character's popularity with viewers. Despite a proposed ending involving Joe living a miserable life, this idea was scrapped due to its disregard for the perspective of the character who remains central to the narrative.
Showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo proposed an unsettling alternate ending, featuring Joe's demise at the hands of his season 5 love interest, Bronte. This ending would have seen Joe become a ghost after being shot by Bronte, a concept that underwent several revisions before being revealed in the final season.
In contrast, the actual finale saw Joe in prison, reading fan mail suggesting that his toxic behavior continued to go unchecked, leaving fans worldwide eager for more "movies-and-tv" content related to the Joe Goldberg saga.
