While You season 5 finally revealed the ultimate fate of Pen Badgley’s terrifying stalker Joe Goldberg, the series’ scrapped alternate ending could have left things on an open-ended note that failed the story’s overall message. For five seasons, Joe Goldberg has fallen hopelessly for new obsessions, leading to bloody results. However, season 4 seemingly makes Joe invulnerable, as his latest obsession, Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie) uses her newly inherited resources to clear his name, allowing him to resume his life and bring together his dream family.

However, as Kate is forced to battle for control over her family’s wealth, Joe is also smitten by Bronte (Madeline Brewer), bringing out his worst tendencies once more. As Joe’s darker side emerges, Kate is left questioning whether she truly knows him, and Bronte’s true intentions are unveiled, leading to him being exposed to the world. With Kate, Bronte, and a handful of Joe’s previous victims all working to bring his downfall, Joe is brought to justice and imprisoned for life in You’s series finale.

You Season 5’s Alternate Ending Creates A Plot Hole By Introducing Joe As A Ghost

You Almost Had A Drastic, Last-Minute Universe-Altering Twist

Despite Joe spending the rest of his days in a cell, however, You‘s showrunners Michael Foley and Justin Lo revealed that one potential ending saw Joe die at Bronte’s hands, but his spirit would live on to haunt more women (via New York Post). While the series has experimented with more surreal elements, such as Love’s (Victoria Pedretti) appearance and the creation of the dark persona of Rhys Montrose (Ed Speleers) that Joe constructs in season 4, it hasn’t veered directly into the supernatural. As such, the existence of ghosts would be an unprecedented and jarring leap in worldbuilding.

Furthermore, if Joe were to return as a specter, many may wonder what may have prevented other characters from appearing from beyond the grave. Joe remaining a ghost can easily be justified as having some form of unfinished business due to his need for an obsession, but surely his victims would also be left with connections and desires that tied them to the mortal realm. As such, allowing Joe to exist as a spirit would simply create too many questions to be considered a satisfying ending.

Characters Becoming Ghosts In You Would Allow Joe Goldberg’s Story To Continue

You’s Ghostly Ending Could Make Joe A Greater Terror

In fact, turning Joe into a ghost could be seen as spoiling the notion of You actually having an ending. Joe may be forever alone, but he would be free to haunt whomever he desires, be it Bronte, another one of the women that he has misled, or some new unfortunate soul. While the final ending leaves him alive with somewhat of a bittersweet notion as his infamy gives him a small following of fans, he is still restrained and sentenced to life, meaning he will likely be unable to act on his desires.

Furthermore, while seeing Joe become a spirit and be forced to watch his victims live happy lives free of his influence could serve as the ultimate punishment for the character, there is also a far darker alternative. Depending on how Foley and Lo chose to characterize their afterlife, Bronte striking down Joe could allow him to become more powerful than anyone could possibly imagine. As such, leaving him to face his crimes in a cell was the better conclusion for his victims.

Season 5’s Ending Avoids The Show’s Biggest Problem (& The Alternate One Doesn’t)

You Season 5 Finally Showed The True Joe Goldberg To The World

COURTESY OF NETFLIX COURTESY OF NETFLIX COURTESY OF NETFLIX COURTESY OF NETFLIX

Beyond questioning what an afterlife would mean for Joe, You closing with him spending life in prison is undoubtedly the best possible outcome for the series. As the series lead, Joe is able to twist the narrative, the series unsubtly framing him as an anti-hero for most of its run, even as his crimes become worse. As such, season 5 resolves this journey via his imprisonment, tearing away all control and permanently restraining him in a small structure, forever robbing him of his power.

Furthermore, another key element of the series is the women Joe has affected finally being able to take control of the story. Bronte’s quest to avenge Guinevere Beck (Elizabeth Lail) culminates in her telling her story free of Joe’s alterations; Kate is free to leave behind a business she felt ashamed of and had only brought her pain; and Mairenne (Tati Gabrielle) and Nadia (Amy-Leigh Hickman) can close the chapter on a dark part of their lives due to what Joe had put them through. As such, letting You end with Joe truly trapped and unable to change anything to suit him solidifies this arc.