Penn Badgley has revealed he made a rare exception to his personal boundaries for the final season of Netflix’s hit psychological thriller You. The fifth and final season dropped this week, bringing a close to Badgley’s chilling portrayal of stalker Joe Goldberg.
Why Badgley Reconsidered His Stance
In a candid interview with People magazine, Badgley explained that despite having a “no sex scenes” clause, he agreed to film intimate scenes again because they were crucial to Joe’s storyline.
“I had to throw that out the window,” Badgley admitted. “My desire is always to keep it to the least amount possible, but if it’s necessary, that’s the show we all signed up to make. So, let’s make sure it’s vital, let’s make sure it’s important, it’s deliberate — and we did.”
He emphasized that for the story’s emotional and narrative arc, Joe needed to return to his image as a “romantic icon,” making these scenes essential rather than gratuitous.
A Personal Boundary Set Early On
Badgley had previously shared on his podcast Podcrushed that he requested fewer sex scenes when he first signed on to You. His decision stemmed from wanting to avoid being typecast as a romantic lead and maintaining fidelity in his personal life, particularly his marriage.
“This was a decision I made before I took the show,” he said. “Fidelity, in every relationship, and especially my marriage, is important to me.”
Reflecting on Seven Years as Joe Goldberg
Looking back, Badgley confessed he will “miss [Joe] a little bit,” acknowledging how much the role shaped his personal and professional life throughout his thirties.
“I became a father while I was on this show. I only got married just before I took the role,” he said. “I’ve grown a lot, and I’ve grown with Joe in a strange way.”
Spanning nearly a decade of his life, Badgley described playing Joe as both transformative and sobering, offering him deep personal insights.
Lessons from Playing a Dark Character
Badgley noted that portraying Joe forced him into self-reflection, helping him identify traits he wanted to avoid in himself.
“My thirties have been officially defined by him,” he told The Guardian. “It’s possible that he has made me a better person because he’s caused a lot of reflection.”
He described the experience as an “exercise in understanding all the things I want to avoid” — from manipulation to predatory behavior — and recognized troubling similarities he worked hard to understand and distance himself from.
Grateful for the Ending
Ultimately, Badgley feels relief that the story has concluded.
“It’s a politically intensifying world, and I don’t think this show would make sense starting right now,” he said. “The way this show plays with questions of how we reward bad people was a more playful question eight to 10 years ago. It’s not as playful now, and it comes with way more stakes.”
For Badgley, the timing of You’s conclusion feels right: “I’m really glad it’s ending.”
All five seasons of You are now available for streaming on Netflix. Keep up with the hottest chisme with us on Que Onda Magazine .
