Madeline Brewer "Was Not Prepared" for Backlash After 'You' Season 5 Finale
Louise was one of the main reasons for Joe's downfall in You, and the actress, Madeline Brewer, was subjected to a barrage of backlash. While she expected criticism of her character, Brewer did not expect fans to call her "ugly."
Season 5 of You brought Joe Goldberg's story to a close – he goes back to New York, meets another love interest, and finally gets what he deserves.
Louise Played a Significant Role in Joe's Downfall
And Louise Flannery/Bronte plays a significant role in it. At some point, she becomes entangled in Joe Goldberg's dark past. Initially, she becomes his ally. However, Louise eventually realizes that her involvement in his life leads to destruction.
In the Season 5 finale, Louise played a pivotal role in exposing Joe – she helped uncover his crimes and initiate a trial that ultimately led to his conviction.
Madeline Brewer Faced a Fierce Wave of Hate from Joe's Fans
In an interview with Glamour, Madeline Brewer, the actress who played Louise, revealed that she knew that she would have to face the wrath of fans who were rooting for Joe for some reason. However, she did not expect the backlash to be so intense:
“I was prepared for there to be backlash for the character. I was not prepared to be called ugly. [...] But the real part of the backlash that I wasn't prepared for was how misogynistic it would be.”
Madeline Brewer Backlash Is Exactly What 'You' Tried to Criticize
For five seasons, Penn Badgley – who, by the way, completely condemns his character – embodied a closet misogynist. He put women on a pedestal and killed them when they did not live up to his expectations.
The actress believes that the hate she received from viewers reflects what happens in the series itself – people are ready to find any reasons to “forgive the beautiful, rich white man.”
While some people criticized the actress, others came to her defense. Many noted that the series opposes misogyny, and Joe's fate is clear evidence of that.
The haters who judged the actress' appearance and wrote her awful messages and comments didn't understand anything about You. Reddit user ArcadianWaheela wrote:
“It's even more ironic that Bronte was written to be a stand-in for the audience members who adore Joe yet the same people she's satirizing hate her.”
Joe Goldberg Was the Main Character of 'You', But He Wasn't a Protagonist
In the final season, Joe Goldberg is haunted by the ghosts of the women he killed. They remind him that he is not a noble savior or a victim, but rather, a sick serial killer. Joe justifies his killings as self-defense and a desire to help his loved ones.
For the first time in the series' history, Season 5 of You gives a voice to the characters who died at Joe's hands. The deceased women see right through Joe and demand retribution in the form of female solidarity.
It's hard to imagine a more fitting conclusion to the story of a misogynistic maniac. Joe Goldberg is no more than an ordinary criminal of flesh and blood, and that's something we should always keep in mind.
