The leading man of Netflix hit You has opened up about why he is ‘glad’ that the series is coming to an end after five seasons.

Penn Badgely, who plays Joe Goldberg in the smash series, will take on the role for the last time in the new series which debuted on April 24.

Penn, previously best known for playing Dan Humphrey in Gossip Girl, has seen his star soar thanks to the villainous role as terrifying but charming stalker, Joe.

The actor, 38, has admitted that despite the popularity of the series, adapted from Caroline Kepne’s novels, he is glad to be saying goodbye to the part.

During an interview with The Guardian, Penn said that he believes it is a good time to part ways with Joe, who has always been beloved by fans despite his dark side.

‘The way this show plays with questions of how we reward bad people, that was a more playful question eight to 10 years ago,’ Penn shared with The Guardian.

The leading man of Netflix hit You has opened up about why he is ‘glad’ that the series is coming to an end after five seasons

Penn Badgely, who plays Joe Goldberg in the smash series, will take on the role for the last time in the new series which debuted on April 24

He continued: ‘It’s not as playful a question now, and it comes with way more stakes, and I’m glad we’re not going to be playing with it any longer.  And for that reason, I’m really glad it’s ending.’

Penn admitted he has a continuing concern that Joe is ‘too likeable’ to fans and insisted that viewers shouldn’t have any sympathy for the ‘psychopathic’ character.

The ending of the series remains a mystery to most but Penn hinted that the conclusion of the show is the ‘best resolution’ for Joe.

Despite high hopes from viewers for the final instalment, season five has so far been branded ‘insultingly rubbish’ and ‘woefully underbaked’ as critics rip the Netflix thriller to shreds in scathing reviews.

Featuring ten episodes, the drama picks up three years after the previous season and sees Joe return to New York. 

With the help of his wife Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie), he regains custody of his son Henry (Frankie DeMaio). However, Joe soon develops an interest in Brontë (Madeline Brewer).

Despite seeing four successful seasons previously, You has been hit with stinging reviews from some critics. 

The Guardian only rated the new instalment two out of five stars and described the ending as ‘insulting rubbish’.

Despite high hopes from viewers for the final instalment, season five has so far been branded ‘insultingly rubbish’ and ‘woefully underbaked’ as critics rip the Netflix thriller to shreds in scathing reviews 

The final season of You launched on the streaming platform at 8am today (April 24) and saw the return of Penn (pictured) as protagonist Joe

With the help of his wife Kate Lockwood (Charlotte Ritchie), he regains custody of his son Henry (Frankie DeMaio). Joe soon develops an interest in Brontë ( Madeline Brewer, pictured)

While some may be disappointed that their favourite series is coming to an end, the publication said it was a ‘mercy’.

They noted that though the storyline ‘was once ludicrously fun,’ the finale is ‘so bad that it’s offensive’.

You didn’t impress The Telegraph either who matched the Guardian’s unimpressed rating.

Describing the show as swinging ‘from soap opera to stale slasher flick’ they claimed the ‘final season will bludgeon your attention-span to death’.

While The Daily Beast argued the new season’s ‘fatal flaw’ is ‘how muddled the show has allowed its satire to become’.

The publication claimed aspects like the ‘social media true-crime component’ was ‘woefully underbaked’.

Its final verdict was the show ‘should’ve wrapped up several chapters ago’.

Echoing The Daily beast, The Standard also felt the show was well overdue to end and called it ’embarrᴀssing,’ alongside a two out of five star rating.

Despite seeing four successful seasons previously, You has been hit with stinging reviews from some critics

Tech Advisor shared a more positive outlook and praised the cast and ‘outlandish storyline’.

It even encouraged fans of the previous four seasons to ‘tune into this wild ride of a finale’.

Though the site did acknowledge, ‘Joe’s many self-indulgent attempts to defend his violent instincts can get tiresome’. 

All seasons of You are available to stream on Netflix now.