One of the most shocking questions fans of the psychological thriller series often ask is does Joe kill Forty? The dynamic between Joe Goldberg and Forty Quinn is filled with tension, manipulation, and hidden truths that make their storyline unforgettable. Viewers are drawn into their complicated relationship, unsure of who is in control and what the ultimate outcome will be. Since Joe is a character known for blurring the lines between love, obsession, and violence, the fate of Forty becomes a central point of speculation and debate throughout the series.
The Relationship Between Joe and Forty
From the very beginning, Joe and Forty are portrayed as complete opposites. Joe is calculating, secretive, and constantly scheming to protect his double life, while Forty is impulsive, emotional, and often unpredictable. Despite these differences, their lives become entangled due to Forty’s close relationship with his sister Love Quinn, who is at the center of Joe’s obsession. The question of whether Joe kills Forty grows naturally from the dangerous intersection of their lives.
Why Their Connection Feels Dangerous
Joe perceives Forty as both a threat and an obstacle. While Forty is not as perceptive as Joe, he becomes suspicious over time and gets dangerously close to uncovering Joe’s secrets. This looming threat creates a sense of inevitability, making audiences wonder if Joe will eventually take drastic action. The very presence of Forty challenges Joe’s control over his carefully built facade, leading fans to believe their story must end in conflict.
Does Joe Kill Forty? The Truth Revealed
The truth is that Joe does not directly kill Forty. In one of the most dramatic twists of the series, Forty meets his end at the hands of another character, while Joe remains nearby, entangled in the chaos. This revelation surprises many viewers because, up until the final moment, it seems inevitable that Joe would take Forty’s life to protect his identity and his relationship with Love. Instead, the writers chose a different path, keeping Joe’s hands clean in this particular situation while still leaving the audience questioning his morality.
Why Many Believed Joe Would Be Responsible
Several reasons led fans to assume Joe would kill Forty
- Joe has a long history of eliminating people who threaten to expose him.
- Forty became increasingly suspicious of Joe’s true nature.
- Their tense relationship escalated into multiple confrontations.
- Joe’s pattern of using murder as a form of problem-solving created a sense of inevitability.
Yet, the writers subverted expectations by ensuring that while Joe is complicit in many deaths, he does not directly take Forty’s life.
The Impact of Forty’s Death
Even though Joe does not physically kill Forty, his death has a profound impact on the storyline. Forty’s passing removes one of the few characters who openly challenged Joe and threatened to expose him. Without Forty’s presence, Joe faces fewer immediate obstacles in pursuing his relationship with Love. However, his death also leaves emotional scars on Love and others, adding layers of complexity to Joe’s increasingly fragile world.
How It Shapes Joe and Love’s Relationship
Forty’s death intensifies the bond between Joe and Love. Love becomes more emotionally dependent on Joe after losing her twin brother, unaware of the darkness that still lingers beneath Joe’s surface. This shift solidifies Joe’s influence in her life while simultaneously highlighting how tragedy often paves the way for his manipulation. The absence of Forty means fewer people question Joe’s motives, giving him more freedom to pursue his own agenda.
Joe’s Morality in Question
Although Joe does not kill Forty with his own hands, his actions throughout the series make it difficult to separate him from the circumstances that led to Forty’s demise. He remains a manipulator and an enabler of violence, even if not the direct cause in this particular case. For many fans, the real question is not just whether Joe kills Forty but whether he could have prevented his death had he chosen differently. His silence and passivity at key moments show how his morality remains deeply flawed.
Guilt by Association
Joe’s indirect role in the death creates a debate about accountability. While technically innocent of Forty’s murder, Joe benefits from the outcome. Forty’s death protects Joe from exposure, making it feel as though fate or Joe’s dark influence arranged the event in his favor. This blurring of responsibility fits Joe’s character perfectly, as he constantly rationalizes his actions and avoids full accountability for the consequences of his behavior.
Why the Writers Chose This Outcome
The decision to have Joe not directly kill Forty serves several narrative purposes. First, it prevents Joe from becoming too predictable. If Joe killed every single person who threatened him, the story would lose its sense of suspense. By letting another character pull the trigger, the writers preserved the unpredictability of the series. Second, it allows the audience to continue grappling with Joe’s moral ambiguity. He is neither fully guilty nor fully innocent, leaving fans conflicted about how to view him.
The Element of Surprise
Storytelling thrives on surprises, and Forty’s death was a major twist. Viewers expected Joe to be responsible, but the deviation from this expectation made the climax far more powerful. This unexpected turn also highlights that Joe’s world is not entirely under his control, no matter how much he manipulates the people around him. Sometimes events spiral beyond even his reach.
The Legacy of Forty’s Character
Although Forty is gone, his role in the series remains significant. He was one of the few people who saw through Joe’s carefully constructed persona. His suspicions, confrontations, and ultimate fate remind audiences of the dangers of underestimating Joe Goldberg. In a way, Forty’s legacy is to expose Joe’s manipulative nature to viewers, even if the characters within the story fail to fully recognize it.
Fan Reactions to Forty’s Death
Fans had mixed reactions to the revelation that Joe did not kill Forty. Some were relieved that Joe was not directly responsible, which gave them hope for a more complex portrayal of his character. Others were disappointed, feeling that Forty’s arc deserved a more personal resolution at Joe’s hands. Regardless of opinion, the moment remains one of the most talked-about twists of the series.
So, does Joe kill Forty? The simple answer is no Joe Goldberg does not personally end Forty Quinn’s life. However, the complexity of the situation ensures that the question remains important. Joe’s manipulative nature, his history of violence, and his indirect involvement make Forty’s death feel like another shadow cast by Joe’s presence. While Joe avoids direct blame, his character remains deeply connected to the tragedy. This outcome reinforces the themes of control, obsession, and moral ambiguity that define the series, leaving fans unsettled but fascinated. Forty’s death may not come by Joe’s hand, but it certainly comes within Joe’s world, ensuring that the two characters will always be linked in memory and narrative impact.
Word Count ~1032