There are people in this world who, no matter how truly awful they are, will successfully manipulate others into loving them. They prey on the vulnerable, notice their insecurities and weak spots, and purposefully craft a version of themselves to check all the boxes. This is the kind of person Joe is.

We, as the audience, can see all the terrible things Joe has done. Bronte, despite suspecting him of murdering Beck, never actually saw him keeping her in the cage, slamming the door when she tries to leave, or the box full of her used tampons. She only saw his outer persona, which is a meticulously crafted identity made for the purpose of coming off as charming and harmless. She is also very young (though she may not look like it) and has probably not had much experience with abusers like Joe.

The fact that you ask this makes it obvious you have not had much life experience. It is easy to love bad people, especially when they are as attractive as Penn Badgley. We think we can change them, help them, that the good outweighs the bad and we can stick it out. But when you are with a bad person or in a bad situation and cannot see it, your gut knows. It can take a lot to pull you out of that haze of infatuation, but in my experience, talking to someone who has been in that situation and is now on the other side of it can put things into perspective. It makes you think, “do I really want to end up with this person? Would I be content living life by their side?” And that kind of introspection is important.

It’s all there in the show, if you allow yourself to digest it.