Many fans were left with a sour taste in the mouth after Arthur Fleck (Joaquin Phoenix) was stabbed to death by an inmate at the end of the year. Joker: Folie à Deux.
There is no hidden contempt directed Joker 2 in addition to critics, fans are hoping for another great Joker story after the 2019 predecessor.
Reasons why Joker: Folie à Deux there was disappointment aplenty, but nothing shocked audiences more than the ending.
Why did the Joker die in Joker 2?
in Joker: Folie à DeuxArthur Fleck dies at the hands of an inmate (played by Connor Storrie) at Arkham State Hospital, marking an anticlimactic conclusion to Phoenix’s portrayal of the character.
A prisoner who idolizes Arthur and the Joker persona kills him in a twisted tribute to the violent legacy Arthur left behind. This prisoner believes he will give Arthur what he “deserves”, a reference to Arthur’s own brutal murder of Murray Franklin (Robert De Niro) in the first film.
Despite Arth’s rejection of the Joker name, his influence on Gotham’s troubled individuals has already spread like wildfire, and this kill reinforces his role as a tragic figure who can’t escape the chaos he’s created in the year. Joker.
Arthur’s death also symbolizes the inevitability of his persona living, although he tries to distance himself from it, telling the jury earlier that “joker doesn’t exist.”
all the time Folie à DeuxArthur appears to be struggling to separate himself from the identity of the Joker, a character who has captured a following of dangerous supporters. Maryanne Stewart (Catherine Keener), Arthur’s lawyer, also influences Arthur by presenting to the jury her client’s dual personality, which emerged due to childhood abuse.
The prisoner’s murderous lust ultimately mirrors how the disillusioned citizens of Gotham have embraced the Joker despite Arthur’s intentions, turning the Joker into a symbol of something greater than the man himself.
Lady Gaga’s Harley “Lee” Quinn character embodies this notion most obviously, as she only wants to be with the Joker, not Arthur. (Read more about Lady Gaga Joker 2 ends here).
The final moments are chilling reminders that Arthur’s violent actions and his brief embrace of the Joker have created a ripple effect that likely still haunts Gotham.
Director Todd Phillips uses Arthur’s death as a statement against the glorification of violence seen in the original film Joker movie. When he is killed by an inmate who admires Arthur’s infamous Joker persona, the film criticizes how the idolization of violence can get out of hand.
It suggests that while Arthur may have rejected the Joker, the Joker’s influence was irreversible.
His death at the hands of a successor highlights how the Joker’s legacy has taken on a life of its own, possibly paving the way for a new character to step into the role originally filled by Arthur. The prisoner laughs like the Joker after stabbing Arthur and is even seen slicing the corners of his mouth.
The ending confirms that the Joker is more than just a man – he’s a symbol of rebellion and destruction that can easily be passed on to the next volatile character.
Joker: Folie à Deux is now showing in theaters.
