Joker: Folie À Deux offers a dark and in-depth look into Arthur Fleck’s disturbed mind and his infamous Joker persona. After the jaw-dropping ending of Joker (2019), where Arthur murdered talk show host Murray Franklin on live TV, fans expected a direct continuation of his violent rise in Gotham.
However, Todd Phillips had something else in mind, delivering a more heart-wrenching and tragic story, concluding with Arthur’s death and the introduction of a new, more dangerous Joker.
How Does Arthur’s Joker Meet his End?
Arthur’s trial is one of the most crucial parts of the film. During the trial, Arthur uses his Joker persona as a way to evade responsibility, claiming insanity. However, the weight of guilt is too strong this time, and Arthur can no longer hide behind the Joker mask.
In an unexpected move, he confesses to his crimes in court, effectively shedding the Joker persona he had created. This confession sets the stage for Arthur’s eventual death.
In a poetic twist, Arthur meets the same fate as Murray Franklin. He is stabbed to death by another inmate at Arkham Asylum—someone who had become obsessed with him.
Feeling betrayed by Arthur’s abandonment of the Joker identity, this inmate delivers the fatal blow. Arthur’s death mirrors Murray’s and symbolizes the passing of the Joker mantle to a new, more dangerous successor.
Will Gotham See a New Joker Now?
One of the most thrilling aspects of Joker: Folie À Deux is the introduction of a new Joker. Unlike Arthur, this new Joker is unaffected by personal struggles and embodies the Joker persona solely to spread violence.
With a chilling Glasgow smile reminiscent of Heath Ledger’s Joker from The Dark Knight, this new Joker is poised to unleash even more chaos on Gotham.
This transition shows that Arthur’s version of the Joker was never meant to last. His role was simply to set the stage for the Joker concept to evolve into a more dangerous form. Now, the stage is set for this new Joker—an idea, not a person—to bring destruction to Gotham.
Why did Harley Quinn Betray Joker?
Lee Quinn, the love of Arthur’s life and the woman who would become Harley Quinn, plays a key role in Arthur’s downfall.
Initially, she is fascinated by the Joker persona, but she soon realizes that she loved the man behind the mask—Arthur. This realization comes to a head during Arthur’s trial, and his confession drives her away, leaving him completely isolated.
The courthouse bombing by Arthur’s followers reveals that they never cared about him as a person. They were obsessed with the Joker as a symbol of chaos.
Once Arthur let go of the Joker identity, his followers abandoned him, showing that they were more interested in the idea of the Joker than in Arthur Fleck himself.
Did the Masses Misunderstand Arthur’s Joker?
Todd Phillips, the master of bold decisions, has made yet another bold statement with Folie à Deux by tearing down the myths surrounding Arthur Fleck’s Joker.
Although 2019’s Joker established Arthur Fleck as an icon of resistance and anarchy, the 2024 film appears to be mocking this image. A careful observation shows that Arthur didn’t have any calculated devil in him, and he was battling his inner demons instead. And while this was happening, the masses of Gotham misread him, making him a “hero of chaos”.
By the finale, the true nature of Fleck becomes evident. He was in no way the ruthless, cold killer that Gothamians thought he was. The Joker guise was only a coping mechanism that he employed to mask his own vulnerability.
Joker: Folie à Deux features the deteriorating mental state of Arthur, and how it led to his consequential confession. And as we all know, that confession ended up stripping him of all the power the Joker gave him, ultimately leaving him dead.
Is Arthur Fleck Returning?
Seeing Arthur Fleck die doesn’t really leave much room for us to imagine the continuation of the Joker’s story. But there’s one thing it does – it leaves an impression on the people of Gotham. Arthur Fleck took the concept of Joker and handed it over to the people, where a new Joker could be born.
With a haunting tune playing in the background and no post-credits scene, the movie ends. As the viewers get up from their seats, they’re left with one haunting thought: the Joker isn’t a man. He’s an idea. An idea that’s far from dead.
About Joker: Folie á Deux
Joker: Folie à Deux is a 2024 American musical psychological thriller film directed by Todd Phillips from a screenplay co-written with Scott Silver. Loosely based on DC Comics characters, it is the sequel to Joker (2019), and stars Joaquin Phoenix reprising his role as the Joker, with Lady Gaga joining the cast as his love interest Harley Quinn.
Joker: Folie à Deux premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival on September 4, 2024, and is scheduled to be released in the United States on October 4, 2024.
Plot: Arthur Fleck is in custody at Arkham Asylum awaiting trial for a series of murders he committed as the Joker two years earlier. In music therapy, Arthur meets fellow patient Lee Quinn, who reveals she was imprisoned after burning down an apartment.
No Comments on Joker: Folie À Deux Ending Explained