By: Elena Donatone
Spoilers Ahead!
The fourth and final season of 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020) was released two weeks ago, but it has already caused much controversy and contrasting opinions.
Thirteen Reasons Why has been known for years as one of the most controversial Netflix TV series. Discussing themes like teenage suicide, school shootings and drug abuse, the series has never held back and that has, of course, brought many critics in the last few years.
While season 1, among all the controversy, was very well-written and had great acting, the same can’t be said about the following seasons. Both season 2 and 3 seemed unorganized and without a specific plot or purpose. And unfortunately season 4 is not any different.
The new and final season starts off during winter break. Clay (Dylan Minnette) and his friends are only months away from graduating, but that is the last thing on their minds. After framing Monty (Timothy Granaderos) for Bryce’s murder and the subsequent death of the boy in jail, the group is on edge and they are always scared somebody will find out the truth and their involvement in Bryce’s murder.
The friends are finding it harder and harder to trust one another, especially Clay, who is facing mental health problems.
I believe the Netflix series handles Clay’s mental health problems quite well. The sessions that Clay has with his therapist are very emotional and they helped me reflect on how much a mental illness can overrun your entire life and relationships. But at the same time, it helps people understand that there is a light at the end of the tunnel and people can get better when they ask for help and speak up.
“I can’t promise the story has a happy ending, Clay. What happens to us, it may only have the sense that we make of it. But I do know that it’s in telling the story that we learn who we are. And maybe see who we might become.”
As the show goes on, we can see how everybody tries to focus on their future after high school and the obstacles that they face on the way.
The group of friends find out that both the school’s faculty and their parents are controlling their life, by checking their emails and texts, and placing cameras on the school perimeter.
And it is because of this discovery and a dangerous and questionable school shooting drill, that during episode 8 “Acceptance/Rejection” tension and violence escalate. The kids decide to take action, by walking out of the school as a sign of protest. Unfortunately, that leads to police intervention and destruction of property.
“Enough is enough.”
While everybody would agree the school and parents took it too far, I found their reactions questionable. The whole episode is exaggerated and I have my doubts a school would implement some of the rules they show in the series anyway.
As an example, the school shooting drill left me speechless. The principal decides to make the drill “more real” by asking the police officers to shoot blank so that the kids will think it is a real shooting. That was questionable and I’m pretty sure it would not be allowed in real life at American high schools, where school shootings are quite a sensitive matter.
But through all the drama and protests, Clay and his friends manage to go to the anticipated prom and to graduate high school.
But not before facing one last dramatic death, the one that enraged the internet over the last few weeks. And that is the passing of the much-loved character Justin Foley (Brandon Flynn), who discovers to have contracted AIDS. His state quickly deteriorates and he passes away in his hospital bed, with Clay and his parents next to him.
The ending is surely bittersweet, but all fans expected it as Thirteen Reasons Why is not famous for delivering “happy endings” to his audience.
The last episode was quite emotional and well-written, every fan will agree there was some kind of closure for each character and their storylines.
“My dad knows high school can hurt. That it can be painful. That there are days when that’s all it is. And he once told me that he’s living proof you can survive. You can get through it. He’s living proof, and so am I. And so are all of you.”
I was quite satisfied with it, but maybe it was because of my lack of expectations, after a season that was overall unstructured and not very believable.
There are only two aspects of the last episode that I found wrong and unnecessary and one of them was Justin’s death. While the character was quite controversial, there is no denying the boy had the most character development throughout the seasons. And that is why I didn’t understand the writers’ decision to let him die in the last episode, when he had finally found a stable family and got accepted into college. I also found it quite rushed, since we find out about his illness only in the episode before the last one!
“You know you can love people who did bad shit. You can forgive people. Even the people who hurt you worst.”
The other aspect I didn't like was the lack of any tribute to Hannah Baker's character. In season 1 and 2, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) was such an important part of the story and every fan expected her character to come back for the season finale. But what we got was just a quick and insignificant cameo. And it wasn't even anything new, as it was clearly taken out of a scene from season 1!
I believe her character should have had a bigger role in the last episode, considering the girl was the one that brought them all together.
"Yeah, she was very beautiful. She was also... She was really nice to me when most people weren't"
Overall, I think the final season of Thirteen Reasons Why was a hit and miss and the series has clearly lost its structure and purposes. But I am glad I watched it, as it was a show that has never been scared to talk about difficult subjects. It helped many teenagers find their voices and understand that nobody is alone. And that the best thing you can do for your friends is showing up and being there when they need help.
“Hate is easy. Love and understanding are harder. But they are how we take care of each other, how we survive."
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