Review: 13 Reasons Why - Season Four

Content warning: this review contains themes of sexual assault, suicide and mental health problems which some readers may find disturbing.

It is official – the 13 Reasons Why characters have graduated.

It has been a dramatic journey since the start of season one, and often a painful one, as we have witnessed the characters of 13 Reasons Why repeatedly endure hardship and suffering as they consistently place themselves in infringing positions. When it debuted in 2017, Netflix’s addictive teen drama 13 Reasons Why was a raw and open-hearted exploration of challenging subjects such as bullying, rape culture and the tragedy of suicide, showing how the death of an ordinary girl could change so many lives and reveal so many secrets. In its final season, Netflix’s high school drama delves into the genre of psychological horror as the main protagonists struggle with guilt and paranoia in the aftermath of a murder.

Netflix’s high school drama delves into the genre of psychological horror as the main protagonists struggle with guilt and paranoia

The season begins with scenes from a funeral: a macabre attempt to create a sense of mystery and anticipation by inviting viewers to speculate over who will die this season. These scenes are ultimately forgotten when the show’s focus shifts to the cover-up of the murder of football player and rapist Bryce Walker (Justin Prentice). This murder is falsely pinned on another sexual assaulter, Monty de la Cruz (Timothy Granaderos).

Seeking to give viewers closure towards the intertwining plot lines, the character Winston (Deaken Bluman) becomes a new addition to Liberty High School and poses one of the season’s central questions: ‘Who framed Monty?’ However, this question has already been answered. While Winston has been left in the dark, the viewers and most of the characters are aware that the answer to this question is the killers of Bryce Walker: Jessica (Alisha Boe) and Alex (Miles Heizer). Season four, therefore, hands over the investigating role to Winston, who has the incentive to uncover the killer given that he was Monty’s alibi on the night of Bryce’s murder. Although his obsession with revenge is somewhat delirious, there are moments when we feel sympathy for his character, who is relatable as he falls in love too easily and always ends up getting hurt.

In the midst of unnecessary new characters, misguided narratives and disconcerting messages about violence and toxic masculinity, the depiction of mental health is brought to the forefront of the show through the character Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette). Throughout the four seasons, it is clear that amongst the dark and ominous narratives, the focus of 13 Reasons Why was always Clay Jensen’s journey.

The depiction of mental health is brought to the forefront of the show

When we first saw him on our screens, Clay was portrayed as a young boy who was the only truly good person Hannah (Katherine Langford) could remember and someone who could have been the reason for her choosing to live. The finale of 13 Reasons Why has Clay facing his inner demons which he has desperately fought against in the past three seasons. Exploring the intense anxiety he feels over all the secrets he has kept, Clay begins to experience a form of dissociative personality disorder as two separate personalities begin to emerge. His regular talks with his therapist give the audience a glimpse of Clay’s emotional trauma as a result of everything he has been through.

The most shocking and heart-breaking moment of 13 Reasons Why is in the finale, which dramatically links back to the start of not only season four, but season one as well. These devastating and unexpected scenes are a powerful statement and demonstrate the show’s ability to capture the raw tragedy of real life. This tragedy paradoxically allows the characters to let go and start afresh, leaving the trauma of Liberty High behind them; a heart-warming and emotional ending to conclude their adolescent life.