Sometimes things just happen to you. They just happen. You can't help it. But it's what you do next that counts. Not what happens but what you decide to do about it.




Creator : Brian Yorkey 
Directed by : 
Jessica Yu (6 episodes, 2017-2019)
Kyle Patrick Alvarez/Gregg Araki (4 episodes each, 2017-2018)
Michael Moris (4 episodes, 2018-2019)
Kevin Dowling (4 episodes, 2019)
Carl Franklin/Tom McCarthy/Helen Shaver (2 episodes each, 2017)
Kat Candler/Eliza Hittman/Karen Moncrieff (2 episodes each, 2018)
Aurora Guerrero/Bronwen Hughes (2 episodes each, 2019)
Sunu Gonera/Russell Mulcahy/Brenda Strong/Michael Sucsy (2 episodes each, 2020)
John T. Kretchmer (1 episode, 2019)
Tommy Lohmann/Brian Yorkey (1 episode each, 2020)



Spoilers ahead... 

Season 1 :

Maybe you think I am being silly. I am some stupid girl who gets all worked up over a little thing. But little things matter. 



Based on best-selling book by Jay Asher,  the story is about Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) who leaves 13 tapes to Tony Padilla (Christian Navarro) along with a note telling him to make sure it reaches all the people its meant for as he learns she just killed herself by suicide. Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) who was more than a close friend to Hannah gets those tapes and is scared not knowing what Hannah went through in her final moments and how really did he also made her take that choice of killing herself. 

A very different and unique concept told mainly through point of view of Hannah when we hear all the tapes and also how in present day Clay takes on with his views about Liberty High School culture, all the bullying, and treatment girls get by the baseball jocks. Most of this happens in real too, which is why I assume many people got offended or triggered calling it a useless and nonsense series which it isn't. Its definately a series not meant to be watched alone by those who themselves have suicidal thoughts even though the message is clearly given through the series how you must reach out someone to talk to and not keep to yourself while feeling alone. Although in reality, its the people who are close to the ones they feel are going through a phase or depression that need to actually keep in touch more because its hard for the ones that are hurting to themselves come and talk.

There are many graphic disturbing scenes, including the haunting extended moment where Hannah kills herself. I myself have gone through enough bullying during school days and its not a good feeling, when you don't feel like going to same poor environment everyday and just want to run off away from it. While the guys/girls who do it never show any signs of guilt or regret, maybe their parents are at fault for such kind of upbringing or I don't know what to blame this at because whether they are aware or not , they are hurting other person mentally leaving scars that could lead to either suicide like in this series or a troubled future life specially if the person has a weak heart.

Coming back to the series, we slowly get to know about Hannah, and her reasons for the action she took. Suicide ain't something that just happens, lots of painful moments and time leads to it which is what happens with Hannah, whether its the broken friendship with Jessica Davis (Alisha Boe) and Alex Standall (Miles Heizer), crush on Justin Foley (Brandon Flynn) who allows Bryce Walker (Justin Prentice) to spread fake rumours with her photo, Tyler Down (Devin Druid) always stalking her and taking pictures secretly, Jeff Atkins (Brandon Larracuente) death due to a signboard that Hannah and Sheri Holland (Ajiona Alexus) broke down, Ryan Shaver (Tommy Dorfman) using one of Hannah's poem publically in magazine, Marcus Cole (Steven Silver) who made Hannah believe he was the match for the Valentine thing the school had, and Zach Dempsey (Ross Butler) who got hold of that letter and yet threw it away like it meant nothing. She still manages to go through all that and try for a fresh start only to end up in a room and secretly watching helplessly what Bryce was doing to Jessica or should say allowed to by Justin and then Bryce raping Hannah was when she thought nothing is left now, being physically and mentally violated to the core. 


Her scenes with Kevin Porter (Derek Luke) in final episode that are run parallel with Porter and Clay were painful to watch as you can feel she was on the tight rope and just wanted someone to hold her back and stop her from taking that decision which ofcourse Porter doesn't do. Can't fully blame him, neither I feel parents can get the blame though you can say maybe they or anyone else parents need to be more actively involved in their children's life but then won't that get labelled as over-protective or invading too much into privacy? Also, I disagree with people who blame Hannah for taking her life, not everyone is strong and if you are too hurt, you are gonna take a step that you feel is best way to free yourself from the daily agony because you just want to find peace that you aren't getting otherwise. We all will do anything to stop feeling the pain not caring if its right step or not, which is just what Hannah did after losing hope in everyone.


Hannah telling Clay 'why he didn't say it when she was alive' about him admitting his feelings for her, Clay shouting at everyone in the hallway of school getting frustrated by how fake they all are and Clay learning he wasn't one of reasons for Hannah suicide were my most favorite moments from the season.

Katherine Langford is perfectly casted for Hannah's role and she does full justice. Dylan Minnette as Clay is also great to watch, its a pity that we get very little romantic scenes between them. His ways of teaching lessons to who wronged Hannah may seem unorthodox but its clear he's acting out of emotions and feelings he had for Hannah when others are hiding behind the truth. Though I did feel for Tyler and Courtney specially, way he exposes naked photo of Tyler or makes Courtney uncomfortable at the graveyard. The friendship between Tony and Clay is great to watch, though the narration always keeps you guessing what exactly Tony is hiding since everyone has a secret in this series.  I love Clay's scene with Bryce when he tries to record his confession on the blank side of the 13th tape, even if it means getting physically hurt.

The entire cast is actually quite talented and does a great job, but its fair to say this season belongs to Hannah and Clay, with enough material for rest characters to build on in next seasons. It might seem odd but I was thinking how it would be if Clay's mother didn't decide to go away from taking the Hannah Baker court case from the Liberty High School side, maybe that would had got too conflicted and not right since she totally loves her son, thats just me wanting more drama.

Talking of the songs, there's everyone's favourite 'The Night we Met' (by Lord Huron) which I liked too but my favourite was easily 'The Killing Moon' (Roman Remains version) that captures broken Hannah completely well. Also quite liked 'Run boy Run' (by Woodkid) and 'Into the black' (by Chromatics).

Its easily one of my most favourite standalone season of any series with the tapes keeping the curiosity level high for next episodes while always been emotionally involved with the proceedings. A show that brilliantly deals with the depression during high school days and sends right message without shying away from giving some hard-hitting moments that ain't easy to watch. Also, works as a thriller with the students keen to not let the tapes come out to the school authority as each tape reveals what they had done or their secrets they are trying to not let come out, and how Hannah connects to all that. I can't really find any flaws or problems with the season, if I had to rate it alone then I would be tempted to give a complete 10.



Season 2 :

There's always another side to every story. 



The story now moves five months forward to the court-room with Hannah's parents lawsuit against the Liberty High-School. While hearing the subpoenas of some of the classmates/friends of Hannah in last season, it was clear they will most likely be lieing in court to prevent themselves falling in any legal trouble, even if they did nothing outright wrong but at that age you do get worried for smallest things.  Also, because Bryce is from a rich powerful family and the threat he or the other baseball jocks poses with warnings sent to every person who is supposed to testify next makes it much harder. Instead of the tapes, this season the narrative is based on 'polaroid photos'. It begins with Clay receiving one in his locker telling 'Hannah wasn't the only one', as its unclear whether someone is trying to help him or trick him into something.

Tyler is first one to testify followed by Courtney next, and interestingly both spill out truth, Tyler telling how Hannah wasn't that sweet girl as she pretended having her own fantasies, while Courtney revealing how Hannah acted like a good friend when Courtney always behaved badly with her. Since there's no Hannah or her tapes anymore, we get more to know about her but this time through all the ones who were on the tapes. Many of them tell the truth, while few do lie, for instance Marcus, one of most hated character for me and thereby I enjoy the treatment Clay and some others give him later at the school. Since the lawyer in favour of Liberty High School is highly talented, we get to see Tony struggle and more surprisingly Clay ends up telling truth about how he and Hannah tried drugs once which ofcourse works better for Liberty High School lawyer. 

Bryce testify episode was extremely cringeworthy because you know he is perfectly making up a fake story based on real time he spent with Hannah, to such an extent that Clay even starts to wonder if Bryce is telling truth leading to one of my favourite scene where he points gun at Bryce and brilliant use of  'The Killing Moon' track (Echo and Bunnymen, male version this time). I totally enjoyed Porter's scenes in this season, whether its his angry warning to Bryce that I am always watching you or the courtroom scene where he breaksdown thinking how he could had made Hannah sit back and talk her out of those suicidal thoughts.

Clay starts seeing Hannah all around, something he never tells anyone. She gets in his head driving him crazy as he wants to get her justice. Took a while to get used to this condition of Clay that will only worsen with every season. I definately didn't like his scenes with Skye, it always looked a one way relationship and plus probably I find Clay best with Hannah only, atleast felt little too soon with the case trial coming up.





Jessica is one of main and complex character of this season and I like how they portray her uneasyness at making decisions. She is the one who's survived and still has feelings for Justin despite what he did. Many times she would breakdown, sometimes try things whether its being with a different guy or testing her physical feelings with Alex. Easily my pick for a character thats developed most since the last season. Also, love how Mrs Baker tries to be friendly with Jessica, knowing well she was the one who Hannah talked about in the tape. Or when Jessica does the same when she feels how Mrs Baker would had felt while been told in the court she as a parent failed to save Hannah.  I also like what they do with Justin, who warns Bryce about how he can ruin him even though he fails to do much with the drug history he has.

Two characters I felt very sorry for, one was Tyler, he tried to be friends with Cyrus, fell for his sister but ruined it all and then how all the anger consumed him to take that big decision in the final episode. The washroom episode was the most uneasy scene of the season, way Monty violates and brutally attacks him, its hard to even write on it. While other is Alex, who shot himself in last season and now is struggling to remember the memories related to Hannah, more like Jessica he is always trying to find ways of testing himself, sometimes in ways that could hurt him whether its gun based video games or listening to the tapes again. Most of the times he has the frustrated and angry look, kind of what Clay has always with obvious different reasons. Also how he was so directly linked to the Bryce-Hannah episode and how he could had stopped it if payed enough attention.

Chloe Rice (Anne Winters) wasn't likeable initially, mainly because she was blind to what Bryce says and treating Jessica as some jealous girl who makes up stories. The court-room scene specially where she changes her story was irritating to watch. Her character almost resembled Bryce's dad, both spoiling and ignoring the kind of person Bryce was, something his mom didn't do which we will get to see in 3rd season. Then there was Nina Jones (Samantha Logan), who was friendly to Jessica, but always felt like a girl with some secrets that she doesn't wanna come out, which is the case when she burns all the photos, a stupid move when she could had just burnt her own photo and let others get justice with Bryce and jocks getting punished. Maybe some teenagers act first and think later.

Sheri's scene with the guy who was half responsible for Jeff's death is sweet and then there's the awkward clubhouse scene where she is trying to find the proof of the polaroids.

Two of biggest surprises of season were, firstly Zach who during the school holidays break had a relationship going with Hannah which felt like love but then he gave it all up because he didn't feel comfortable that his other jock friends would like it, a clear guilt visible in his voice as he could had not let Hannah go and nothing bad would had happened after. The other one, which I totally disliked and feel shouldn't have been shown is the bully side of Hannah. This girl testifying tells how she was bullied by Hannah in the older school she was in, I just felt this was un-necessary, we have already been told there's lot more other sides to Hannah's stories and tapes, that she is by no means a saint or perfect girl but the bullying thing felt forced in for me.

I like how Clay and everyone team-up and support Jessica as she tells the truth about the night to the police. For just a brief time, it was fun watching Bryce get angry even though later he gets free from the charges but he does get removed from the school atleast. Also, was good to see Justin about to become brother of Clay with Clay agreeing to his parents about adopting Justin. 

Apart from 'Killing Moon', I loved 'Lovely' (by Billie Ellish and Khalid), very emotional track that covers Clay's feelings for Hannah with flashback and the pain to live life without her as he tries to let her go from his mind. Then there's 'Promise Not To Fall' (by Human Touch), showing the vulnerability of all the characters beautifully.

If you are looking for uniqueness like 1st season then there's a good chance that you will feel either bored or not happy with the 2nd season. I was just looking for answers, and how will all the people who betrayed or let Hannah down, stand up and be true to themselves. And this season very much does it, from the very early episode the result of the trial was clear, so its not really about Hannah getting justice with Bryce behind bars, but if the culture at school changes or a unity gets formed for good this time. Also, its a good watch to see various perspectives on teenage life, friendships and lies they all say to save each other.

Is it better than 1st season? Ofcourse not. Is it a good followup? Very much yes, couldn't have asked for better 2nd season with the ending leaving you wondering how will Clay and his friends handle Tyler's newly created situation. As long as you are eager to hear the stories told by every character, this season will work, if you are only looking to see Bryce get punished then you are in for disappointment!



Season 3 :

 Change, especially positive change, happens so slowly it can feel its not happening at all. 



Some fight occurs at the Homecoming night and Bryce Walker is missing there-after. Few days later, an announcement is made at the Liberty High School that Bryce has been found dead. Everyone had a motive to kill Bryce, but who actually did it? And we got a new student, Ani Achola (Grace Saif) who narrates the entire season which is a very silly and odd choice. This season is basically shown as a murder mystery thriller right from start to the end as one by one every episode pins doubts down on different students mostly all from earlier two seasons who could had done it. Clay is ofcourse prime suspect since he was the one who took gun and pointed it at Bryce in the last season.

Now many had problems with how Bryce character is shown to be human in this season, which initially I was wondering too but as the episodes go on it works well for me. Its not that they are saying Bryce sins should be forgotten, we just see him trying to be a good person even if its way too late for it. We see how his mother offers him help, through meditation where Bryce even breaks down or there's the instance through therapy where Porter tries to help. In the end the reality is, Bryce either can't change however he tries to or the signs visible are too less, as his behavior with Zach and the words he says to Alex were enough to make him feel Bryce is a lost cause. I won't go into the possibility of how Bryce would be if he didn't have that altercation on the homecoming night, would he be a better person in some years or would a new incident again had shown the true Bryce, who knows!

Ani's acting isn't the problem, but its her character thats always poking into other's lives, some of them she has just met and behaves like she knows them since a decade. And funny thing is she has a whole opinion on Bryce without caring to know about Hannah or listen to the tapes. I never liked her with Clay, whatever relationship they try to have. I did like it when she was trying to be close to Bryce, be a helping friend when she found him losing his mind with the parents issue or the racist grandfather. It would had worked out better if her character wasn't flawed and not written the way it is because the concept of her staying in same house when Bryce was alive and yet trying to be on Clay's side to help find the murderer messes it really well for the case. Also, that girl in Jessica's group, the one with spects was very annoying to watch too, luckily she has lesser scenes.

Was fun watching Bryce have a hard time at new school, get bullied, sadly very few scenes as I wanted more of it or maybe that was intentional so we don't start feeling bad for him if it was overdone. I enjoyed his polite and helpful side, little too much but it was good, whether its with Alex for steroids or Tyler hearing out what Monty (Timothy Granaderos) did to him and then straightaway taking side of Tyler rather than Monty when he confronts him, or making a confession tape for Jessica and also admitting to all bad things he did in past with Hannah and others. His scenes with Tony specially were good to watch how he felt responsible for what happened to Tony's parents, and ofcourse his equation with Clay remained same because Clay wasn't ready to see any changes in him. Clay probably belongs to the majority of audience who didn't buy the 'human side of Bryce'.

Chloe was more likeable this season, mainly because she finally saw what Bryce is, even if it was bit too late if seen by justice for Hannah angle, and I liked her equation with Zach which ofcourse would hurt Bryce. Lovely cameo from Mrs Baker, and her dialogue to Bryce 'I wish you a lifetime of learning what sorry means' summed up her feelings and to some extent mine too. Also, liked the introduction of Winston (Deaken Bluman), the love interest of Monty, only one who knew Monty got framed.

Justin's character evolved more, ever since Clay's parents decided to adopt him in last season. Fun watching him and Clay together like brothers, something that would be unseen of happening when Justin almost wanted to kill Clay so Jessica's truth doesn't come out in the first season. Jessica gets some awkward scenes with Alex before she finally reunites with Justin. Feel bad for Alex though, he kept becoming on and off kind of thing for Jessica. The rebel angle always trying to go against the school culture and the jocks who believe they are above everyone else, was best part of Jessica in here though on occasions she went way over the top.

Tyler is my favourite character from this season, all the painful haunting of the Monty incident he carries deep inside, the constant check Clay and all keep on him so he stays stable and improves even though Zach or Tony aren't in favour. Tyler's confession to Clay about what really happened was the best scene of the season, specially when Clay asks for permission if he can just hug him. I know Tyler wasn't perfect, stalking Hannah, or always taking others pictures without asking but then every person is grey and he never deserved to be treated the way Monty did. A lovely scene later on when Jessica asks for anyone who had sexual or any kind of abuse to standup assuring them that she and everyone is with them, as Tyler stands up but the surprise is Justin who never told before about her mother's boyfriend abuse to him as a kid.

Enjoyed 'The Killing Moon' (Slow version) that is played when Bryce for first time listens to his tape, love how Tony stays with him for entire time very much like he did when Clay heard his tape in 1st season. I prefer other two versions of the song more though. Also, liked 'Tired' (by Beabadobee), 'Die A Little' (by Yungblud), 'Into The Fire' (by These New Puritans), 'This Baby Don't Cry' (by K. Flay)  and 'Who killed Bryce' theme. 


The mystery surrounding who killed Bryce is carried out very well throughout the season and so is the execution of death scene of Bryce, a complete murder would had been maybe not that impactful as it was here with Zach, Jessica and Alex all playing a part. If it wasn't for Ani as the narrator, this season would had been on par with 2nd one for me, not much to dislike otherwise. 



Season 4 :

 Love has only fucked up my life, has made me question my relationships, my closest friends. And God knows, love has made my closest friends question me. So you know what? Fuck love. 



Winston joins Liberty High School as he tries to find out real culprit behind Bryce murder so he can prove Monty was framed. Meanwhile, Clay's head gets more messed up with Monty and Bryce continously haunting him as he decides to see therapist Dr Robert Ellman (Gary Sinise).

A very strange season, its slow but what irked me most was it wasn't engaging at all. I enjoyed Clay's scenes with therapist, but I wanted it to lead to somewhere which it never does, apart from one scene where he tells Clay to open up about his secrets to his friends which he does. And Winston was the major disappointment, the last scene of Season3 along with the trailer clearly gave hope it would focus a lot on him and the first episode does same too but then there's the very unconvincing Alex-Winston love track that spoils the motive, I for one moment didn't feel he truly loved Alex as he says when he lets Alex secret stay safe in the end for love which doesn't really have any impact. And why would they totally let Winston disappear in many of the middle episodes? Also, it was tiring to see the overuse of 'shit' word.

They totally stretch Clay's mental health, had they got done with it by 5th episode I would have enjoyed the last two episodes lot more but now it felt like 'Okay we have had enough of it, lets give the cheesy sweet scenes and finish on a good note'. The visions of Monty and Bryce were also overdone and not totally giving the chills as it would in previous seasons. If you love Clay, you might feel his character is made to go through a lot for 4th time in a row, maybe writing team shouldn't have done that this time, gets too repititive. I had no problems with his split personality twist revealed, just wish they kept the episodes lot tighter rather than letting it meander till we reached 8th episode.

When its the last season, you would want all the friendships that happened to get stronger and fight the new problem ahead, rather we see them fallen or falling apart again.  Not to forget the unwanted death of Justin through Aids to gain some emotional sympathy. The writing team totally spoiled Justin's character, first they show the rift growing with Clay after having us root for their brotherhood in past 2 seasons and then equation with Jessica as she gets involved with Diego Torres (Jan Luis Castellanos) initially to make him jealous and then keeping at it since Winston is closing in to the Bryce murder culprit.

Ani thankfully isn't given a larger role though she is very much there in most episodes still but I loved the fact that they did make Clay breakup with her, that was a huge respite. Tony's boxing fights somehow didn't feel that real to me in the manner they are shot though I did like that twist to make his story look far better than others. Zach was fun to watch, almost like 'Thor from Endgame' when he went totally drunk and not caring a fuck about anyone, specially love that baseball bat scene where he is very carefully hitting the frame of pictures on the walls. If there's one plot that I totally enjoyed then it was Alex-Charlie scenes, they both made for a cute couple, at times cheesy but I will take it.

Diego-Jessica angle or Monty's sister Estella, both felt doing very little to the narrative. Two episodes were total let-downs, one was Camping trip where they suddenly bring horror element and other the stupid school lockdown drill like seriously what school would allow that specially when you know how much students have already suffered in past few years. I was fine with the additional security or police patrol daily, that made sense plus keeps the motives of Deputy Diaz (Benito Martinez) unclear whether he is going against Deputy Standall (Mark Pellegrino) in private investigation or he is just keeping Clay and all safe. Its hard to believe though that Principal Gary Bolan (Steven Weber) never gets replaced as the principal. The later episode where all students go on attack also felt wrong way to communicate, and so did the police attacking, especially when they are running drills to make students ready for attacks and then themselves doing it. I loved the Clay scene though when he shouts off at Bolan telling whats so wrong about him and his tactics, somewhat reminded of 1st season outburst which was then at the students. Clay's getting drunk and getting involved with Diaz daughter was unexpected and almost a dejavu of 'Sex education' episode where Otis did same minus ofcourse his loads of hurtful words which thankfully Clay doesn't do though he almost kills Zach in drunk driving.

The college related emails, where everyone is wanting to go or the interviews later were interesting to watch. Also was the prom, I mainly enjoyed Winston-Monty emotional imaginative dance and Clay with her mom having no partner. Jessica-Justin didn't work, thanks to the way they mess up their relation this season. Justin hospital scenes with Clay were definately emotional to see along with that lovely track 'Washing of the water' (by Peter Gabriel). Also, liked 'Bottom of the deep blue sea' (by Missio) and Harm (by IO Echo), quite a low season even in terms of music that appealed to me.

The final episode is way too long, I enjoyed Clay's speech at the graduation day. Also good to see many old characters present in there, like Courtney and Ryan. I personally would had liked some flashback scenes of Hannah to conclude it, maybe didn't get the dates or they preferred doing it by the digging tapes scene. The final shot of Clay and Tony, where nothing is happening pretty much summed up my feeling for this season, very less to love and a bad conclusion to what had been enjoyable series. I still hope they have the college life seasons in future and ofcourse do justice to it than they did in here.

Overall, 13 Reasons why had terrific 1st season, a very good follow up in 2nd, a good mystery thriller in 3rd minus Ani's irritating narration and a complete messup in 4th season. Definately a very good series despite the problems in the final two seasons.

My Rating : 7.5/10