Netflix's 4-Part Mystery Thriller Was So Good, It Lasted 3 Seasons Longer Than Intended

Netflix has been a home of some interesting hits over the years, including one that was so good at its start that it lasted an extra three seasons than it originally planned for. Although there are typically limits to how far Netflix shows go, most running with a three-season stretch, in the early days of the platform, those plans hadn’t shored up yet. One series, which stemmed from a New York Times best-selling novel, wound up getting more seasons than it seemed to know what to do with. 13 Reasons Why, which ran for four seasons, was a huge hit.

13 Reasons Why, which was created by Brian Yorkey and executive produced by Selena Gomez, was a highly-anticipated series for the streaming platform. With a massive audience coming into the show from those who’d read the novel, viewers had high expectations and the series didn’t disappoint in its first season. Edgy and interesting, the series was able to captivate those who’d read the novel and newcomers to the story, investing time and energy into the story of Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he discovered what had happened to his former crush, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) ahead of her devastating suicide.

While the show received some tremendous praise for its first season, as 13 Reasons Why continued into its second, third, and fourth seasons things began to get a bit muddy. The story that built its foundation on a successful novel blossomed into something entirely different, leaving viewers feeling consistently confused.

Did 13 Reasons Why Really Need To Last 4 Seasons?

As one of the most divisive Netflix shows of all time, the fact that 13 Reasons Why lasted four seasons is still genuinely shocking. While the first season of the series did a solid job of telling the story of the book, there were some massive hiccups during the show’s release, including a controversy where the series initially included a highly graphic scene of Hannah’s suicide. While the show removed the scene entirely, viewers were on edge about 13 Reasons Why as it continued. The series likely shouldn’t have gone on for quite so long, but it had some merits.

Although the Rotten Tomatoes score of 13 Reasons Why, which hits a paltry 35%, don’t make it seem like the show was worth watching, reviews of the show can be a bit more forgiving. While most make it clear that it fell off quickly after its first season, there were moments that shined through as the series continued. 13 Reasons Why featured characters that were intensely troubled, like Brandon Flynn’s Justin Foley, and consistently made sure they were three-dimensional. For better or for worse, the series was able to create moments each season that felt like they were breaking barriers.

13 Reasons Why’s Popularity Also Spawned A Netflix Docuseries

Although the series itself wasn’t able to maintain quality as it continued on in its run, 13 Reasons Why did make a difference when it comes to mental health, especially in young adults. For the first three years of the series, 13 Reasons Why: Beyond The Reasons brought the cast and creative team of the show together to talk about the mental health side of the show. Both sharing personal anecdotes and talking about the inner lives of the characters on screen, Beyond The Reasons was an active resource for young adults who were watching the show and struggling.

While the fourth season of 13 Reasons Why didn’t feature a Beyond The Reasons, the three installments of the supplemental documentary-style featurette was a great bonus for young people watching the series and resonating with its messaging. Though some have shared that 13 Reasons Why was a tough watch for those in poor mental health, the caution taken surrounding the series and its unique look at mental health resources made it clear that the creative team behind the show was hoping to help, not hurt, when it came to its viewers.