13 Reasons Why won’t be coming back for season 5 because it is “the logical ending point”

Photo credit: David Moir/Netflix

From Digital Spy

Note: The following article contains discussion of themes including suicide that some readers may find upsetting.

And there we have it. Netflix’s hugely controversial teen show has had its final outing, releasing to the streaming platform early this morning (June 5) for its fourth and final time.

While 13 Reasons Why’s cast and show creators have always staunchly defended it, arguing that the show tackles heavy and yet necessary topics, starting that conversation among its young audiences. But many (including experts) have criticised its approach.

Let’s not forget that Hannah Baker’s (Katherine Langford) death scene was so widely denounced that it was eventually edited out of the show entirely.

“Our creative intent in portraying the ugly, painful reality of suicide in such graphic detail in season one was to tell the truth about the horror of such an act, and make sure no-one would ever wish to emulate it,” showrunner Brian Yorkey said in a statement in 2019.

He later added that “we have heard concerns about the scene from Dr Christine Moutier at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and others, and have agreed with Netflix to re-edit it.”

Photo credit: Netflix

The controversies continued into later seasons though, with widespread condemnation of the brutal sexual assault scene in season two and the show’s redemption arc of Bryce Walker in season three among other criticisms.

Arguably, 13 Reasons Why’s clumsy reputation has become more of a legacy than the plots themselves, outweighing the very discussions that it supposedly set out to encourage – but did this play any part in why it will not be coming back for season five?

Netflix is a business above all else, so it’s hard not to question whether this might have been a factor in the equation. With new streamers getting launched all the time and binge culture at an all time high, the competition to be on top has never been more fierce.

With an ever-developing and expanding model, Netflix has put much more focus on commissioning brand new series of late. We’ve seen other popular shows – such as The Crown – winding down and revealing an end point, and the loss of other juggernauts entirely (Orange is the New Black, we’re looking at you).

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THR previously reported that 13 Reasons Why is a “pricey drama”; the cast have received pay rises, and Netflix has to stump up a hefty licensing fee as the show is also produced by Paramount TV.

Photo credit: David Moir/Netflix

But the answer may actually be a simpler one.

We’ve actually known for a while that the show was coming to its conclusion with season four. In fact, the announcement was made at around the same time that promotion for season three started to gain momentum.

As it turns out, showrunner Brian Yorkey had been working towards a four-part story for even longer than that. The reasoning and inspiration behind that, he says, was because it mirrors the high school experience (one season per year).

“Somewhere in the midst of making season two, when it became clear that we might have the chance to make more seasons of this, I pretty quickly got to a place where it felt like a four-season story,” Yorkey told Entertainment Weekly.

He added that he was “always a little bit suspicious” of shows set in high schools that continue for longer, “because high school is four years long.”

Photo credit: Netflix

“It felt like bringing these characters to their graduation and to scattering to their next things felt like the logical ending point,” Yorkey continued.

“So for a long time, the idea has been, should we be so lucky to have the opportunity, we would do four seasons of this. So certainly going into breaking story for season four, we knew it was the end.”

But regardless of the why, viewers will be looking to see where 13RW leaves our central characters, and whether or not the final farewell will be fitting for a show that – for better or worse – has certainly made an impact.

With all episodes now available on Netflix, we’ll wait on that verdict.

13 Reasons Why is available on Netflix.

We would encourage anyone who identifies with the topics raised in this article to reach out. Organisations who can offer support include Samaritans on 116 123 (www.samaritans.org), and Mind on 0300 123 3393 (www.mind.org.uk). Readers in the US are encouraged to contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

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