13 Reasons Why: 10 Reasons Why The First Season Was The Best

The controversial Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why initiated a crucial conversation on sensitive topics such as sexual abuse, suicide, drug abuse, HIV, and, of course, high school bullying. The series ended with four seasons but it was the first season that introduced fans to the students at Liberty High School.

The season began with the story of Hannah Baker as her past unfolded through her tapes, leading up to the moment her mother found her dead in the bathtub. While the second season was fine, although not as good as the first one, the third and fourth really deteriorated in terms of plot and script.

10 The First Season Was The Most Original

The first season of the series was clearly well thought out. The episodes were tight and the writers weren’t just slumming it in terms of the plot which they seemed to be doing, especially in the 4th season.

For the first season, it was apparent that a lot of thought, creativity, and effort had gone behind putting it together. The script was original, something that was a tad lost in the upcoming seasons.

9 It Kept Fans On Edge

Fans were kept on edge throughout the first season which narrated the reasons that drove Hannah to take that final step.

The pace of the season, along with the conciseness of thought, got fans hooked at once. The story of getting justice for Hannah was one that fans wanted to see through until the end.

8 Emotions Ran High

Speaking of Hannah’s story, it resonated with viewers because of the sheer way it tugged at the heartstrings.

The suicide of a high school teen and the impact it has on her family and schoolmates are naturally deeply moving and profound. Although the other seasons too dealt with extremely heartbreaking issues, Hannah Baker’s story stayed with fans.

7 Novel & Creative Storytelling

The most intriguing thing about season 1 of 13 Reasons Why was its novel storytelling. From the title card to the first-person narration, the connection with the target audience was instant and seamless. Of course, the first-person narration in itself wasn’t very novel, but it was interesting that it came from someone who had already passed on, almost like a voice from the beyond.

Moreover, the series broke stereotypes and wasn’t afraid to take on sensitive subjects. As each tape came up and Hannah’s story unfolded, the fans became invested in it organically. Unfortunately in the following seasons, the novelty and creativity waned a bit.

6 The Most Focused Of The Seasons

Season 1 was the most focused of all the seasons as it didn’t try to include too much conversation and stayed with the main story of Hannah Baker.

Although there were a host of other characters, the central protagonists were Hannah and Clay which made it easier for the audience to keep track. The plethora of issues and characters the other seasons tried to address lacked the focus of the first season.

5 Aided By Experienced Actors

Season 1 had experienced actors such as Kate Walsh who added a touch of class to the already talented young cast.

Moreover, other senior actors like Mark Pellegrino, Josh Hamilton, Amy Hargreaves, and Derek Luke, all brought their acting chops to their roles, which, however peripheral, elevated the quality instantly. Walsh disappeared after season 2 and the roles of the other adults, except Pellegrino’s, became even more limited.

4 Limited Characters

The first season bound the narrative with a handful of characters, each of who played a part in Hannah’s suicide. A new character was introduced as each episode unfolded, in a way that spoke volumes about their personalities.

The moment the show decided to expand to more and more characters, and a convoluted network of relationships emerged, the attention waned. There was no scope to develop these characters enough. For instance, the series barely scratched the surface of the characters of Montgomery, Winston, and even Ani.

3 The Good-Evil Binary In The First Season Worked

The first seasons kept things simple, setting up one character, Bryce Walker, as the villain. But that storyline was entirely deconstructed in season 3.

However, for fans, to hate a character so whole-heartedly and then learn to feel some sense of compassion for him is difficult, especially when it comes to stories that feel so real and topics that are so relevant and hit so close to home. That is why the streamlined good-evil binary of the first season worked better.

2 The Season Finale Was Well-rounded

The first season finale had a sense of hope about it, although the season 2 premiere shattered that illusion. Hannah’s mates in school who had thus far tried their best to shove the incident and their roles in it under the rung, all delivered in the last minute, giving testimonies mostly in favor of Hannah.

On the other hand, Jessica Davies finally opened up and told her father about the abuse she had faced, thus ensuring that Bryce Walker got what he deserved. Moreover, Clay finally did the right thing and handed over the tapes to Hannah’s parents, and seemed more at peace with himself than he had throughout the season.

1 Hannah Baker

Hannah was one of the main leads of the first season and although her story included many other students at Liberty High, fans responded to Hannah, along with a few others like Clay, and Justin.

The series followed the gang around for the next three seasons, but for all those who watched the series, the first season with Hannah Baker was undoubtedly the most memorable.

About The Author