10 TV Shows That Should Have Quit When They Were Ahead

5. Thirteen Reasons Why

The first season was controversial enough already, but from a purely critical standpoint it was relatively well received.

The fact it seemed to glamorise suicide, didn’t seem to have a handle on the delicate topics it was dealing with and physically showed a girl slitting her wrists in a show intended for a teenage audience are all valid criticisms. However, viewing it in isolation, it was a groundbreaking first season of television, explored places few other shows do and captured the hearts and minds of many.

It drew some unfavourable comparisons to fellow Netflix show BoJack Horseman, but that’s apples and pears. The shows have different themes, narratives and audiences. The fact is, Thirteen Reasons Why could cope with the criticism because it delivered on a narrative front; it could take the slings and arrows.

Season 2 however felt hugely unnecessary, as it just seemed like Season 1 rehashed from a different perspective. The criticisms seemed a lot more fitting as the show cranked up the controversy with no gain on screen.

Season 1's rape scene was difficult to watch but at least made narrative sense, even if the arc wasn’t closed as satisfying as we would like. In Season 2 though, it was more extreme, more gratuitous and much, much less necessary.

Rather than fishing for scandal, the show should’ve went out on a high after their first offering.