13 Reasons Why Review: 10 Ups & 9 Downs From ALL 4 Seasons

6. The 'Why The Hell Not?' Reinvention

It's pretty safe to say that we've established the fact that 13 Reasons Why should have never went on past its first season. But it did, and if it absolutely had to do so, it was better that it completely let go of what it once was in order to make it happen.

What didn't work about the second season was the misguided attempt to extend a story that had already been explored a great deal in the first and this very nearly ended up tainting it. It did taint the show itself and was a clear indication that, without Hannah, it was lost for a purpose. So the creative team went and tried to find a new one.

The show's reinvention in the third season saw it adopt a murder mystery approach, as the gang attempted to figure out who killed Bryce Walker - and even though there was no need for it, it did breathe new life into it. And from there, it adopted a different tone that actually worked, setting up a problematic but engaging final season.

Sure, it was more Riverdale than 13 Reasons, but it was a much better solution than tainting the first season with another never-ending convoluted rehash.