13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]’s Death Explained

Contents

13 Reasons Why season 4 concludes with characters reflecting on their pasts and their futures amid a tragic death. Here’s a breakdown of the ending.

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13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

Netflix has officially released 13 Reasons Why season 4, with the ending following the characters as they embark on new chapters of their lives in the wake of yet another tragic death. Here’s everything that happened and what it meant. Based on Jay Asher’s book of the same name, 13 Reasons Why debuted on the streaming service in 2017, generating huge buzz and even positive reviews. Described as powerful and hard-hitting, the show’s first season explored the suicide of Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) and the thirteen reasons that led her to that decision. Along the way, 13 Reasons Why delved into dark and serious subject matter – including bullying, drug abuse, and sexual assault.

Leaving the source material behind, the show continued that trend to ever-diminishing returns and increasing backlash. As a result, news that 13 Reasons Why season 4 would be the last was met with very little disappointment. Following the murder of Bryce Walker (Justin Prentice) at the hands of Alex Standall (Miles Heizer) and Jessica Davis (Alisha Boe) – and the posthumous framing of Monty de la Cruz (Timothy Granaderos) by the group – the final season picks up with the main characters struggling under the weight of that secret. That strain was only exacerbated by new additions such as Winston Williams (Deaken Bluman), Diego Torres (Jan Luis Castellanos), and Estela de la Cruz (Inde Navarrette) – who each had their own reasons for potentially exposing what really happened to Bryce. That endeavor was also shared by Sheriff Diaz (Benito Martinez), as he began to pick holes in how the investigation had unfolded.

13 Reasons Why season 4 also follows the characters as they prepare for graduation and to venture off to college. Along the way, the show dealt with the harrowing nature of school shooting preparedness drills and timely themes of racial tensions between police and people of color – including the protests and riots that can spawn as a result. As if that wasn’t enough, the final run of episodes teased further tragedy to come, with intermittent flashforwards depicting a mysterious funeral. Following his collapse in 13 Reasons Why season 4 episode 9, “Prom”, it was revealed that the coffin belonged to Justin Foley (Brandon Flynn), who had spent the majority of the season building towards his future in meaningful ways.

Why Justin Foley Was The Character Who Died

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

In 13 Reasons Why season 4, episode 10, “Graduation”, it was revealed that Justin had previously contracted HIV-1 as a result of his time on the streets. Ashamed of his past drug habit and the fact he’d had to sell himself to make money, Justin had avoided getting tested despite the Jensens paying for full physical examinations. As a result, the infection had transitioned into full-blown AIDS. Further, his weakened immune system had led to him contracting pneumonia (which was previously mistaken for withdrawal symptoms) and fungal meningitis. Throughout the episode, the Jensens and the rest of Justin’s13 Reasons Why friends could only watch on and say their goodbyes as Justin unavoidably succumbed to his illnesses.

Many fans will no doubt be frustrated with it being Justin that ultimately served as the final tragedy of 13 Reasons Why. Despite a rocky start – which saw him contribute in a number of ways to Hannah’s suicide and fail to prevent Bryce Walker from raping Jessica – Justin Foley became a firm fan-favorite. This is in large part because he had the show’s only successful redemption arc. Unlike the controversial decision to humanize Bryce Walker, Justin showed consistent remorse for his past actions. Equally, he actively tried to make up for those mistakes. Across the subsequent seasons, Justin never again hesitated to fight for and protect Jessica – even as traveling across the school in what may have been a real school shooting just to make sure she was safe. He often did the same for Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), solidifying their journey from bitter enemies to adopted brothers. That, coupled with the revelations regarding his upbringing, served to mold Justin into a truly sympathetic figure.

As a result, seeing Justin finally getting clean and successfully pursuing a chance to attend college felt genuinely earned. The fact that Justin never got to graduate or see-through those plans will understandably feel like a cruel twist. However, there is some logic behind why the writers opted for Justin to be the one that passed away. Firstly, it brings things full circle, culminating with a tragic death the same way that 13 Reasons Why began with one. By not allowing Justin to catch the disease early and recover, it also continues the show’s trend of trying to shed light on the harsh realities of life. Though he wasn’t truly beloved by everyone in the core group, he had the strongest connections with most of its members. He was Clay’s brother. He was the best friend of Zach Dempsey (Ross Butler). He was the first true love of Jessica. He was co-captain of the football team with Charlie St. George (Tyler Barnhardt). Furthermore, though he had ultimately become close with the resident outsiders of the school, he was still also firmly ensconced with the popular cliques and the jocks of the aforementioned sports team. As such, his death was primed to have the widest impact throughout the school – as seen with the visiting area of the hospital consistently packed with people wanting to say their goodbyes. As bitter a pill it may be for many viewers to swallow, Justin was more easily positioned, in death, to provoke reflection among the most characters and bring an end to lingering enmities.

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Why Winston, Diego, and The Sheriff Stopped Pursuing The Truth About Bryce’s Death

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

Throughout 13 Reasons Why season 4, a number of people tried to uncover who had really killed Bryce Walker. The charge was mostly led by Winston and Diego. Winston had been with Monty the night that Bryce died, so he knew he couldn’t have committed the crime. Diego, meanwhile, grieved for his former teammate despite the heinous things he had actually been responsible for. They each had different approaches to getting to the truth. Diego tried to do it by force – trying to drive Clay to a breaking point and literally beat the truth out of Zach. Winston, meanwhile, was more sneaky, surreptitiously ingratiating himself with Alex, Tyler Down (Devin Druid), and others. Ultimately, the pair formed a friendship and joined forces, even trying to draw Monty’s sister, Estela, into their quest.

By the 13 Reasons Why season 4 finale, however, both were moved to let go of that goal. After Alex revealed the truth of his culpability to him and he heard the impassioned speeches at Justin’s funeral, Winston willingly handed over the evidence he’d gathered and vowed to keep the secret. Estela indicated earlier in the season that Winston’s quest might not be entirely about avenging Monty. The finale proved that to be true. When all was said and done, Winston was revealed to be someone who loves too quickly and too deeply. He’d fallen for Monty after only a few trysts and despite not truly knowing him. He’d also fallen for Alex in a similar fashion. As such, the majority of his endeavor was driven by a desire for friendship and love and to be included – as well as a bitterness over it seemingly being taken from him, despite the fact it had been a consequence of his own duplicity. Despite not really knowing Justin Foley, his death and the subsequent grief was enough to provoke a sobering effect within Winston, guiding him to a little more self-awareness and the fact that not everything is black and white.

Similarly, as death is wont to do, Justin’s passing led to a reevaluation on the part of Diego. It remains unclear whether he learned of Alex’s involvement or whether he continued to believe Jessica had killed Bryce. Whatever the case, where one death had set him on his vengeful path, the second was enough to remind him that there had already been enough pain. That, and the fact he had developed genuine feelings for Jessica, moved him to not continue the cycle started by Bryce and Monty but follow in Justin’s more honorable footsteps. Letting go of his grudges, he vowed to be there for Jessica when she was open to allowing him. Another character who had to suspect a cover-up was Sheriff Diaz, going as far as to correctly suspect Alex’s father’s part in it. However, he also reevaluated his position in the finale – sympathizing with the desire to protect one’s family (as he would his own daughter) and noting that perhaps the teenage characters had suffered enough karmic consequences.

Why Ani Didn’t Accept Mrs. Walker’s Money

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

Towards the end of 13 Reasons Why season 4, Ani (Grace Saif) is visited by Bryce Walker’s mother (Brenda Strong). After a brief catch-up, Mrs. Walker offered Ani the money that she’d previously saved for Bryce’s college education. As somebody who comes from an immigrant, work-class background who was struggling to get a full scholarship, the money would have been useful. However, the finale revealed that Ani had convinced Mrs. Walker to give the many to HO (Hands Off), Jessica’s activist group dedicated to aiding survivors of sexual assault. The decision is extremely befitting of Ani’s character, who is always seeking to help people and solve their problems. By putting the money in the hands of Estela (the group’s new leader), it allows it to help a wide-ranging amount of people, rather than just herself. The choice also allows Ani to follow in the inspiration footsteps set by her mother and make her own way in the world. Equally, it serves as a final, ironic middle finger to Bryce Walker – that money originally meant for him will now instead help the kind of victims he left in his wake.

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Why Zach Chose To Study Music

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

One character that received a modicum of a happy ending was Zach. In the wake of Justin’s funeral, Zach spoke with Coach Kerba (Brandon Scott) regarding a college recommendation he’d written for him. The coach then further expressed his respect for Zach by offering him a job helping to coach the various sports teams of Liberty High. It was an offer that Zach graciously accepted. Matters were later confused, however, by Zach’s announcement that he would be going to college after all to study music. It remained unclear whether he planned to juggle both endeavors or if the previous offer had been subsequently forgotten by the writers. Whatever the case, despite fans being potentially baffled, Zach pursuing a future in music was actually seeded earlier in the season.

In 13 Reasons Why season 4, episode 5, “House Party”, Clay drunkenly stumbled across Zach playing the piano. He explained that his mother had forced him to take lessons for seven years. The pair then went on to offer the room a brief rendition of “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John, with humorously modified lyrics. The scene was one of the season’s most lighthearted and entertaining moments. Even more than that, however, it was one of the only times that Zach offered a genuine smile. Still weighed down by his part in what happened to Bryce and the cover-up, Zach spent season 13 Reasons Why 4 exhibiting extremely self-destructive behavior. Turning to drink and drugs and even unique forms of self-harm, Zach’s descent continued until after Justin’s passing. The moment he played the piano and sung with Clay, however, gave fans a glimpse of the real Zach they had come to know and love over the years. As such, when he finally emerged from his spiral, it made all the sense in the world that he would return to that brief moment of enjoyment and peace and incorporate it into his new plans for the future.

What Hannah Baker’s Return Means

13 Reasons Why Season 4 Ending & [SPOILER]s Death Explained

One of the lingering issues of 13 Reasons Why has been Clay’s frequently ignored mental health issues. Across each of the seasons, he has exhibited disassociative behavior and other symptoms that would suggest schizophrenia. 13 Reasons Why season 4 seemed to finally delve into addressing those issues, with Clay finally confronting his various episodes of lost time and disassociation. He even received professional help for them in the form of Dr. Robert Ellman (Gary Sinise). Unfortunately, Clay was rarely honest with his therapist. Though he eventually opened up more, there was one element of his issues that Clay never admitted to. Furthermore, Clay tried to explain it away in the season finale as something he was aware and in control of, yet his actions immediately afterward said otherwise.

The moment came with the brief return of Hannah Baker. As the gang sat and pondered their futures immediately after graduation and before burying Hannah’s tapes, Clay locked eyes with a ghostly vision of his former love. Moments before, he had spoken with one of Justin. During their conversation, he insisted that he doesn’t talk to ghosts and indicated that it was nothing crazy but merely him imagining conversations. However, both he and Hannah silently stood up after seeing each other. Clay immediately started walking towards her. Though it seemed as though he was indeed imagining the encounter, he was snapped back to reality by a voice calling his name – revealing that he actually had walked halfway across the hall. The voice turned out to belong to Heidi, a girl from another school who was set to go to the same university as Clay. The two quickly bonded and set up a date for the future – which equally went against another of Clay’s seeming breakthroughs, regarding how he falls too hard and too quickly for girls and wouldn’t do that anymore.

It could be construed that the vision of Hannah Baker was Clay’s way of letting go and finally being able to forgive people for how they’d hurt us. However, he’d previously already done that at the end of 13 Reasons Why season 2. The cameo was likely an excuse to get Langford back for the final episode, so as to bring things full circle. Still, it’s hard to ignore the potential thematic impact and that it could just as easily imply the opposite regarding how far along Clay is in his recovery. As such, Hannah’s brief return lends an almost ambiguous feeling to the end of 13 Reasons Why – one that begged the question of whether or not the character of Clay Jensen had truly learned his lessons across the four seasons.

Link Source : https://screenrant.com/13-reasons-why-season-4-ending-justin-death/

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