13 Reasons Why Recap: Grasping For Straws

By Daniel Hart
Published: August 23, 2019 (Last updated: November 1, 2023)
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Netflix Series 13 Reasons Why Season 3, Episode 8 - In High School, Even on a Good Day, It's Hard to Tell Who's on Your Side
3.5

Summary

13 Reasons Why Season 3, Episode 8, “In High School, Even on a Good Day, It’s Hard to Tell Who’s on Your Side” goes deeper into the investigation of Clay.

This recap of 13 Reasons Why Season 3, Episode 8, “In High School, Even on a Good Day, It’s Hard to Tell Who’s on Your Side” contains significant spoilers. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.


Episode 8 immediately follows the closure of Episode 7, with Ani in Clay’s room. She was trying to draw up a timeline for Clay, and he is devastated and angry that she believes it may have been him. Clay is genuinely worried that he may end up going to prison, matching it with flashbacks to how he asked Ani if they could still be friends after their random kiss.

And randomly, Mr Porter returns, the ex-school Counsellor. Mr Porter is relevant to the story, but the position he has in this chapter does not make sense; why would he be asking questions in front of the police? Anyway, Mr Porter takes it upon himself to interview the students about Clay.

Meanwhile, Clay is up to no good; he looks through Mrs Walker’s files in her office and finds Bryce’s letters — there’s a note where Mrs Walker wishes Bryce never existed and he approaches Ani about it. Ani is frustrated at Clay’s approach, but she recognises Mr Porter and queries his motives. Everyone is written into the series as a suspect.

Ani hands Bryce’s journal; Mr Porter recommended that Bryce write a daily entry about his feelings and what he wanted to work on — Mr Porter and Clay have an honest conversation about Bryce, how the letter from his mother was written from Bryce’s perspective. We are served more flashbacks, with Bryce opening up on his violent sexual desires when sleeping with Ani, and how he wants to do the best for her. Mr Porter recommends that he cannot date or have sex.

What happens next in Episode 8 is most likely the stand-out scene of Season 3 and applause deserve to go to Devin Druid for pulling it off. Clay asks Tyler if Monty did something to him before he planned the shooting. In a somewhat difficult scene to adjust to, Tyler tells Bryce everything, holding back his painful anguish, before spilling it all out. Clay hugs him, allowing all the emotions to come screaming out at once. Watching what happened to Tyler was extremely difficult to witness — seeing Tyler come to terms with it and telling someone was just as hard.

13 Reasons Why Season 3, Episode 8, “In High School, Even on a Good Day, It’s Hard to Tell Who’s on Your Side” ends with Monty asking Clay why Justin has a shaving can in his bag if he uses electric. Clay cannot implicate Monty because he made a promise to Tyler to keep his secret under wraps. Clay checks out the shaving cream tin and finds pills addressed for Bryce inside.

What is Justin hiding?

If you are in crisis or affected by the show, reach out for help — go to 13reasonswhy.info and talk to someone.

Missing Tape Recordings

  • Clay’s mother tells Clay not to do anything suspicious.
  • Zach tells Mr Porter that Clay is a good person.
  • Ani and Bryce were practically in a relationship.

You can read the recap of the ninth episode by clicking these words.

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