The show 13 Reasons Why was one of the most popular on Netflix when it was released, and after it wrapped up after four seasons, fans had a lot to say about the characters that came and went from this series. Zach was in it from the beginning, but his character was far from consistent.
Like every show, there’s bound to be some character flaws and some plot holes, so it’s time to reflect on all things Zach. He was far from perfect, but honestly, there were just some things about this character that just made absolutely no sense.
Why He Would Steal Hannah’s Letters
Honestly, this seems like something out of a first grader’s diary, but nonetheless, it was true. Zach was upset that Hannah turned him down, so he stole letters from her box containing compliments for a class activity.
Zach is portrayed as the ‘nice guy’ throughout the show. Fans see him be nice to Chloe and Alex when no one else was, but for some reason, he was shallow enough to steal the compliments from the girl he likes? This aspect of his character just didn’t align, and was honestly just annoying.
His & Hannah’s Secret Relationship
If there’s one thing that fans were scratching their heads at during the testifying episodes of season 2, it’s probably this. After the compliment stealing shenanigans and the blow off between these two, it makes little to no sense that they were together.
Besides that, it was even stranger that they kept it a secret. Neither of them ever told anybody? Zach might be a nice guy, but there’s no way he’s that nice - especially if he’s low enough to steal some cheap compliments.
Why He Secretly Gave Clay The Polaroids
As things heat up during the trial, Clay is mysteriously given photographs of Bryce with girls from school, and all of them seem to take place in the secret clubhouse behind the football field.
Zach eventually confronts Bryce, and then gives Justin and Clay the Polaroids, and admits he had given Clay the first ones. He might have been a bit scared to do it at first, but he goes from wanting out of the whole thing to confronting Bryce in public about them, which seems pretty inconsistent.
His Friendship With Bryce
The show does everything it can to paint Zach as different from the others. He’s chosen as captain (clearly by the coaches) in order to make a difference in the toxic culture surrounding him. He also helps Chloe, and he seems to have very high standards and values.
So, why was he ever friends with Bryce? His friendship with him is shaken up by Hannah and her death, as well as the trial and Chloe’s pregnancy. However, it makes little sense why he’d ever give Bryce the time of day.
Everything With Justin
Zach is simultaneously Justin’s biggest supporter and biggest critic. Their friendship sizzles out throughout the series and becomes less and less important. However, the flashbacks show how close these two are.
Zach forces him to join the football team, and he even cheats Justin’s drug test for him. Not only does this not align with Zach’s high-strung morals, but their entire friendship only gets weaker and weaker - for no apparent reason.
Covering For Clay
If there’s one character who consistently tries to get as far away from the drama as possible, it’s definitely Zach. He wants nothing to do with Tyler and his dwindling mental health, and he is constantly interrogated as being the ‘weak link’.
Still, when Mr. Porter invites everyone in to vouch for Clay, Zach has absolutely nothing but great things to say. He’s there when it matters, fans suppose, but he’s more than wishy-washy.
His Giving Up
Practically every character got their redemption at the end of their character arcs when the series ended, but nothing was more disappointing than the complete downfall of Zach’s growth.
He regresses more than anyone, and his horrible attitude toward school and the future is honestly just annoying. His football career was over, but his constant pessimism and rebellion were so out of line with who he was in the earlier seasons.
His Confession To Winston
Winston was a complicated character that fans tried to understand, and while his intentions were arguably good, his moment with Zach was a confusing moment for both of these guys.
While the school shooter drill is in progress, Zach gets high with Winston and confesses that he beat up Bryce. This ends up getting Zach beat up by Diego and the guys. Since Zach wanted totally out of it and didn’t want to talk to anyone, it was beyond strange that he confided this information in Winston.
Being Both Kind & Totally Awful
Zach cares about Hannah, he bends over backward for Alex, lifts Justin up, and even admits to a murder to protect Clay. He’s a great, selfless, and kind guy. However, he’s also totally insensitive and aggressive.
He threatens to beat up Tyler in season 1, he does everything to protect his image on the tapes, and almost beats Bryce to death. He is back and forth more than any other character, and it was pretty difficult to keep up with Zach’s personality and actions.
Ending Up In Music School
While it’s pretty heartfelt that Zach ended up going with another passion, outside of football, that no one really supported, it also doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for his character arc.
Coach Kerba offers him a job as a coach for the school, and this should be everything Zach dreamed of since his entire life went downhill after he broke his leg. Then suddenly, he’s off to study guitar and voice. It’s sweet, but it’s also totally random - and is another inconsistency with this character.