Ep 7. Episode 7

In Episode 7 of 13 Reasons Why's first season, titled "Tape 4, Side B," Clay and his classmates continue to listen to Hannah's tapes, and the focus shifts to the fourth person on the list: Zach Dempsey.

As Hannah's story unfolds, it becomes clear that Zach played a significant role in her downward spiral. In this episode, we see flashbacks to the summer before Hannah's sophomore year, when she worked with Zach at the local movie theater. Though they initially had a friendly rapport, things took a turn when Hannah's efforts to make new friends were rebuffed by the other girls in their class. Feeling isolated and alone, Hannah left a note in Zach's yearbook asking him to keep in touch, but he didn't.

As the school year begins, we see Zach returning to school with a newfound confidence, fueled by his success on the basketball team. He decides to make a bold move and steals a compliment that Hannah wrote to him on a piece of paper during class, thinking that it will boost his social status. When Hannah confronts him about it, Zach lashes out, telling her that she's just a "lonely, pathetic girl" who nobody cares about.

Meanwhile, in the present day, Clay is struggling to cope with the information he's learning from the tapes. His relationship with his friend Tony is strained, and he begins lashing out at those around him. He decides to take matters into his own hands and confronts Zach about his role in Hannah's suicide.

The episode's title, "Tape 4, Side B," is a nod to the cassette tapes that Hannah recorded before her death. It's also a reference to the fact that each tape has two sides, and each side focuses on a different person on Hannah's list.

As the episode draws to a close, we see Hannah's parents struggling to understand their daughter's death. They begin to piece together the puzzle of her life, and realize that there were signs that she was struggling that they didn't see.

Overall, Episode 7 is a powerful addition to the series. It delves deeper into Hannah's backstory and explores the complex web of relationships that contributed to her decision to take her own life. It's a reminder that even small actions can have big consequences, and that we never truly know what someone is going through.