Why, Me? - Season 13

On April 13, 2034, a third 20-episode order on Tanzania (thirteenth of the show overall) was announced for ***Why, Me?***. After much backlash for the previous season airing due to ex-castmate, Dan’s, death, the announcement was unexpected. While Mary De La Wary departed during the final episode of Season 12, guest in the last season and Ryan Alexander’s sister, Mandy Alexander, joined the cast. Premiering on October 21, 2034 and concluding on August 4, 2035, the season consisted of 17 episodes (due to production time being lost because of a mystery illness) and averaged 4.59 million viewers.

## Plot

From a mental health crisis, home rearrangements, an overload for Max at home and work life to being stuck in the midst of a robbery, a music video with diva antics, childhood memories being restored between siblings and a pregnancy prank that nearly breaks apart a relationship, drama is major during the thirteenth season of *Why, Me?* as another year at Northdale is documented!

The series kicks off with Jax in the middle of a mental breakdown caused by his depression. However, he stumbles across a familiar face that he can’t quite place - who he later remembers as Mandy Alexander. When she manages to trick him into going home, she is greeted with open arms and with approval of Max, Ryan asks her to stay “for a bit”. To strengthen their relationship after a “lost” few years, Ryan takes Mandy out around Northdale. Ricky starts off the series in a place of struggle as his finances catch up with him. In a bid to cut costs, Jax and Joyce leave his residence with the intent to move back into “Max’s Mansion”. Although tough after a harsh departure the previous year, Max opens up his arms. Later, when Ricky turns to Max to become the mansion’s seventh resident, Jax has to help Max open up his heart in letting him in. Due to Thanksgiving right around the corner, in this episode, Joyce and Keira plan the best one yet for the group. Max’s workload becomes too much this season because he overtakes Mary’s old role as leading the YouTube channel. The group show their true qualities when they come together to untangle Max’s web of responsibilities. Qualities of the group are shown to another high when they rally around Keira because of her messy split from Jacob. When Joyce, Ryan, Mandy and Ricky are stuck in the midst of a robbery, they plan to distract the police officers. Managing to escape, they are later caught and are forced to explain themselves on national television with the help of Keira, Jax and Max. However, they are accused of using a script and have to iron out their mistakes. A mid-season episode gives seven secrets about Jax in a rare insight into the protagonist of the series. A trip to the dentist in support of Jax turns awry when Mandy’s teeth are spotted in need of attention. Character traits are also bought out when most of the gang chequer Drake, Max and their back up dancers in line when their diva antics spiral out of control and also when the YouTube trio confront Joyce about her spending their savings. Also in the firing line in a separate episode is Ricky when he breaks both his arms and after a prolonged period, Keira decides to test him. The gang also rally around Mandy after her small statue means she is constantly being undermined as a minor and this leads her into some trouble. Ryan and Mandy’s relationship is tested once again though when a gift from the former brings back tough childhood memories that leads to Mandy blurting out a secret that neither her or Ryan would ever want shared. At the end of the series, relationships are tested when a pregnancy prank played by Ricky drives a wedge between Jax and Joyce’s relationship yet success is shared when the YouTube trio travel to Japan to collect a reward based on their most viewed YouTube video yet.

## Cast and Production

On April 13, 2034, another 20-episode order was placed for a third season of the show on Tanzania and a thirteenth overall. As fans expected, a week later, Mary De La Wary announced that she had left her role behind due to coming to a mutual agreement with the network to leave the show since it felt “fitting for the character”. Over the next two weeks, speculation mounted that Jax Garcia had left the show after the “tough” previous season (due to Dan‘s death) yet he denied these claims simply stating that he was “tied down by my contract” and that he was forecast for another two years on the show. Within this time, Max Black and Ricky Diaz both separately announced they would be returning for another season. On May 2, 2034, *Tanzania* announced that production had begun and was set for a wrap in November. Along with this announcement, they announced that all cast from the previous season would be returning with the exception of previously announced De La Wary. They also announced that previous guest star, Ryan‘s sister, Mandy Alexander, would be joining the cast. Continuing through the Summer months and into the autumn, production suddenly halted at the end of September (after shooting fifteen episodes) because of a mystery illness. Due to *Tanzania* filming shows back-to-back, there was little room for manoeuvre. Therefore, as the show took a six-week break, production wrapped on November 22 (a day before Thanksgiving) after shooting just two more episodes: taking the episode count from 20 down to 17.

## Trivia

* The season was ordered for twenty episodes; but only seventeen episodes were produced. Due to a delay of filming due to former castmate, Dan’s, death, the series was shot back-to-back. After the conclusion of shooting the fifteenth episode, a deadly virus circulated between the cast and crew and therefore production halted, due to this adding to the delay with the time frame, production resumed nearly two months later and only produced the finale double-parter.
* Four main characters are absent this season:
	+ Ricky Diaz is absent during three episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Keiringle*, *Younger Is The New Wise*, and *Fashion Mania*.
	+ Ryan Alexander is absent during two episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Arm Alarm* and *Younger Is The New Wise*.
	+ Joyce Gunvalson is absent during one episode this season. She is absent during the episode, *Younger Is The New Wise*.
	+ Mandy Alexander is absent during one episode this season. She is absent during the episode, *Arm Alarm*.