Why, Me? - Season 15

On March 2, 2035, Jax Garcia announced a further 50 episodes had been ordered for ***Why, Me?*** by *Tanzania* and that these would be split into a fourteenth and fifteenth season. Premiering on January 10, 2037, the fifteenth season concluded on November 14, 2037, after a total of 25 episodes. With Jax Garcia, Joyce Gunvalson and Ricky Diaz having all exited the series, Andrew re-joined the series, Jared Jackson joined the show and Lila Miller featured in a recurring role.

The show celebrated it’s 300th episode during this season, however, the season averaged only 1.90 million viewers - although the eighth most popular in the history of the show, the least popular since the show started airing on *Tanzania*. On June 17, 2037, Max Black announced no intentions of any further seasons thus leaving the show cancelled once again. Despite this, what was known as “a ratings boom” occured which surged the ratings average. Therefore, on July 9, 2037, *Tanzania* announced one further season had been ordered: with an episode count of 22 due to specials.

## Plot

Northdale is heating up once again this year - with familiar faces moving back in next door, stealing and patching up relationships alongside the four YouTubers! Now that Jax, Joyce and Ricky are no longer connected with the gang, a fresh air is looming yet with crazy adventures around the corner - from getting locked in the mayor’s office, breaking the number of people in a selfie record, career changes and a surprise return from a VERY key person within the franchise, how will the gang fare?

The series kicks off with a troubled start as Jaxon, Jax’s half brother, arrives with Max having no clue of how to break the news that the group is no longer in contact with Jax after he fled Northdale following money disputes and an argument over his girlfriend, Joyce. After taking the news well and announcing his intentions to find Jax, Jaxon leaves Northdale. However, the episode concludes on a cliffhanger as Andrew returns to the house next door, with a new partner, Jared. Max and Andrew sit down to patch things up after a rocky end to the relationship when Andrew left Northdale twelve years previously. Meanwhile, Ryan, Mandy and Jo hold an initiative test for Jared as they decide whether he is fit for the gang as they look to expand. A new album is launched by Max which results in him leaving town for two weeks. To run the household, he recruits old-time friend, Lila, who moved back to Northdale after failed success in California, however, her arrival is met with hostility. After patching things up, the group accept Lila as a temporary resident. During Max’s second week away, Jo and Mandy film a stakeout video involved with the mayor’s basement. Calling upon Jared to get him mixing with the group, Lila’s call to come and join is met with relief after they are running from security. However, Lila’s arrival glee is short-lived as she manages to lock them in the mayor’s office after escaping from security. Andrew and Ryan manage to be contacted to help get them out without being caught. Max’s return is met with relief as Lila packs up her things after feeling detached from the group after trapping them in the mayor’s office yet feelings toward him turn soar on both Mandy and Andrew’s side as he messes up the guest list for Mandy’s attempt to break the world record for number of people in a selfie. When Daniel turns up unannounced after Max is unaware of his and Andrew’s differences and Charlie turns up after lying that he has turned good yet attempts to steal, Mandy’s day abrupts into chaos. However, Mandy is able to complete her photo although perhaps not how she imagined it as 301 people managed to enter the picture after a police officer turns up to break up the fights. Lila feels hurt again when all support is thrown behind Jared to join the YouTube crew after Max decides to leave after seven successful years to concentrate on his music career. However, Lila insists a dance off for the viewers to decide. With votes tying, Jo, new director of the group, decides that the group becomes five and they both join the group. While Jo and Lila‘s friendship strengthens, Andrew and Max’s strains after a series of career digs and April fool pranks at Ryan’s joint April Fools and birthday party for Max. Andrew uncovers plans of Jo and Ryan’s to help make Lila look like a hero to help the rest of the group warm to her yet this leads to more upset. However, this is resolved in the following episode after Lila buys the group ”warm-up” presents; which results in them building their relationships back on track. Mandy is seen to be decisive as she takes action against her favourite restaurant closing using her YouTube channel to help promote her cause. As mid-season breaks, two special episodes detailing life in Northdale and the highs and lows of each of their characters throughout their time on the show.

Charlie returns to the show after the gang spot him out pickpocketing, leading them to demand to retrieve their stolen items. However, when he refuses, they decide to play mind games with him. After being arrested, the gang attend his sentencing in the next episode following a disastrous week filming a reality show for the YouTubers. Max is shown to be a caring friend when he persuades Andrew to attend Daniel’s wedding after their recent fall out. As they continue to patch up their relationship, Max can’t help but feel he is lost without Jax after their falling out. The gang rally around him as he confides in them. Ryan has his share of landing in hot water with the gang when previous comments before fame creep up on him and he is forced to apologise to save the YouTube channel. Ariel‘s return to Northdale is met with shock as reports emerge that she has been in an abusive relationship. With her ego increasing as the years went on, the gang find it tough to reach out to her but when an unlikely Andrew does, she feels it’s her only way back to normality. Mandy’s place in the group is tested this season when she goes ballistic after Ryan uses tough love as an attempt to kill off her obsession of looking perfect. Jared pushes the group away when he needs them most too when he runs away after Andrew makes an offensive comment about the LBGTQ+ community. With the relationship in tatters, Jo and Mandy make it their duty to fix it. Sarah de la Cruz, evil mastermind and starred in previous shows with Max Black, arrives in Northdale with some news regarding her transitioning. Having made a pact with Jax to only meet her together, Max is torn yet ultimately decides to confront her for the years of lies that “ruined his youth”. Max does commend Gaurav for coming out yet the gang still feel Max’s anguish and hold it against her. Relationships are strengthened over Halloween as Jared, Max and Lila bond over house decoration and Jo and Mandy pick out perfect Halloween costumes for both them and Ryan and Andrew. Lila and Max bond over death of old castmate, Dan, and how tough that has been for Lila since then. However, disbelief grips the household as Jo reveals her and Ryan shared a kiss when he was half asleep when they first met. Towards the end of the series, the boys and the girls compete in a contest of who can stay outside the longest when Max and Jo challenge one another. In the season finale, Max’s mansion is full when Jared, Andrew and Lila move in, as well as an elderly relative that needs to be nursed, which results in Max accidentally activating burglary lasers. Stuck at home until they can get help, the eight residents must find a way to get along.

## Cast and Production

On March 2, 2035, Jax Garcia announced that a 50-episode order had been placed for the show and that this would be divided up into fourteenth and fifteenth seasons. When asked in an Instagram Story, Garcia did make clear that contracts would be discussed midway through production and that a month’s hiatus would take place after twenty-five episodes had been shot for signing contracts and if neccessary, cast parting way with show. Production for the second half of the show commenced on June 12, 2036. Prior to this, Jax Garcia, Joyce Gunvalson and Ricky Diaz were all announced to have finished their relationships with the network. The creative team for the network did express this as an “opportunity to explore different avenues”. Despite these departures, Max Black and Jo Lott reassured the show’s fans that they would be returning to the second half of production. Continuing to shoot episodes, rumours circulated about the cast for the new season. On October 19, a trailer for the new season was released. A day earlier, it had been announced that Jared Jackson would be joining the cast but also that Andrew would be re-joining the cast. The trailer didn’t just confirm the Alexander siblings’ return yet also affirmed that Lila Miller would be making appearances in the new season. A few days later, she personally announced her involvement in the show in a “recurring capacity”. On June 17, 2037, Max Black announced that production had concluded a month prior and that no future seasons of the show had been planned. Met with huge criticism, some fans staged a protest in a bid for more seasons. Cast and crew of the show later attributed the demise of the show to Jax Garcia’s departure yet it “stemmed from Dan’s death”.

## Trivia

* Four main characters are absent this season:
	+ Max Black is absent during four episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Trouble Awaits*, *Cold Cellar Part 1*, *Cold Cellar Part 2*, and *Cold Cellar Part 3*.
	+ Ryan Alexander is absent during four episodes this season. He is absent during the episodes, *Cold Cellar Part 1*, *Cold Cellar Part 2*, *Clouded Relationship*, and *Walk The Talk*.
	+ Andrew is absent during three episodes this season. He is absent during the episode, *Cold Cellar Part 1*, *Hot Water*, and *Mindful Mandy*.
	+ Mandy Alexander is absent during two episodes this season. She is absent during the episodes, *Clouded Relationship*, and *Walk The Talk*.

* Lila Miller was the first recurring character in the show’s history.
	+ She appears in fifteen episodes this season. She appears during the episodes, *Trouble Awaits*, *Cold Cellar Part 2*, *Cold Cellar Part 3*, *300 Reasons Not To #Selfie*, *Dance F.I.R.E.*, *Career’s Fool Day*, *L For Liar*, *Tear Down*, *Hot Water*, *Dungre$: Take Two*, *Transition Admission*, *Fright Night*, *That First Kiss*, *Holding On*, and *Beam Too Long*.

* Dan’s death is addressed in an episode this season after much demand for his character‘s plot to be peacefully ended.