He was the guy everyone loved to hate. Then, suddenly, he was the guy some people actually started to feel for—which, honestly, is still a pretty heated debate in the fandom. If you’ve spent any time on Netflix, you know that monty from 13 reasons why (real name Montgomery de la Cruz) is easily one of the most polarizing characters in modern TV history.
Played by Timothy Granaderos, Monty started as a background jock. Just another face on the Liberty High football team. But by the time the series wrapped, he had become the center of a massive conspiracy, a victim of a brutal system, and a perpetrator of one of the show’s most harrowing scenes.
The Moment Everything Changed
We have to talk about the bathroom scene. There’s no getting around it. In the season 2 finale, Monty’s assault on Tyler Down didn’t just shock the audience—it fundamentally changed the tone of the entire show. It was graphic. It was unnecessary for many viewers. It was, quite frankly, hard to watch.
Before that, Monty was basically just Bryce Walker’s loyal lapdog. He was the "enforcer." If Bryce needed someone intimidated, Monty was there with a sneer and a shoulder check. But that specific act of violence against Tyler pushed him into a territory that most fans found irredeemable.
Why the Winston Williams Arc Flipped the Script
Then season 3 happened. This is where things get messy. The writers decided to give us a glimpse behind the curtain of Monty’s home life. We saw the "internalized homophobia" trope play out in real-time.
Enter Winston Williams.
Monty and Winston’s relationship was... complicated. That’s an understatement. They met at a Hillcrest party, hooked up, and then Monty immediately beat Winston up because he couldn't handle the reality of his own sexuality. It’s a classic, albeit tragic, depiction of a young man terrified of his own identity.
Later, Monty actually apologizes. They spend the night of the Homecoming game together. For a brief moment, you see a version of Monty that isn't snarling or throwing punches. He looks almost... happy? Or at least at peace.
That night is his alibi. While the rest of the group is busy "disposing" of Bryce Walker, Monty is with Winston.
The Death of Montgomery de la Cruz
Here is the part that still trips people up: Monty didn't die for the murder of Bryce Walker. At least, not technically.
He was arrested for the assault on Tyler Down. While he was in his jail cell, awaiting trial, he was killed. The show doesn't even show the death on screen. We just hear it from Deputy Standall—Alex’s dad—who mentions that Monty was killed in a "prison fight" (likely a stabbing).
Because Monty was already dead, the "core group" (Ani, Clay, Jessica, etc.) decided to pin Bryce’s murder on him. It’s the ultimate "let the dead bury the dead" move. Since he couldn't defend himself, he became the convenient scapegoat for Alex Standall, who actually pushed Bryce into the water.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 4
If you watched season 4, you know Monty didn’t exactly leave the show. He haunted Clay Jensen. Literally.
Clay’s deteriorating mental health led to full-blown hallucinations of Monty. This version of Monty—the "Ghost Monty"—represented Clay’s guilt. Even though Clay hated him, he knew that framing a dead man for a murder he didn't commit was wrong. It’s a weirdly philosophical turn for a teen drama.
A lot of fans felt like the show tried to "redeem" Monty after he died. You see his sister, Estela, and his friend Diego trying to clear his name. They wanted justice for him, not because they thought he was a saint, but because he was innocent of that specific crime.
The Legacy of Timothy Granaderos' Performance
Timothy Granaderos has talked a lot about the "Tim Is Not Monty" hashtag. Fans were so intense that he actually received death threats in real life. That’s how well he played the role. He took a character that was written as a "monster" and tried to find the human parts, even when those parts were buried under layers of toxic masculinity and trauma from his abusive father.
There's this one scene where Monty stands up to his dad in the jail visiting room. He finally says it out loud. He admits who he is, and his dad spits on the glass. It’s a gut-wrenching moment. It doesn't erase what he did to Tyler, but it adds a layer of "how did he become this way?" that makes the character a lot more than just a 2D villain.
The Problem With the Framing
The controversy around monty from 13 reasons why usually boils down to one question: Did he deserve to die?
Most fans agree that he deserved to be in prison for what he did to Tyler. He needed to face justice. But the "vigilante justice" of him being killed in a cell and then framed for a murder he didn't commit? That’s where the moral grey area of the show gets really dark.
By framing Monty, the "heroes" of the story became criminals themselves. They took away any chance of him potentially changing or at least serving a proper sentence.
Actionable Insights: Moving Past the Screen
If you’re looking back at Monty’s arc and feeling conflicted, here is how to process the heavy themes the show threw at us:
- Separate the Crime from the Frame-Up: Recognize that holding two thoughts at once is possible. You can believe Monty deserved prison for his assault on Tyler while also believing the group was wrong to frame him for Bryce's murder.
- Look for the Red Flags: Monty’s behavior was a byproduct of an extremely toxic environment. In the real world, early intervention for aggressive behavior and recognizing signs of domestic abuse (like the bruises Monty hid) can prevent escalations.
- Media Literacy Matters: Use Monty’s character as a case study in how "villain humanization" works in television. It’s not necessarily asking you to forgive him, but asking you to understand the cycle of violence.
- Support for Survivors: If the themes of the show are triggering, remember that resources like RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) exist to provide actual help, unlike the messy resolutions seen on TV.
Montgomery de la Cruz wasn't a hero, and he wasn't just a ghost. He was a cautionary tale about what happens when trauma goes unchecked and secrets are used as weapons. Regardless of how you feel about him, he remains the most discussed part of the show for a reason.