In case you’ve been living under a rock, Neftlix has found itself under criticism for its controversial teen series 13 Reasons Why, a show based on a book of the same name. The show follows a group of high school students dealing with the suicide of one of their classmates, Hannah Baker. Prior to killing herself Hannah left thirteen tapes identifying the individuals and events that led to her suicide.
The show definitely takes some creative control over the novel, and the second season is a sequel designed specifically for Netflix. The controversy surrounding the book are certainly complimented by the creative liberties taken by production, and the second season ups the ante by focusing on more taboo and dangerous behaviors. Namely, the show tackles issues of suicide, rape, drug abuse, recent, vandalism, and school shootings just to name some.
Why Do People Even Watch?
I grew up watching Degrassi, another high school show that tackled all of the above issues. There’s clearly a fascination with teenage drama and rebellion. Anyone who attended high school, is attending high school, or will attend high school knows this is a very formative time in life. During this time your whole world revolves around the events within school walls and the these emotions aren’t just left at school. Because this time period is relatable to so many individuals, teen drama have found themselves to be mainstays in American culture.
13 Reasons focuses on the most shocking and upsetting events students may deal with. Somehow, they all happen to this small group of students. The is designed to make every episode as shocking as possible and pack each episode with drama. However, the fact so many terrible things happen to such a small group of students makes the plot unrealistic. This allows the viewer to witness a series of dramatic events while not getting too attached. In my opinion, the cast is really successful in doing this. I’m certainly engaged in the storylines here, but I somehow find every character incredibly unlikable.
This show is truly designed with shock value as its primary goal. The storyline is second to this. Of course, people are going to watch the train wreck. While the storyline isn’t incredibly strong, it is enough to keep people watch. After all, Season 2 gives a lot of background to Hannah’s story, but Season 1 told a cohesive story without this background knowledge of her life.
Should You Watch 13 Reasons Why Season 2?
I’m going to warn you, some spoilers are below. Proceed with caution.
If you watched Season 1, you’ll probably like Season 2. At the very least, you’ll be engaged in the story. However, it goes out of its way to add shocking incidents. From Justin’s homelessness and drug addiction to the compromising clubhouse pictures to the violent threats to witnesses, nothing is without added drama. Between all of these incidents, there is a lot of background into Hannah’s life and story. If you’re looking to understand Hannah as a person, then you should give Season 2 a shot.
The trial against Liberty High doesn’t give a lot of satisfaction to viewers, but it paints a realistic picture of sexual assault trials. Especially when you consider the fact that the witnesses are teenagers and have social pressures overlapping with their desire to give Hannah justice. From this angle, the show opens a meaningful discussion.
If the focus of the season was Hannah’s trial, then I would recommend this season. However, the show is overstuffed with extra plot lines that may or may not have relevance in the future. Clearly production has Season 3 on their minds and they wanted to end the season with a cliffhanger as well as plot lines to begin a new season.
There are some redeeming elements in this season, but the show is overwhelming unsatisfying. There are too many plot lines and as soon as one progresses, another begins. Many of these plots go unresolved by the end of the season. However, this is common for TV shows preparing for the next season. 13 Reasons just takes it to an extreme level.
Beyond the emphasis of shock value, one of my biggest gripes with this season is an issue I had in Season 1. The adults are way too involved in the plot, often overshadowing the teenagers. We have Mrs. Baker advocating for Hannah while separating from her husband. Guidance counselor Kevin Porter grieving over his mistakes while the baseball coach tries to keep him away from his players. Clays parents are prying into his life, and of course his mother is an attorney so she’s also involved in Hannah’s trial. With all of these adults, it seems like they’re trying to frustrate the viewers with intentional detours from the real plot lines.
If You Watch
Proceed with caution. The show, as expected, is graphic. This shouldn’t be a surprise. What’s most frustrating is the amount that is left to be desired. Between the reliance on shock value, surplus of plot lines, and emphasis on the adults, you might find yourself lost in a sea of drama. I’m sure you’re expecting this if you watched the first season. If you’ve yet to begin the series, I don’t think Season 2 is compelling enough to make you want to start.
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