13 Reasons Why This Netflix Show Doesn't Deserve A Season Two | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

13 Reasons Why This Netflix Show Doesn't Deserve A Season Two

"13 Reasons Why" is a depressing, suicide-glorifying mess.

99
13 Reasons Why This Netflix Show Doesn't Deserve A Season Two
International Business Times

Fans loved the Netflix original show "13 Reasons Why," which is about high-schooler Hannah Baker, who commits suicide and releases tapes detailing the reasons why she did it and sends them to the people who she claims contributed to her decision, including Clay, the boy who was in love with her.

As someone who has read the book, I was curious. So, I watched the whole first season and was horrified. Here's why they shouldn't be making any more episodes of this show.

Warning: This article will spoil the first season of "13 Reasons Why" and discusses some sensitive topics.

1. It implies that a suicide victims' loved ones are to blame.

One part of the show that made my blood boil was when Clay asked Tony if he was the one that ultimately caused Hannah to commit suicide and Tony said yes. For the rest of the show, Clay broods about how he killed Hannah because he didn't love her enough.

What kind of a message is that sending to family and friends of people who have committed suicide in real life? People who might have blamed themselves for something they couldn't have seen coming? This only reaffirms that self-loathing and regret.

Could Hannah's suicide have been prevented? Maybe. But it was not up to any one person to save her from herself, especially since they didn't know that she needed saving.

2. It glorifies/sensationalizes suicide.

Suicide is a deeply upsetting topic and something to be taken seriously. In this show, it is used for shock value.

If you don't believe me, ask yourself this: In the book, Hannah kills herself by swallowing a handful of pills. In the show, she slits her wrists in the bathtub. Why would they make this change?

What possible reason could there be, besides the shocking visuals? They wanted audiences to be horrified and to marvel at how edgy they were in showing an entire suicide scene. They wanted some gore to spice up this scene. And it's disgusting.

And yes, they showed the whole thing, despite the psychologists that the show's writers consulted with telling them not to show her committing suicide because it would be incredibly upsetting for suicidal people to watch.

3. It's deeply triggering.

The word "triggering" has become sort of taboo recently, since it's associated with people that are easily offended by everything. But, we forget that triggers are a real thing.

I have two friends that used to have suicidal thoughts that have told me (on different occasions) that if they had been watching this show when they were still in that headspace, it would have probably made them feel worse.

Now, I don't want to imply that this show would drive someone to commit suicide, but just the idea that someone seeing how destroyed Hannah's bullies were after her suicide could plant an idea in someone's head is truly terrifying to me.

4. There is no discussion of mental health.

For a show that's all about messed up teenagers and suicide, there is not a single mention of mental health problems Hannah could have had or how to treat said mental health problems.

Even a small mention of how she should have gone to a professional to deal with these problems would have made a huge difference.

5. The book ended in season one.

The plot of the entire book plays out in season one, so for season two, it looks like they'll be going past the end of the book. This is terrible because the book actually ends in a more hopeful place. Even though Clay had to deal with his grief and the tapes, at the end of the book, he seems to have found some inner peace and takes some steps towards moving on.

Going off-book means that they're going to add more and more problems to make Clay miserable, beating the dead horse that this story is by drawing it out more than it should have been.

6. Its fan base is terrible.

From one fan making tapes for 13 reasons why a girl should go to prom with him to one fan literally killing herself after watching the show, it's apparent that the fan base seems either just clueless about the weight of the issues being presented or were too swept up in the show's glamorization of suicide.

(Note: It's not proven that the girl took her own life because of the show, but her family certainly thinks so.)

7. All the "lessons" it teaches are tackled better in other pieces of entertainment.

There are tons of different stories out there that tackle the issue of suicide with more respect. For example, there's the musical "Dear Evan Hansen" and the movie "Dead Poets Society."

Though both of these stories have a suicide as a central plot point of the story, neither show a suicide and neither need to in order to create an impact.

8. It's about suicide and only suicide.

Staying on the topic of "Dear Evan Hansen" and "Dead Poets Society," both stories are ultimately uplifting. Though there are suicides, the characters that are alive make realizations about the deceased person and about themselves. Though it's an awful situation, there's a story there that's about more than just suicide and how sad it is.

"Dear Evan Hansen" tackles the issues of social anxiety, loneliness, and parent/child issues while the school is also recovering from a student's suicide and though a great deal of the musical is sad, it is ultimately hopeful.

"13 Reasons Why" is about suicide and how people drove this girl to commit suicide. And that's it. There is no true plot other than Clay hearing the tapes and the other students feeling guilty about how awful they were.

There is nothing hopeful or constructive in the way it deals with the topic. It's just about despair all of the time.

9. It's depressing and upsetting.

Speaking of despair, this show is genuinely depressing. As someone who sometimes gets depressive episodes, this show was incredibly detrimental to my mental health. Watching episodes would put me in a depressive fog. I would try to take walks outside to get over them, but they only made me more depressed.

But I couldn't stop watching, because I needed to know what would happen next.

10. Some of the messages it promotes are downright awful.

An example of one of these messages enraged me. There is one part of the show where Hannah started kissing Clay, but then she pulled away and started screaming at him for him to get away from her and leave her alone. He listened to her and left her alone.

In one of the tapes, she reveals that she actually wanted him to stay and was sad that he left.

Then Clay gets so upset about this, blaming himself and beating himself up over how he should have stayed with her.

But in any other situation, if a girl is screaming at a boy to get off of her and to leave her alone and the guy refuses and demands to stay with her, that is completely not okay! The fact that this show implies that you're to blame because you're not a mind reader is absolutely ridiculous! It's also a horrible message to send to people.

11. It hits every high school stereotype out there.

Underage drinking? Check. Closeted gay teens? Check. Parents who just don't understand? Star basketball player with the rough home life? All check! Give me a break.

12. I hate every single character.

Maybe Tony and Jeff are somewhat likable, but most of these characters are absolutely horrible people. This includes Hannah herself. It's hard to enjoy a show if you hate every single character.

13. It's implied that they will be handling even more triggering topics next season.

Next season, it appears that they'll be dealing with school shootings and the aftermath of rape. Considering how they handled suicide, I'm pretty sure they won't do a better job with these topics.


I won't be watching next season, but I hope, for the fans' sake, that they'll learn to handle these situations with more sensitivity rather than exploit them for the cheap melodrama.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190915
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

15265
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

458129
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26766
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments