I'm sure I don't speak for myself when I say that everyone has binged watched the new Netflix original 13 Reasons Why already. The show is dark and isn't the comical shows that is typical on our binge list. It deals with sensitive topics that is not easy to watch. So while watching the show, were you Clay? Was it to hard for you to watch the show so it took you a long time? Or were you like the others who could watch everything in one night and move on. Regardless of which one you were, this show hit close to home for most of us. It was hard to watch sometimes with some of the scenes that were involved, but here are my 13 reasons why this show was one of the best I've ever seen. Spoilers ahead!
1. Clay
Clay is the sweetest character on this show. So many bad things happen to him which make the viewers feel horrible for him every step of the way. He is so self-righteous even before he listened to his tape, before he knew he didn't do anything to cause Hannah's death. He knew he could get in trouble, but he didn't care and I absolutely love that about him.
2. It's dark
Like I said before this isn't an easy show to binge watch, but that's what makes it so much more important. This is a show with an incredibly powerful message. This message is so important in a world where sexual assault, bullying, and suicide is so prominent in the high school world. Being in high school myself, I know that all of this exists even if it's hard to believe.
3. It's unique
This is a story that most people haven't seen before. Recording a suicide letter on tapes? It's twisted, but I have to admit, it was a great idea on Jay Asher's part.
4. There's a book!
When you thought this story couldn't get any better, it just did. Before the overnight sensation TV show, there was a book. There were definitely a lot of changes from the book to the show, but I like how each are unique in their own way. If you want to find out these changes, check out this book that just got revamped with an amazing new cover.
5. There's a website
This book, like most, has its own website in which you can listen to all of Hannah Baker's tapes. I know it's creepy, but I know I felt even more connected to the story once I listened to the tapes while reading the book.
6. Jeff Atkins
For those of you who haven't read the books yet you will be shocked to know that Jeff Atkins doesn't exist. I know! The lovable jock was a new addition to the series. In the books he is an unnamed senior who still tragically dies at the stop sign. Making us feel so connected to his character made us even more depressed when we watched him die at the stop sign. He deserved way better and he was only one of the few changes that makes the show unique from the book.
7. Courtney Crimson
I know we all hate her but you have to give her props for her amazing acting. The way she acts and talks just immediately sparks a rage in our eyes. It gets to the point where as soon as we see her face on screen, we want to punch something. Thats definitely a hard thing to do.
8. Hannah's suicide scene
This show definitely has its fair share of dark scene. I think that one of the worst ones is Hannah's actual suicide. It is different than the book where it is just mentioned that Hannah kills herself by popping extra pills. The series makes it much more gruesome and I love that. There is no music in the background and it is definitely not fast and simple. It is hard to watch and really maeks poeple who are consiodering this option scared to actually kill themselves.
9. Justin Prentice
Most people know him as Bryce on the show. He is a phenomenal actor and while watching the show I realized how hard it was to play such a role. He did an amazing job and I'm pretty sure the whole teenage world hates him right now because of his character.
10. Tape 14
This also doesn't happen in the book. Clay is actually tape number 9 in the book so the story ends with him just passing it on. However, in the show, Clay takes matters into his own hands. He knows that Bryce is just going to throw the tapes away to cover up what he did, so Clay hands the tapes directly to number 13. He also makes his own addition which is what I love. It's a message that it may be too late to save Hannah, but justice is deserved by everyone and Clay gives it to the girl he loves.
11. Alex's attempt at suicide
This was so important. Fans are shocked to learn that Alex shot himself in the end in the final episode, but we should have known he was going to do this all along. In fact he showed all the tell-tale signs of suicide throughout the series. The most obvious being where he stays in the pool a little longer than he should have. We were so busy paying attention other components of the show that we failed to notice someone else's spiral into depression. Of course this is only a show, but if we missed something this obvious on a show, who is like this that we aren't noticing in real life?
12. Skye
We may have missed the signs in Alex Standall, but Clay is quick to pick up those same signs he saw in Hannah, in Skye. This is so important because it truly relays the message of the shoe in the best way. It is never too late to help someone who is in need. All that matters is you realize they need help because they aren't going to ask for it.
13. Hannah and Clay
These two are the cutest. They aren't like every other high school couple portrayed in this show that just want to show off the fact they are dating. These two actually cared for each other. At first viewers are startled to realize that Clay is even on the tapes, but once we realize why, we love this duo even more. They both deserved way better and we all know that.
So here are my reasons why I love this show. This is Kruti Desai, live and in stereo... enjoy.