TV Review: 13 Reasons Why (Spoiler-Free)
This show would be better suited with the title of “13 episodes I wasted my time watching” because that is exactly what 13 Reasons Why consists of. Okay, that might be a little harsh, but the show does not end on an impressive note (spoiler?). While the series, based on the young adult novel by the same name, is competently made, the story about a teenager committing suicide is diluted by dramatic twists and fictional premises that leave a distasteful message about mental health.
The show stars Dylan Minnette as Clay Jensen, a socially awkward teenager who, despite knowing almost every student at the school by name, is supposed to be our loner protagonist. Minnette (known for Goosebumps and Don’t Breathe) gives a passionate performance here, and his character is almost the sole reason why this show is worth watching. He is one of the only decent human beings, but is still constantly tortured by everyone else, including the girl we are supposed to feel sorry for.
Clay is given a box of tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), a student who previously committed suicide. The tapes each give a reason (not without what is supposed to be "quirky" sarcasm) for why she decided to take her own life, ranging from friendships ending to sexual harassment and assault. Even though these are obviously serious issues that deserve on-screen attention, 13 Reasons Why often favors “suspense” over a realistic approach. The series' impact was harshly lessened by cliffhangers and twists that contribute to this drama.
The best example of this comes from the topic of Hannah’s suicide and the tapes themselves, which is concerning considering this is the forefront of the entire series. The concept of getting revenge and exposing secrets by way of tapes meant to induce guilt is not really an idea that impressionable minds should be given. While I am not saying that bullying should go unpunished, it just seems like combating it with blackmail is the least-effective method. Half of the subjects of the tapes go on to develop their own mental issues as a direct result of listening to them, while others opt for creating their own form of bullying to cope.
While Hannah’s parents (Kate Walsh and Brian d’Arcy James) are reasonably distraught and trying to discover the reason behind their daughter’s untimely death, the other characters are busy preventing the content of the tapes from getting out. Hannah’s manipulation is excused by the total atrocity of her fellow students. No, really, I have never seen an entire high school so devoid of human compassion and morality. It is not until the final episodes that any of them are “redeemed” by confessing their crimes, and even then it feels like they are only doing it to soften the blow of inevitably getting caught in the first place.
Plot points about redemption like this lead to major tonal discrepancy. Most of the series is rightfully dark and mostly stresses on the severity of the situation that it is based upon. However, mostly leading up to and during the finale,13 Reasons Why takes on a more hopeful and occasionally lighthearted tone, even going so far as to end the entire series with a joke about cassette tapes, making you wonder if you actually just watched a show based primarily on the suicide of a teenager or a bad John Green adaptation. The indie-pop soundtrack does not really service the "someone is about to commit suicide" aspect, either.
The cast is made up of mostly unknown actors, and they all do a good job with what little they are given. Despite a flashy and drama-filled plot, I believe the high school aesthetic and the authenticity of some performances, particularly of Christian Navarro and Ross Butler. Essentially, everyone else takes turns at who can be the biggest jerk until they decide humanity is something they actually want to possess.
13 Reasons Why is a risky show that tackles an important subject matter in a questionable way. It is easy to fall into the trap of a well-intentioned drama, but when something this impactful is handled so misguidedly, it can become almost dangerous. This show is not without graphic depictions of rape and suicide, and I have to wonder if a story targeted towards such a young audience should cross those boundaries. An above-average cast with a compelling lead, as well as a technically sound appearance, allow 13 Reasons Why to be salvaged as a watchable experience. Unfortunately, its off-putting and potentially harmful content make it tough to take as seriously as it wants us to.
Image by Netflix
