The lead is now a ghost (of plot devices past), and though it still tackles big issues, the structure of this high-school teen drama has crumbled
When Hannah Baker killed herself, she left behind a box of cassette tapes explaining why she’d done it. That was the first series of 13 Reasons Why, adapted from the book by Jay Asher.
Originally destined to become a film, Netflix got hold of it and gave it the Netflix stretch. It did attempt to explore important issues – not only suicide but rape, self-harm, bullying, high-school sexism – sensibly and seriously, even if any messages to emerge came across as simplistic and a bit preachy: be nice to people, be a real friend, otherwise bad shit goes down. It meandered, but the cassettes and the 13 reasons in 13 episodes gave it a structure of sorts. The performances, especially from Katherine Langford and Dylan Minnette as Hannah and her friend Clay, were good.
The second series continues to explore the same big issues sensitively, as well as taking on board some of the criticism and controversy the first generated (it now comes with a public service announcement, delivered by the actors, links to relevant resources, plus the parents – Clay’s especially – are more aware of what their kids are going through). And that’s about all that’s good about series two.
It’s a few months later, and there’s a civil lawsuit going on against the school for failing to protect Hannah. There’s a lot of dragging through the same stuff all over again. But this time without the framework of the tapes and the reasons. The trial, of which there isn’t much, perhaps provides the crumbliest of structures, and some photos are turned up that show Hannah wasn’t alone in suffering bullying and abuse. But if the first series meandered, then this circles aimlessly with its head to the ground.
Some of the acting remains decent, though Langford, the stand-out in the first season, now has to do hers as a ghost. The ghost of Hannah. The ghost of a lame device past.
I’ve only watched three episodes. But that was enough. It’s like being locked in a room with a bunch of self-obsessed teens, occasionally saying things like “the truth can free you if you let it” or “sometimes it seems that no matter what you do people see you the way they want to”.
I know teenagers are only concerned with what others think of them. I know if I was one I might connect better with this (it would be interesting to hear from them). I know the issues are very real, very important and, in fact, deadly serious. But they deserve a better vehicle. As drama this is pointless, cumbersome, baggy, badly written, ponderous and boring. That’s less than half of the 13 reasons why you shouldn’t bother.
In the UK the Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 1-800-273-8255. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is on 13 11 14. Other international suicide helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org.
The Season 2 premiere of Netflix’s buzzy teen drama “13 Reasons Why” is fast approaching, and the recently released trailer, featuring the returns of main cast members Katherine Langford, Dylan Minnette, Alisha Boe, and more as the Liberty High students grapple with Hannah’s death, has piqued anticipation for the series’ sophomore run.
The new season begins in the throes of a court case that forces its teen protagonists — and antagonists — to delve deeper into their inner struggles and actions that led up to Hannah’s suicide in the Season 1 finale. Here’s everything we know about “13 Reasons Why” Season 2, streaming Friday.
Seven New Actors Joined the Cast
The show’s ensemble cast expands in the second season to include seven new recurring characters played by Anne Winters, Bryce Cass, Chelsea Alden, Allison Miller, Samantha Logan, Kelli O’Hara, and Ben Lawson. Winters plays Liberty High’s newest head cheerleader and beautiful “it girl” Chloe; Cass plays the edgy and mischievous Cyrus; Alden plays Cyrus’ artsy, witty, and outspoken sister Mackenzie; Logan plays respected track star Nina; O’Hara plays a passionate advocate for bullying victims named Jackie; Miller plays a smart and ambitious young litigator named Sonya; and Lawson rounds out the newcomers as Liberty High’s beloved baseball coach, Rick.
Katherine Langford Returns as Hannah Baker
While Langford’s character died by suicide in the Season 1 finale, Hannah will reappear in flashbacks and as a haunting figment of characters’ imaginations in the second season. Earlier this month at Netflix’s annual FYSee Kick-Off event in Los Angeles, newcomer Lawson commented on Hannah’s role in Season 2. “We also see a lot more of what Hannah’s story involved,” Lawson revealed. “That’s not over. You’ll see a lot more of what happened in the lead up to her suicide.” Langford received a 2018 Golden Globe nomination for her portrayal of Hannah in Season 1.
The Writers Heard Viewer Criticisms
The most-tweeted-about show of 2017, “13 Reasons Why” viewers did not hesitate to share their thoughts on Season 1’s handling of difficult topics such as suicide, sexual violence, and bullying. One common critique of the show argued that none of its bully characters faced sufficient consequences for their actions. At the FYSee event, Derek Luke, who plays school guidance counselor Kevin Porter, told Variety that the feedback informed the Season 2 script. “Our Season 2 was affected obviously by the writers’ room, but it was also affected by the outcry of fans who wanted some type of redemption,” Luke said. “We all went in there feeling a burden to deal with the hurt. Some of that hurt is in the shape of an antagonist that I think people will love to see get dealt with.”
Trigger Warnings Will Precede New Episodes
After Netflix conducted multiple studies which found the show had a significant cultural impact, igniting tough conversations and causing viewers to take action in regard to its address of serious issues, the streaming giant announced a formatting change for Season 2 which will feature a warning video to air prior to each episode. In the video, stars Langford, Minnette, Boe, and Justin Prentice warn viewers of potentially triggering topics to come and encourage fans to seek help via crisis resources and a viewing guide to 13ReasonsWhy.Info. Additionally, Season 2 episodes will be followed by new after-show content titled “Beyond the Reasons,” in which actors, experts, and educators will break down each installment’s darker plot threads.
Liberty High Students Face Justice
The new trailer for Season 2 picks up where the first season left off as Clay, Jessica, Bryce, and the rest of the Liberty High crew testify in a court case Hannah’s parents have filed against the school. In the process of recounting details from the events leading up to Hannah’s suicide, the students also have to face their own personal experiences and truths, expanding on each character’s Season 1 demons.
Adult Characters Evolve, Too
It’s not only the teenagers who have to come to terms with their respective knowledge and mistakes. The show’s adults, including parents and school faculty members, cannot avoid the harsh realities of a local teen’s suicide as Hannah’s death becomes increasingly publicized. Luke also commented on adult characters’ new Season 2 outlook at the FYSee event. “The word ‘accountability’ now for the adults is different because in our story the story has gone public,” Luke said. “So, anytime you’re in the media’s eye the emotions and the weight get even heavier. I think this season everyone’s looking [for] who to blame, especially the adults.”
Sheri Grapples With Guilt
Season 1 left Sheri in a fragile emotional state as Hannah’s tapes forced her to confront the reality that she took out a stop sign resulting in the death of a classmate, adding to Hannah’s stress as a passenger. At the FYSee event, actress Ajiona Alexus said Season 2 will continue to explore her character’s damaged psyche as she grapples with the guilt and trauma of her secret. Alexus acknowledged that the solution for bullying comes from consequences and “at the end of Season 1, I think you kind of feel like people got away with it.”
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Share. Could have used a few more reasons. Could have used a few more reasons.
Note: this is a spoiler-free advanced review of 13 Reasons Why's second season, which premieres on Netflix on Friday, May 18.
There was a lot of collective head-scratching when Netflix announced a second season of 13 Reasons Why. Not because the first season wasn't a well-crafted teen drama (you can see my review here), or because its apparently massive viewership numbers didn't warrant a follow-up. The confusion came from the fact that Season 1 told a largely finite and self-contained story. The goal was to show us why troubled teen Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) committed suicide, and the first season definitively answered that question. In the process, it used up the entirety of the Jay Asher novel. What is there to be gained from revisiting Hannah Baker's story?
That's a question that's very much at the forefront of the series as Season 2 begins. There's a self-aware quality to the series, as creator Brian Yorkey and his crew openly acknowledge the criticisms leveled against Season 1 and the lingering concerns over the existence of a sequel. Multiple characters hammer home the notion that there are more sides to Hannah's story and other points of view to consider. But despite all that, Season 2 never makes an entirely convincing case for its own existence.
13 Reasons Why: Season 2 Photos 10+ IMAGES Fullscreen Image Artboard 3 Copy Artboard 3 ESC 01 12 RJ Brown, Christian Navarro in 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 01 12 RJ Brown, Christian Navarro in 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 13 Reasons Why: Season 2 Photos Netflix Download Image Captions ESC
It's not that there aren't loose ends worth exploring. Season 2 opens several months after the finale, with Hannah's suicide still casting a shadow over the town and her parents' lawsuit against the school dominating the local conversation. That trial replaces Hannah's audio tapes as the season's basic framing device. Where Season 1 positioned Hannah as narrator and guide for Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) on his journey of discovery, Season 2 makes Clay and his peers the narrators. Each character, in turn, delivers new revelations about their relationship to Hannah and further complicates the picture of her that was established in Season 1.
As you might expect, the results from this approach are mixed, at best. The idea of there being more than one side to every story makes for obvious narrative fodder. And it is intriguing to see Hannah's relationships with her friends, lovers, fellow students and parents explored from new angles. But often, the series seems to be straining to add new layers to an already well-defined story. Picture Lost circa-Season 3, where that series found it increasingly difficult to find meaningful new ground to cover in the recurring flashbacks. Some episodes even strain credulity as they attempt to forge closer bonds between Hannah and her classmates. It becomes hard not to wonder why none of this material was referenced in her 13 original tapes.
The new season also struggles to play up the mystery/conspiracy angle. Season 1 itself was a little forced in that regard, especially when it came to characters like Tony (Christian Navarro) who seemed devoted to being vague and mysterious for the sheer sake of it. The new season tries to keep that ball rolling, with new conspiracies involving threatening notes, mysterious stalkers and cryptic warnings like, "Hannah wasn't the only one." The harder the series leans on these elements, the more melodramatic it becomes. And frankly, there's enough going on here that the series really doesn't need that Lost-inspired conspiracy element.
If anything, Season 2 tries to bite off more than it can realistically chew. There's nary a hot-button topic concerning modern high school life that isn't addressed, whether it's sexual assault, bullying, gun violence, the opioid epidemic or homophobia. The show also makes a concerted effort to spotlight its large supporting cast. Clay is still the anchor and lead protagonist of the series, but more time is devoted to exploring the trials and tribulations of characters like Tony, Jessica (Aisha Boe), Alex (Miles Heizer), Justin (Brandon Flynn), Zach (Ross Butler) and Tyler (Devin Druid). That added storytelling ambition is appreciated, but the result is that the new season feels much more unbalanced and unfocused than its predecessor. Some characters like Skye (Sosie Bacon) and Courtney (Michele Selene Ang) never seem to be given the attention they deserve.
Exit Theatre Mode
Despite all of these issues, Season 2 still carries some of the weight and emotional heft of the first. Clay's struggle is no less compelling the second time around. His journey is less about understanding why Hannah died and more reconciling these new revelations with the person he believed her to be. His story is also about learning to finally move on. Minnette was among the strongest cast members last year, and that remains true now. The fact that his performance is often so stoic and reserved only highlights those moments where Clay's facade cracks and the angry, confused, tormented teen beneath bubbles to the surface.
And unfocused or not, the new season does generally make good use of its supporting cast. Kate Walsh is always dependable as the emotionally devastated Mrs. Baker. Padilla is given more to work with now that Tony is less the sage advice-giver and more an active participant in this conflict. Butler is given far more to do as Zach struggles with his uncertain place in the high school hierarchy. Boe also shines as her character goes through one of the most pronounced and difficult character arcs of the season. The first season received plenty of criticism for its graphic depiction of sexual assault. And while there are still concerns on that front (arguably even more so this time around), I do appreciate how much the story of Jessica and other women becomes about reclaiming their power and agency.
Perhaps no character benefits more from this increased exposure than Druid's Tyler. The Season 1 finale left the character in a very dangerous place, and Season 2 continues following his troubled journey through depression, bullying, and social isolation. The character is at once repellent and deeply sympathetic, serving as an uncomfortable reminder that Hannah was hardly the only one in her school dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts.
Exit Theatre Mode
The new season also does manage to build some momentum as it goes along and the trial nears its conclusion. Can Clay make peace with the ghost of Hanna? Will the victims of Bryce (Justin Prentice) and his ilk finally receive some semblance of justice? Those questions propel the final few episodes along, as does a more general sense of unease. There's a mounting sense that the series is marching towards some new tragedy, even if it's not entirely clear what that might entail.
Unfortunately, the series trips over itself in the final episode. That episode seems maddeningly unsure of whether it wants to function as a full-fledged series finale or a bridge to an eventual third season. It attempts to provide closure and catharsis for the previous 25 chapters of heartache, and largely succeeds in that aim. These moments come closest to making Season 2 seem like a necessary companion to the first. But at the same time, several last-minute developments come out of nowhere to ensure the season ends on a muddled, unsatisfying note. The idea of a second season was a tough sell as it is. A potential Season 3 seems even less appealing at this point.
