Since it’s premiere on March 31st, 13 Reasons Why has been garnering attention on every social media platform. As a suspenseful, heartbreaking, binge-worthy show, 13 Reasons Why is a unique series that takes a new spin on “high-school drama.”
1. Based off of a *Great* Book
Personally, I have loved this book for years. I read it back in 2010 or 2011 (I forget which exactly), and as soon I found out it was becoming a series I immediately fan girled. Hard. Jay Asher is an incredible author and if you haven’t read the book I highly, highly recommend it. It differs in many ways than the show, though, because it is mainly just Hannah and Clay’s perspectives rather than pretty much every character. But hey, that’s TV and Netflix did a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life and making the general plot more in-depth.
2. Music
Whoever chose the music for this show is a lyrical genius who needs to make playlists for everyone. Just when you thought a scene couldn’t get any sadder, BAM, the music starts playing and your once trickle of tears turns into a torrential downpour. But really though, the music is fantastic.
3. Current
The show was revamped from the book to make it more relatable to millennials. It incorporates everything about our generation that has been so different from previous generations. The use of social media and group messaging plays a huge factor in all of the reasons why Hannah killed herself.
4. Raw
This show isn’t for the faint-hearted, especially with Hannah’s gruesome suicide clearly depicted. This is the best aspect of the show by far, because when it comes to most dramas, all of the emotions are romanticized. This takes these emotions and gives them their ugly truth – the kind of truth that people do not want to admit is there. It shows the good, the bad, the bitter and the grief and how each of these powerful emotions affects people differently.
5. Realistic
This is not your typical “high-school drama” by any means. Typically, there are unrealistic expectations and attitudes from the various characters in teenage dramas. 13 Reasons Why, however, is so engrossing because of the mere fact that this happens every day whether we realize it or not. Every situation, flaw and insecurity felt by these characters can be so deeply internalized by the viewer. This
6. Eye-Opening
If you can watch this entire show without feeling something in your heart, did you really even watch it? This is the most satisfyingly, guy-wrenching shows I have ever watched, mostly because it made me realize that this kind of stuff happens every day to people we may or may not know. It shatters your heart and makes your chest hurt at most points, simply because everyone struggles because life isn’t easy and this exemplifies this notion in contemporary ways.
7. Anti-Bullying Messages
This may seem cliché as a caption, but it is so true regarding 13 Reasons Why. Bullying plays a major role in every character’s lives. It affects each and every single one of them in one way or another. Pictures, fights, blaming, violence all stem from these bullying accusations and realities, making it a much more visual representation rather than just a simple poster or constant messages about it.
8. Addicting
13 Reasons Why is just addicting. Once you finish an episode, you feel like you have to keep going. Each one ends on a cliffhanger and a new story and the suspense of not knowing will make you hit “continue watching” faster than you ever thought was humanly possible. Pro-tip: if you haven’t started it yet, watch this when you have a solid 13 hours of free time because you won’t want to stop. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.
9. Unique
As mentioned before, this show is unique because of its take on various issues that people face every day. It shows the reality of each situation rather than some melodramatic, romanticized version that most shows use today. Even the plot itself is unique – I mean, what other show revolves around a girl that left 13 tapes after committing suicide? Not many.
10. Acting
I just want to say kudos to the cast for being excellent actors. Each actor carefully portrayed their specific character so that you become emotionally attached and personally invested in not only the show but each of their back-stories as well.
11. Legal Aftermath
It showcases the legal aftermath that results from a suicide case. Personally, I never even thought about the legalities in regards to suicide cases, especially those stemmed from bullying/assault, etc.
12. Sexual Assault Awareness
The series focuses on the reality of sexual assault and how it can truly affect and ruin the lives and relationships among people. Some of the content could be triggering to sexual assault victims (because of how raw the show actually is) so please, please, please take this into consideration if you have been the victim of sexual assault (it also has warnings before the specific episodes that each scene occurs on, too).
13. Suicide Awareness
Since the whole show is dedicated to the leading up/aftermath of suicide, this is ultimately my 13th reason why you should watch this show and undoubtedly the most important reason. It took this show to air for people to realize the unintended/unintentional consequences that can result from a mere rumor can be catastrophic as depicted in the show. Seemingly harmless actions and comments can crush a person. It highlights the subtlest of signs so that the viewers can be aware that not everyone is going to be straightforward about feelings of suicide, just like Hannah wasn’t. The show doesn’t glorify suicide as the best option; instead, it shows the pain and suffering a person can feel leading up to those final moments of the act itself.
If there is one takeaway from this article, just please, please, please be kind to everyone you meet. You never know what someone is going through.