Donatella Posted April 17, 2017 Share Posted April 17, 2017 (edited) I binged this show on Netflix over spring break. I knew nothing about it going in, but thought it looked like a teen drama, and I'm a fan of the genre. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The show, based on a book, is about a teen girl who commits suicide and leaves 13 cassette tapes behind, detailing 13 reasons why she did it and how her classmates contributed to her decision. The tapes are passed from one kid to the next like a morbid posthumous chain letter. For a show aimed at teens, it's absolutely fucking BRUTAL. I have an eighth grade student who told me she was watching it and now having seen it, I'm horrified that she experienced certain really graphic scenes. My 14 year old niece is watching it and I almost want to tell my sister to read up on the show because she should talk to my niece about it afterward... It has sparked an internal debate where I am wondering whether or not I would let my child (if I had one) watch this show, with or without me. I just don't know. The message is important and it's a very well-made, well-acted show. But I don't know if they needed to show all that they did...I am still disturbed by much of it. Scenes I'm referring to include two rapes of two teen girls shown in graphic detail. As well as Hannah's suicide, including close up shots of her slicing her wrists in a bathtub. I had to look away and I felt sick after that scene, as I imagine was intended... Edited April 17, 2017 by Donatella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 ...damn, that does sound rough. what's the rating on it? i get that it's (seemingly) an angsty teen drama, but was it aimed at them? cause that's some pretty adult stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nemo McFly Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 never did watch Episodes I-III on blu ray--until this weekend. Holy shit. "How is that possible?" My 14 year old niece is watching it and I almost want to tell my sister to read up on the show because she should talk to my niece about it afterward... It has sparked an internal debate where I am wondering whether or not I would let my child (if I had one) watch this show, with or without me. I just don't know. I think I'd let my kid watch alone - if he / she were curious enough to click and remain engaged, that would be enough for me. I would totally pick their brain afterward and try to have a conversation about it. Exchange thoughts / views. Teen dramas aren't my thing - but glad to hear that super-taboo subject is touched on...and made accessible. (Assuming the majority of kids have access to Netflix) Everybody knows teens are emo and sum handle things a bit more intensely than others. I think having modern teens understand the effect they can have on others and how someone right next to them - is capable of silently suffering...should be something the youth ('specially in this cyber age) should be made to understand...at an early age. Showing those things play out to it's end - I think, even if 'dramatized' - is something I think kids should mull over. If anything, it's one of those kinds of 'movies' a class should watch as a whole and discusses...intense scenes / reality included: humans are capable of awful, awfulness. Cause and consequence. Some people are a bit more sensitive than others. Be considerate. I'd probably be concerned about the intense material being too much for my 12 year old - but, that age-range today goes to see Deadpool...escorted by their parents - LOL If my kid was genuinely watching out of interest - I'd ask, "Is it good? Should I watch, too?" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donatella Posted April 18, 2017 Author Share Posted April 18, 2017 ...damn, that does sound rough. what's the rating on it? i get that it's (seemingly) an angsty teen drama, but was it aimed at them? cause that's some pretty adult stuff. It's TV-MA but I didn't notice that at first. I was initially surprised by the F-Bombs but that was the extent of it till the second half of the season. It goes from drama to melodrama pretty quickly! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The NZA Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 13 Reasons Why Season 2 confirmed 13 Reasons Why@13ReasonsWhy Their story isn't over. Season 2 of #13ReasonsWhy is coming. more like...13 Seasons, Why? amirite Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donatella Posted May 9, 2017 Author Share Posted May 9, 2017 more like...13 Seasons, Why? amirite You are right! This is the article I told you about before: ‘Big Little Lies’ to ’13 Reasons Why’: In Defense of the One-and-Done Limited Series Another day, another rumor about a proposed second season of “Big Little Lies” or “13 Reasons Why,” or “Gilmore Girls,” or “The Night Manager.” The limited-series format has become so popular that viewers are demanding it do away with its one-and-done format, and act like any other series. Oh, we get it. Wanting the things we love to continue is human nature, and any whiff of a beloved story getting a second life is a promise of extending the high. But even if all the stars align, the scripts gets written, and the networks are on board, that doesn’t necessarily mean a second season is a good idea. And about this series in particular: Similarly, we shudder to imagine how a second season of “13 Reasons Why” would try to somehow top the horrors of its first season. It would also run into the very real danger of eliminating the integrity of its purpose. Would the impact of Hannah Baker’s suicide be lost if “13 Reasons Why” continued, and told the stories of all of her friends? Even author Jay Asher, who had initially toyed with having Hannah live in his original plans for the book’s ending, decided against her survival because that would negate the point: Suicide is sudden, confusing, and irreversible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keth Posted May 9, 2017 Share Posted May 9, 2017 more like...13 Seasons, Why? amirite OH ITS ALL FUCKING ANGRY FACE WHEN I DO IT, BUT WHEN NIIIIIIIZZZZA DOES IT (╯°□°） ╯︵ ┻━┻ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireDownBelow Posted May 10, 2017 Share Posted May 10, 2017 (edited) Struck me as a little too angsty and a little too over the top to be believable. Almost as if they felt that they had to heap it on to make the suicide 'worthwhile'. And it's confusing. Sometimes it's difficult to tell what's current and what's flashback Edited May 10, 2017 by FireDownBelow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donatella Posted May 10, 2017 Author Share Posted May 10, 2017 Struck me as a little too angsty and a little too over the top to be believable. Almost as if they felt that they had to heap it on to make the suicide 'worthwhile'. Agreed! From what I've heard, the book (that I didn't know existed before the series aired), is much less detailed. There aren't as many details about all the different people involved. So a lot of those storylines were created just for the series and you can definitely tell. I had so many problems with this series. The build up is too slow, then so sudden, you don't really believe this girl would've wanted to take her own life. And I know depression and mental health issues take many forms, but she just didn't seem like she was upset enough to do it. I chalk it up to bad writing. I've also been seeing more and more new stories about schools sending home letters warning parents about this series. Apparently there's been an escalation in teen girls attempting self-harm. *sigh* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FireDownBelow Posted May 13, 2017 Share Posted May 13, 2017 I read an article, sadly can't recall where, about Netflix putting a disclaimer before the episodes on how to get help and warning about the content specifically to avoid this situation. Sadly, I'm not surprised though. Many were concerned that the series would be seen as glamorizing suicide. I don't think it does, personally. What I think it does it showcase how awful teens can be to one another, even if I did find it a bit too much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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