Discuss 13 Reasons Why
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Disappointing
posted by FilmFan1983STAFFMOD on April 12, 2017 at 3:26 PM
I thought the actors did a great job and the series was great from a production standpoint, but disappointed for several reasons.
It was just plain odd that it took Clay so long to listen to those tapes. In all that time, he kept accepting Hannah's version of the truth, while trying to use it as leverage on his classmates. The frustrating thing was, they had plenty of time to confront Clay with their version of the truth, or at least put their own misdeeds in context, yet simply played coy knowing that he would eventually listen to all the tapes.
Hannah was a poor girl, but many of her classmates were victims as well. Justin was emotionally bullied by Bryce, and was abused at home, yet is cast aside when he tries to do the right thing for his girlfriend? He did show actual fortitude in finally confronting Bryce. While I did recognize him not telling Jessica what happened was more selfish on his part despite his justification that he was trying to protect her from the truth, she should still have recognized the opportunity that she now had a witness on her side.
I thought Hannah going to that party and getting in that hot tub was tremendously stupid, but no one deserves what happened to her next. However, that scene in the office wasn't handled well. The counselor pleads with her for more information so he could alert the authorities, but she decides she doesn't want to make her admission public because she fears further ridicule. Again, she already knows Bryce is a serial rapist, yet is thinking only of herself in this scenario. If she had leveled that accusation anonymously, any one of Bryce's victims stood a chance of being tormented.
And that was my main problem with Hannah. Despite her self righteousness, she did little to help others who were suffering while she was alive. Instead of involving the authorities, or even talking to her parents, she chose to blame everyone else for not doing enough. The fact that she eventually comes to understand some of her failings doesn't absolve the fact that she was acting irresponsibly.
I was also frustrated that the series ended with a cliffhanger. Certainly, this should be a self contained story if I ever saw one, but as it is the series ends with no real resolution. We don't know what happens regarding the lawsuit, or with Alex, or even see the consequences of the truth getting out. Supremely weak finale.
Reply by kcd0226
on April 13, 2017 at 7:39 AM
Man....I actually agree with you about a few of these points.
Reply by leonthesleepy
on April 19, 2017 at 9:54 AM
Actually, i liked that it showed how many of her classmates were victims as well. Spoilers of course, but Hannah Bakers choice to release those tapes, can imo be viewed as selfish. It was basically a catalyst to expose them and guilt shame a majority of the people on the tapes. But at what cost? Sure, Bryce definitely deserved it. But Alex? Zack? Her tapes arguably caused Alex to SPOILER attempt suicide too.
And i loved that. She was irresponsible, and the show wasnt afraid to paint a suicide/bully victim as irresponsible. I think too often we get the portrayal of "innocent girl bullied till suicide", and its so one sided. Hannah Baker felt like a human being in the show, flaws and all.
Justin in particular is a character i think they handled extremely well. There is so much conflict in him. His allegiance to Bryce, his broken down abusive family. They could have easily gone with a one note jock villain but they didnt. I dont think those are flaws, but it grounds the show more by making the characters 3 dimensional.
The scene in the office was designed to be frustrating, showing a counselor swamped with work and not being able to give a girl desperately in need of help the attention she needs. And again, sure the right thing to do is report Bryce to the authorities, and prevent other girls from getting raped. But then again, i cant even imagine the psychological damage getting raped has, and from what i read victims rarely come forward. At that point of time she already felt that she had no one to turn to. Even though that wasnt true, it was how she felt and it led to her suicide.
I agree with you on the cliffhanger though. I think having a season 2 could kind of cheapen the message and perhaps drag it into exploitation territory. I liked the finale, but i'm worried about season 2. Still, loved season1 overall.
Reply by FilmFan1983
on April 19, 2017 at 12:47 PM
I agree with a lot of what you write here. Now that enough time has passed, I'm willing to recognize that the show must have been doing something right if it could get me to invest and come to care about all the other supporting characters. I, too, came around to like Justin and was repeatedly frustrated by Jessica's attempt to avoid talking about what happened to her, but perhaps that was to show that few people, especially teenagers, are able to process what happened to them after being raped. I even felt bad for Mr. Porter, although there are many people who thought he could've done more to read in between the lines.
I also can appreciate how Clay and especially her parents were having a hard time dealing with her suicide, and were constantly looking for others to blame rather than admit they had missed some of the signs. I think that other than Bryce, all of the other characters were supposed to be morally ambiguous.
I'm still in for Season 2 but I do hope that it'll be the last one. The first season dragged a lot in places. Hopefully the second season will be the last and they will do a better job of tying up loose ends.
Reply by leonthesleepy
on April 19, 2017 at 1:09 PM
Agreed! I'm still super skeptical for season 2, and yes Season 1 did drag at certain points (especially the middle), but the ongoing mystery of finding out which tape Clay was on kept me hooked haha. If they do continue the story i pray it ends with Season 2. And now that its not tied down to the source material, they dont have to feel obliged to film 13 episodes.
I think a shorter, 8-10 episodes could wrap the story up nicely. Either way i'm too invested in the story and characters now. I just hope the show doesnt cheap out in season 2 but going WAYYY over the top.
Reply by roche92
on May 6, 2017 at 12:21 PM
Some very good points made on this thread. One thing I think you guys missed is everyone's mental strength isn't the same.
You could say Justin was suffering more than Hannah but he was mentally stronger and did not have suicide thoughts (so I believe). It's important to remember everyone feels different towards certain things. I'm sure someone else would have not given a second thought about being in Alex's list. Like the girl who got best lips seemed happy about it.
The message I get from this show is not everyone is the same. Sometimes small things to you has big effects on other people.
As for season 2, I'm slightly sceptical about it. They have left many open questions though. I think they should just do about 8 episodes and wrap it up.
Reply by leonthesleepy
on May 6, 2017 at 12:38 PM
Agreed! That is definitely something the show does well by showing how everyone reacts to things differently!
And after some time has passed since i have seen Season 1, i think a shorter Season 2 could wrap things up nicely. Plus, with all the 'controversy' of how the show doesn't delve into showing people seeking help for mental illness, season 2 can pick up on that theme and give closure to all the characters. The show has already raised so much awareness for the issue of bullying and suicide, so a season 2 that follows up on the recovery phase of all our broken characters like Justin and Jessica could be fantastic.
Plus, i think it would be in Netflix's best interest to do a season 2 now. Not just to combat the controversy of the first season by talking about mental issues more, but to follow up on the popularity of the show. I'm personally really excited for it now :)