13 Reasons Why (You Should Watch This Series)

Director Joseph Incaprera
Producer Diana Son Tom McCarthy Joy Gorman Wettels Steve Golin Michael Sugar Selena Gomez Mandy Teefey Kristel Laiblin
Actors Dylan Minnette

Katherine Langford Christian Navarro Alisha Boe Brandon Flynn Justin Prentice Miles Heizer Ross Butler Devin Druid Amy Hargreaves Derek Luke Kate Walsh

Reviewed on Netflix
Available on Netflix

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Published July 26, 2017

It has been a month since a friend of mine first started nagging me to watch 13 Reasons Why , and while I felt it wasn’t really my kind of show, I finally caved and watched it.

For this review I decided to take new approach ( which was in fact inspired by the narrative of the first episode and in part a core aspect of its premise ); where I would chart my progress through the series in a “dear diary style”.

My goal was to watch the series in its entirety over a span of one week. While I didn’t really have a game plan as to how the split would go, the 13 episodes ( how fitting ) had to be done before the week was out.

Monday

The first day back at work is always the most exhausting, and what better way is there to unwind and watch a series that’s about Suicide ( wait… that can’t be right ).

So basically, this series supposedly centres on the suicide of Hannah Baker and the “suicide note” she left. As expected, her school is left empty with the echoes of her death. People slowly start to move on and we are introduced to Clay ( Hannah’s friend ) who receives a mysterious pack of tapes. After a valiant effort to get a playback device, he finds that the tapes are from his crush Hannah ( ooh juicy ).

As she calmly explains that he is one of thirteen people that have contributed to her opting to end her own life. She left 7 tapes, with each side dedicated to an individual. Each person who gets the taps must go through them all. Then pass it to the next.

Tuesday

And here I am at the end of day 2, and let me tell you I managed to squeeze 5 episodes in last night! Its official, the series has blown me away. It feels like a well written book that no matter how droopy your eyes get, you just can’t put it down ( off ).

There are lots of shifts in character as we move from E2 through to E6. There are so many themes coursing through the veins of this show! Seriously, there’s everything from simple high school puppy love to stalker syndrome. The dialogue isn’t that one liner high school bubble-gum non sense. It’s very real and grounded which helps cement the gravity of the premise. I was a high school kid, and I can tell you we didn’t just spit out cool stuff. We slurred, stuttered and fumbled, especially amongst the girls. Moving back to the show itself, the character arcs are its true stars.

So with my morning coffee done, so this is Tuesday’s partial review. The series maintains the momentum it gained with the pilot episode. Characters become much more fleshed out as greater light is shed on them. Even with Clay being the lead, the other stars are given lot of screen time. I say this again, the story may be Hannah’s but the ( lucky ) 13 may just as well be the stars. And we soon learn that it isn’t just once society that plays a hand in her downward spiral but all of them. To me this was critical, as too often are jocks and cheerleader depicted as the antagonists of these movies. This time it hits closer to home, it shows how evil and vindictive kids at high school can be. But most importantly it shows us that we never really know somebody or how the slightest slur can destroy a person.

I must say I am excited to see where the next few episodes take me. Where is Clay on the list? Are these people as guilty as Hannah as says they are? What is the end game?

Wednesday

Well I didn’t finish just yet; nope Tuesdays binge is the current record. In my defence things seem to be getting more intense- No, not at home, I mean the series.

The show keeps to its theme still focusing each episode on each tape, I am loving how the writers explore the impact of finding out you are a reason why someone took their own life. It’s one of the hardest things to ever process, a difficulty compounded when you, a teen, still trying to process the tropes of becoming an adult. This batch also brought greater insight to the parents and teachers of the students. People are always sympathetic to the victim’s parents. Watching Hannah’s parent’s emotional breakdown is heartbreaking. The teachers seemed cold and callous, and I am not talking about their emotions. They all seem to try but never reach the same calibre as the kids. This time the student has truly surpassed the teacher ( and parents )

There is a lot of raw emotion running through the show, and sometimes it cuts through like a hot knife through butter. But it’s the calm moments that really got to me. It’s the whispers that are sometimes the loudest; after all evil is the most deadly when it’s most kind.

Thursday

As I sit here, piping hot coffee to my right, I recall last night’s final three episodes. Truth be told, I am still reeling from its impact. Like I said previously the show has the perfect momentum, but for the final three, they step up the game, step up the pace and light up the screen. So much is revealed, not just with secrets but emotionally. Watching these characters come to their end of their arcs is truly astounding. Whether its remorse or vengeance or simply accepting consequence each character slowly concludes the journey that Hannah set them on. Or if you were paying close attention then it seems it has always been their journey…

Conclusion

Man, what show. The last original show to capture my attention n was Stranger Things and while the two are totally different shows they seem to have one thing in common: HEART.

The show is perfectly blended with great cinematography, catching those perfect angles and capturing true emotion. The score and music selection fits like a glove. I suppose there has never been a better couple than indie music and teen drama. The entire screenplay is perfectly orchestrated from making each episode stand out as its own story to having them still weave together to tell the cohesive story. The show is always moving forward, with reveals every inch of the way. Having Clay as the viewer’s gateways is excellent, as we discover things as he does. We experience emotions as he does.

It is an intense emotional ride; it may not be for the faint of heart. Some scenes are very graphical, especially Hannah’s death. I actually cringed and cried when it was shown and I am a SAW fan. It’s a heart breaking story that will rock your inner core, but it is also a story that needs to be told. The themes depicted here are very real and a daily occurrence.

This is a series that everyone should see, it isn’t just relegated to high school problems. Humanity has become disconnected. Half the time we say things we don’t mean and the other half we never say things we mean to say, but should. Let’s learn from Hannah and her so called “friends”. Let’s go out there and try to be better people.

Well my coffee is finished, so dear I must bid you adieu. I hope you watch this series and I hope it changes you… like I think it did me.

It has been a month since a friend of mine first started nagging me to watch 13 Reasons Why, and while I felt it wasn’t really my kind of show, I finally caved and watched it. For this review I decided to take new approach (which was in fact inspired by the narrative of the first episode and in part a core aspect of its premise); where I would chart my progress through the series in a “dear diary style”. My goal was to watch the series in its entirety over a span of one week. While I didn’t really have a game plan as to how the split would go, the 13 episodes (how fitting) had to be done before the week was out. Monday The first day back at work is always the most exhausting, and what better way is there to unwind and watch a series that’s about Suicide (wait… that can’t be right). So basically, this series supposedly centres on the suicide of Hannah Baker and the “suicide note” she left. As expected, her school is left empty with the echoes of her death. People slowly start to move on and we are introduced to Clay (Hannah’s friend) who receives a mysterious pack of tapes. After a valiant effort to get a playback device, he finds that the tapes are from his crush Hannah (ooh juicy). As she calmly explains that he is one of thirteen people that have contributed to her opting to end her own life. She left 7 tapes, with each side dedicated to an individual. Each person who gets the taps must go through them all. Then pass it to the next. Tuesday And here I am at the end of day 2, and let me tell you I managed to squeeze 5 episodes in last night! Its official, the series has blown me away. It feels like a well written book that no matter how droopy your eyes get, you just can’t put it down (off). There are lots of shifts in character as we move from E2 through to E6. There are so many themes coursing through the veins of this show! Seriously, there’s everything from simple high school puppy love to stalker syndrome. The dialogue isn’t that one liner high school bubble-gum non sense. It’s very real and grounded which helps cement the gravity of the premise. I was a high school kid, and I can tell you we didn’t just spit out cool stuff. We slurred, stuttered and fumbled, especially amongst the girls. Moving back to the show itself, the character arcs are its true stars. So with my morning coffee done, so this is Tuesday’s partial review. The series maintains the momentum it gained with the pilot episode. Characters become much more fleshed out as greater light is shed on them. Even with Clay being the lead, the other stars are given lot of screen time. I say this again, the story may be Hannah’s but the…

TV Series Review: 13 Reasons Why (You Should Watch This Series)

2017-07-26

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Emotional

Heart Felt - 9

90 9

A fantastic and original show with so much heart and soul, and with so much relevance.

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The possible result of lab experiment gone horribly wrong, a real life Anti-Hero with all of the sarcasm/attitude and non-of-the superpowers. Still tears up each time he sees Arnie lowered into the molten metal. Thinks he is super funny… others beg to differ. Was going to live his life ¼ mile at a time until he converted it to the metric system… and would choose the red pill every time. Driven by Dreams and Fuelled by Passion.