13 Reasons Why

Follows teenager Clay Jensen, in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush, Hannah, and her decision to end her life.

https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmNeozNuXN8bpEgb754fn1Z1qrTStDJLgWXkoizzXryT2B

Source: 13 Reasons Why on Trakt.tv

Genre

Drama , Mystery

About

13 Reasons Why (TH1RTEEN R3ASONS WHY on screen) is an American young adult mystery novel written by Jay Asher which was later adapted into a television drama series by Brian Yorkey for Netflix. It is the story about a high young school student who commited suicide after being bullied and betrayed by the people around her.

Thoughts

13 Reasons Why is no doubt one of the most controversial television drama series ever created due to its subject matter. Mental health is no laughing matter, you add that together with suicide and rape and you'll get thousands and thousands of people with differing opinions on the matter, to which I personally think gave rise and popularity to this drama.

To start off, 13 Reasons Why tells the story of Hannah Baker, a young high school student who descends into despair after she was betrayed and bullied by the people around her. Hannah narrates in great detail the 13 Reasons Why she decided to end up her life and explains how 12 people around her each played a role in her death through an audio diary(cassette tapes) which she had sent to every one of them after her death.

https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmcjAWnKgBZueFFbWswJ3g6yQ2VnM6DZfyRYp4TPrjbX9t

With such a unique, interesting and easily relatable premise(I have my own moments of depression in the past), I was really looking forward to this series. I was looking for a connection. I wanted it to be at least a little bit relatable, but NO! It's not one bit relatable at all. (at least for me).

The first few episodes were fine, great even. The way the characters were introduced were flawlessly done(also kudos to the shows exceptional casting on this one), the back and forth of the past and the present were surprisingly fine (I have seen a lot of series failed because of this). My issue with the series starts midway. The more we get to know Hannah Baker, the more annoying and irritating she becomes.

As much as I want to empathize with her I can't. She is self-centered, selfish and demanding. She is trying to play the victim game. Not everyone can read and will read your actions and you have to be okay with that. To make matters worse, here's Clay who by the looks of it will do everything for her, and by that I mean stand by her against all odds. But all she did was push him away. She is also trying to create drama out of little things against everyone. Yeah sure, being betrayed by your best friend sucks. But haven't we all been betrayed when we were in high school?

Honestly, I felt more sympathetic to Justin. He has a crappy mom and an abusive father compared to Hannah who has a loving family. She;s also not that alone, she have some people who is interested on her and wants to be friends. But then again, she pushed them all away and create drama out of it.

https://gateway.ipfs.io/ipfs/QmZTwP4HXnAmSyJ5HM62cXvwiKbum2aYuivz6eR1thsX39

But then again, I have never been depressed like Hannah's state so I might be a little to critical on her actions. Overall, the show did an amazing job on tackling depression and suicide. Maybe it felt a little exaggerated but I think it was done to create a big impact and leave a mark on its viewers, that depression is not a laughing matter and should not be taken lightly.