The show, which is based on Jay Asher’s novel of the same name, follows the aftermath of the suicide of high school student Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford. It has received both praise and criticism for its portrayal of topics such as sexual assault, rape and suicide.
The first season comprised of each episode following one of Hannah’s tapes, which included reasons why Hannah decided to take her own life. The tapes also revealed that Hannah and her friend Jessica were victims of rape, which played out in Season 2.
In the last season, Hannah Baker’s parents, who have separated, take on their daughter’s high school in court to establish whether they had neglected her as part of their duty of care. It also follows the lives of characters such as Clay Jenson, played by Dylan Minette, and Jessica Davis, played by Alisha Boe, and how their own secrets are linked to Hannah’s suicide.
With the final trailer released, it has been confirmed that Season 3 will begin on August 23, 2019.
Based on the trailer, convicted rapist Bryce Walker has been murdered and an investigation is underway. The 11 people linked to Hannah’s suicide all seem to have motives of their own and as the season’s tagline says, “Secrets. Lies. Revenge. Everyone at Liberty High has something to hide…and the truth is about to come out.”
The second season also introduced audiences to a new villain, Montgomery de la Cruz. While he wasn’t a subject on one of Hannah’s tapes, scenes reveal that he played a supporting role in causing misery in her life, which led to her suicide. He was also part of a brutal attack on bullied student, Tyler Down.
13 Reasons Why has proven popular with Netflix audiences, with Nielsen estimating an average of 6.08 million viewers in the U.S. watched the Season 2 premiere in the first three days after its release, according to Variety. However, it has also been met with criticism, especially in how Netflix allows younger audiences to view the dark, mature content.
Tim Winter, president of the Parents Television Council, writing for Newsweek, said that following the first season of the drama, “the Google search term for how to commit suicide spiked 26 percent.”
“When the show was first released, no effort was made to provide a positive resource for those struggling with depression,” he says. “The worst human behavior—intense bullying and violent sexual assault—was depicted in graphic form, and the lead character chose to take her life as a result.”
Two years after the first season aired, Netflix took the decision to remove the graphic suicide scene, saying on Twitter that they did it “on the advice of medical experts”, which included Dr. Christine Moutier, the chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
13 Reasons Why will be available to watch on Netflix on August 23, 2019.
If you have thoughts of suicide, confidential help is available for free at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Call 1-800-273-8255. The line is available 24 hours every day.
