This review is different. Today, I'm reviewing an extremely popular tv show, however it is based on a novel. Netflix- the popular online show streamer released all 13 episodes at once. This generated a lot of curiosity and excitement. Usually, each season has 24 episodes; usually each episode is released separately; usually the release is separated by a week. I must have instilled in you how unusual this series is.
The show follows a boy of 17, Clay Jensen discovering the 13 reasons why a girl, who he was not-so-secretly in love with, committed suicide. The suicide was painful physically and mentally as you'll discover if you watch the show. Before committing suicide, Hannah Baker recorded 13 audio tapes each describing an event that led to her death. These incidences had 12 people responsible for them (one of them was responsible for 2 incidences). Hannah then entrusted these tapes to a friend, Tony, who was to make sure that these tapes would be passed on to all 12 members in order. Clay was number 10. In reality, he didn't deserve to be on the tapes. He had treated her with the utmost respect every single day. One of the main mysteries was what Clay did to Hannah, which contributed to her death.
In fear of giving too much away, I will only narrate a few instances. The first incident occurred almost immediately after she transferred to her new high school. She made a bad decision of trusting a guy she barely knew, who without her knowledge took a misleading and very compromising picture of her and sent it to the whole grade via text along with verbal rumours talking about how far they went, which then gave rise to the label that stuck to her till she died- 'slut'. Yet another incident was getting raped and that was only a week before she died. Despite many things she went through, she decided to give life one last chance and that was before the last incident cut her lifeline. The last incident was what broke her and her wavering hope. She had decided to go to the school counsellor. She indirectly told him about her molestation, bullying and even that she wanted to end her life. He told her he wouldn't be able to report the molestation to the police unless she told him who was responsible. She asked the counsellor to promise that the boy would be put behind bars, however, the boy who raped her came from an extremely rich and influential family. He ignored her plea and told her that if she didn't want to reveal his identity, she should just forget that she was raped and move on. She left disturbed in a huff and waited right outside the door for him to follow her to see if at least he cared. He didn't.
Since I'm also a girl who is in high school, I involuntarily put myself in her shoes as much as I tried to resist. The events were very brutal and traumatising for a third party and to have to experience it, is so hard to comprehend. This makes people realise that one never knows what is going on in someone else's life. Every small incident, on its own is something that could be dealt with, but compile all of those and add a few bigger incidents and you can't live with yourself. Her friends' refusal to talk to her may seem insignificant to them, but little did they know about everything else until it was too late. This show even educates us on how, a woman reaching out for help in society is not taken seriously or is just not cared about. Can you imagine yourself exploited in countless ways, wrongfully feeling embarrassed by it and then finally opening up for help, only to be told to "get over it"? The worst part about it is how common it is. How common it is for a victim to be shut down, not taken seriously, not consoled, not even having the hand of a friend to hold for support. This show/ novel is highly educating and has raised so much awareness in teens and parents alike.
Hannah was too scared to talk to her parents about it because she was ashamed and she thought that all she was, was a problem to them. Clay was the only decent guy in her life at this point, but she didn't open up to him, in case he broke her heart too. Parents need to tell their children that no matter what, they will always be there to support them. Suicide awareness and anti bullying seminars need to be made mandatory at every school. People need to know that there will always be someone to listen to them and console them. If it isn't someone they know, then they could always ring a suicide helpline. Depression should not be taken lightly. Depression is not a "phase" or a "rough patch", it is a legitimate illness with pills involved too. Countless teenagers suffer from it and do not open up to anyone. It's heartbreaking to think of someone you value going through similar events, let alone yourself. Even if you know someone suffering from bullying, suicidal thoughts or depression and they haven't told you, but you know something is wrong, put the past behind and ego aside and be there for that person. Be a helping hand. You never know whose life you could have just saved.
The show follows a boy of 17, Clay Jensen discovering the 13 reasons why a girl, who he was not-so-secretly in love with, committed suicide. The suicide was painful physically and mentally as you'll discover if you watch the show. Before committing suicide, Hannah Baker recorded 13 audio tapes each describing an event that led to her death. These incidences had 12 people responsible for them (one of them was responsible for 2 incidences). Hannah then entrusted these tapes to a friend, Tony, who was to make sure that these tapes would be passed on to all 12 members in order. Clay was number 10. In reality, he didn't deserve to be on the tapes. He had treated her with the utmost respect every single day. One of the main mysteries was what Clay did to Hannah, which contributed to her death.
In fear of giving too much away, I will only narrate a few instances. The first incident occurred almost immediately after she transferred to her new high school. She made a bad decision of trusting a guy she barely knew, who without her knowledge took a misleading and very compromising picture of her and sent it to the whole grade via text along with verbal rumours talking about how far they went, which then gave rise to the label that stuck to her till she died- 'slut'. Yet another incident was getting raped and that was only a week before she died. Despite many things she went through, she decided to give life one last chance and that was before the last incident cut her lifeline. The last incident was what broke her and her wavering hope. She had decided to go to the school counsellor. She indirectly told him about her molestation, bullying and even that she wanted to end her life. He told her he wouldn't be able to report the molestation to the police unless she told him who was responsible. She asked the counsellor to promise that the boy would be put behind bars, however, the boy who raped her came from an extremely rich and influential family. He ignored her plea and told her that if she didn't want to reveal his identity, she should just forget that she was raped and move on. She left disturbed in a huff and waited right outside the door for him to follow her to see if at least he cared. He didn't.
Since I'm also a girl who is in high school, I involuntarily put myself in her shoes as much as I tried to resist. The events were very brutal and traumatising for a third party and to have to experience it, is so hard to comprehend. This makes people realise that one never knows what is going on in someone else's life. Every small incident, on its own is something that could be dealt with, but compile all of those and add a few bigger incidents and you can't live with yourself. Her friends' refusal to talk to her may seem insignificant to them, but little did they know about everything else until it was too late. This show even educates us on how, a woman reaching out for help in society is not taken seriously or is just not cared about. Can you imagine yourself exploited in countless ways, wrongfully feeling embarrassed by it and then finally opening up for help, only to be told to "get over it"? The worst part about it is how common it is. How common it is for a victim to be shut down, not taken seriously, not consoled, not even having the hand of a friend to hold for support. This show/ novel is highly educating and has raised so much awareness in teens and parents alike.
Hannah was too scared to talk to her parents about it because she was ashamed and she thought that all she was, was a problem to them. Clay was the only decent guy in her life at this point, but she didn't open up to him, in case he broke her heart too. Parents need to tell their children that no matter what, they will always be there to support them. Suicide awareness and anti bullying seminars need to be made mandatory at every school. People need to know that there will always be someone to listen to them and console them. If it isn't someone they know, then they could always ring a suicide helpline. Depression should not be taken lightly. Depression is not a "phase" or a "rough patch", it is a legitimate illness with pills involved too. Countless teenagers suffer from it and do not open up to anyone. It's heartbreaking to think of someone you value going through similar events, let alone yourself. Even if you know someone suffering from bullying, suicidal thoughts or depression and they haven't told you, but you know something is wrong, put the past behind and ego aside and be there for that person. Be a helping hand. You never know whose life you could have just saved.