Ironically, it was my own teenage daughter, who turned me on to this show. Fortunately, she is already in the middle of another series binge and wanted to finish that before starting a new show. I had no doubt that this series was going to press into some dark and brutal waters, but I never expected it to leap so boldly. While I think this series is absolutely amazing and speaks truth about many topics that society has covered up for far too long, viewers of all ages need to be aware and prepared for the emotional trip this show will take you on.
1. Suicide Takes Center Stage
Even if you stumble blindly across "13 Reasons Why," you will be made aware within minutes that this is the story of a girl who took her own life. The actual method is not revealed until the end of the season, but as the story unfolds, you watch a once happy teen girl lose herself through a series of unfortunate events and decisions. I will caution that anyone who is very sensitive or has a history of self-harm or suicidal attempts might not want to watch Episode 13, or at least be ready to skip through the scene where Hannah actually takes her life.
2. Bullying, Exposed For What It Is
Although it has been 20 years since I was in high school, I think writer Jay Asher and executive producer Selena Gomez fully and completely encompassed the harsh reality of high school bullying. They managed to show a variety of examples of bullying, including verbal, physical, and even via technology when private photos are shared. As an 80s child, I am very grateful that the bullying I experienced was limited to just verbal insults and a couple shoves into the dirt. In today's society, kids can be tormented online by an anonymous coward behind a keyboard, with little to no recourse.
3. It's Not for Everyone
With a rating of TV-MA, this show is only recommended for those 17 or older. Personally, I feel that it is up to each individual family what they allow their children to watch. I am glad that I watched it before my daughter so I could warn her that there may be some potentially difficult scenes. I feel that just giving her that advanced notice alone was sufficient enough to help her process the information better once she gets to that part. My 11-year-old son was frustrated that I would not let him watch it, but I feel he is just too young to fully understand the message. I would like to sit with him in another couple years and watch it together, so I can address any questions or concerns he has. To further this, if you tend to be sensitive, easily upset, or deeply affected by what you watch, you might want to consider a different series.
4. Extreme Potential for Triggers - Self Harm and Sexual Abuse
While I value and appreciate the candid and brutally raw way this story was written and produced, I caught many triggers throughout the show that could potentially cause regression or harm to someone suffering from PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or in recovery for self-harm/suicide attempts. There are also two specific scenes through the first season (Episodes 9 and 12) depicting the sexual assaults of two different characters. Even though I had caught some hints to in the earlier episodes, I was still very unprepared for how the assaults occurred. As I mentioned above, Episode 13 very graphically and tragically shows Hannah in her very final moments. I consider myself pretty tough and still struggled with it, especially when her parents find her. As a parent, it is just hard.
5. The Potential for a Revolution
I am someone who has never been shy talking about the tough topics, the things that most choose to ignore or sweep under the rug. I struggled with my own suicidal ideas and self-harm as a teen, I have been through it with my own kids, and have known two people who took their own lives. As a society, we need to stop blaming the victims of bullying and help them rise above, instead of helping them dig the hole. We need to speak up and educate ourselves on how to help ourselves, then help others with out own experiences. Unfortunately, this is real life. These things are really happening in our schools.
If you or someone you know is thinking about hurting themselves or committing suicide, please call the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.
If you have already watched this series, what did you think? How did it relate to what you experienced in high school?
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