Hannah’s story isn’t over in the follow up to 13 Reason Why‘s hit first season. The question remains, was a second outing necessary?
In short, yes and no.
The positive is that fans get to see where their favourite characters ended up and if justice was served in Hannah’s trial. In doing so we also get to see everyone’s perspective this time around as the season moves beyond the tapes providing viewers with some major shocks and revelations.
At times it gets frustrating to see what happens next and just like season one, is very confrontational and disturbing in nature. Given the binge inducing format of the show, there are a lot of tick-the-box messages pertinent to high school that are hard to digest in such a short period of time.
Props to the creators for being able to incorporate Hannah back into the show for a second season. At its heart the complicated show is still very much about her, no matter what characters are tied in to thinly wedge the story along.
Despite all of this, while 13 Reasons Why does explore the effects of suicide, bullying and serious subject matter of today’s youth, it remains to be seen whether the franchise is helping push a message of resilience or simply using it as a dramatic plot device. Where the first season had a very direct progression from suicide and its effects, the second bout hinges in the territory of The OC and Gossip Girl with its love triangles and general teen angst.
Two seasons is adequate enough to explore Hannah’s story, but trying to extend that focus towards different problems due to the show’s success seems a little out there and opportunistic.
After all the show is called 13 Reasons Why, so just what reasons are left to continue beyond that?
Overall Rating: 7/10
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