The excellent teen drama phenomenon has kept many fans around the world in suspense. Today, the series is back for a highly anticipated second season at the turn. And for good reason: the story of 13 Reasons Why was so well constructed that it was difficult to imagine a valid sequel… It must be said that the book from which the series is based, 13 Reasons, by Jay Asher, offers a complete story. So what does this sequel bring to the story and was it really necessary?
Five months have passed since the tragic disappearance of Hannah Baker. If life slowly resumes its course, the drama still haunts the city. At Liberty High, everyone tries as best they can to rebuild after the hard times they have gone through. The tapes have done a lot of damage and now it's time to move forward. But the Bakers, convinced that their daughter was being bullied at school, sued the school for negligence. And new secrets may well surface…
The trial, a new common thread
After the tapes, it is therefore the turn of the trial, through the various testimonies, to constitute the red thread of this season. Each episode is once again dedicated to a particular character. The one summoned to the bar to give his own vision of the facts to the court. Will the jury judge the school responsible for not supporting Hannah? Will Bryce's crimes go unpunished? How will Clay and the others react to this new painful ordeal? Many questions remain unanswered, which is a fertile ground for addressing new themes specific to today's young adults.
In addition, the trial also allows for the insertion of new intrigues. A dangerous raven intends to blackmail witnesses likely to swing Bryce while Clay receives mysterious polaroids… By the way, we thank the producers for not having placed the pola at the center of the story in the same way as the tapes were, as we could have believed with the trailer.It would have been a bit big.
The idea of the court is not bad in itself. It makes it possible to bring a logical continuation of past events. It is not uncommon in the United States for parents who have experienced such a tragedy to file a complaint against their child's establishment. This is much less the case in France. Looking at 13 Reasons Why, one might think that Olivia, Hannah's mother (beautifully worn by Kate Walsh), is desperately trying to find a culprit. However, let's not forget that Olivia listened to the last tape, which directly concerns the high school counselor. The delirium of the trial therefore holds the road until then.
The writers have asked themselves this question. Should the school be condemned for its share of responsibility for Hannah's suicide? The team held an internal vote on who would have found Liberty High guilty. Out of 10 people, 5 were in favour, 5 were against. It says a lot about the outcome of the plot…
The healing process
Even if there were still a lot of topics to address and avenues for reflection for a possible sequel, how to continue the series without losing its strength and beauty? After all, we heard all the tapes, and that's precisely what made the charm of season 1. In a recent interview, Brian Yorkey, the showrunner of 13 Reasons Why , justified the existence of this sequel by the desire to be interested in the healing of the characters:
People think the story is over at the end of season 1 because we've heard everything, but no: we've heard Hannah's version. Jessica's story has only just begun. Clay was very active in Season 1 trying to figure out what happened to Hannah, but he didn't deal with his sense of grief. If we left these characters, we would have felt incomplete.
This season is therefore very marked by the different recovery processes of each. Thus, Clay remains very affected by the sudden disappearance of his crush. Although in a relationship with Skye, he begins to see and talk to Hannah, bordering on schizophrenia. A method unfortunately a little cheap to evoke grief (too bad!), a subject yet central. For her part, Jess learns to heal after her rape. His journey from victim to survivor is superbly well described, evoking his anxiety attacks, his progress, his relationship with his body but also his aggressor. In this regard, Brian Yorkey reminds us that sexual assault is a trauma of rare violence that deserves to look at the stages of healing:
There are so many young women and men who are being raped and have to get over it, it was very important to do them justice and not to skip over certain details too quickly.
13 Reasons Why, a well-researched series
For the construction of this season, the producers relied on numerous studies and expertise of psychiatrists, witnesses, associations … This may also explain the rare accuracy shown by the series. Because we can criticize the slower pace, the plot less strong and a sequel not necessarily necessary, but the acting combined with the quality of the script gives food for thought.
For example, Olivia's role is painted with such precision that it is disconcerting. This poor woman, traumatized by the suicide of her daughter and driven by the need for justice, alternates between suffering and hope. We salute Kate Walsh's performance for this poignant scene where she finds the clothes Hannah wore on the last day of her life. Never washed since that fateful day, she refuses to part with the last thing left of her daughter: her blood.
13 Reasons Why is also interested in the future of this couple to the deceased only child. How do you move on when their lives revolved around their daughter? The writers realistically describe the possible options. Andy, Hannah's father, prefers to rebuild his life by starting a new family while Olivia throws herself body and soul into the trial. Her text was also written in collaboration with Suzanne Timms, a woman who went through this painful ordeal. Her son killed himself and has been trying to raise awareness of youth suicide ever since. Based on statistics, the series also shows that most couples who experience this kind of situation end up separating.
The role of parents
Parents have a much more important role now. And not just Hannah's. Through all the characters, we understand well the complexity of family relationships in adolescence. There's this very touching scene where Tyler's mother comes to talk to him in her room, making sure he's okay. The boy says nothing, wanting to reassure his mother while he is at his lowest. He is so confused that he does not even see how to confide, how to approach his problems.
Clay's parents also question their son's silence. The dialogues are very neat during these family exchanges and very revealing of the relationship between teenagers and parents. Sometimes it's more to protect them than to hide things from them that children don't tell everything. Otherwise, Jess' father isn't bad either. Furious and bruised by what has been done to his daughter, he seeks at all costs to protect her, sometimes clumsily. Very moving in this season, the relationship of Jess and her father brings some moments of sweetness and lightness to 13 Reasons Why . Not to mention that it is not that common to see this kind of role reserved for black actors.
A series in tune with the times
Discussing topics like slutshaming or bullying, 13 Reasons Why depicts the social issues that American teenagers today often face. The series explains with the greatest accuracy the processes that lead them to commit tragic acts. We even try to understand Bryce, who embodies the real villain of the series. And we take this opportunity to remember that Justin Prentice is not Bryce Walker in real life. Think about it, poor man.
We also appreciate the effort made to make the characters ever more complex and realistic. We rarely fall into the cliché, to a pompom girl, which reinforces the quality of the show. The role of Tony in particular is particularly neat. Far from being locked in the box of the effeminate gay, he must learn to manage his anger and again, this is not a habit on screen.
To summarize, season 2 continues its momentum and accurately paints the trials that the characters go through, just a few months after Hannah's suicide, heavy consequences. Addiction, sexual assault, school bullying, bereavement… 13 Reasons Why does not take a glove and puts the piedsin the dish, addressing serious but unfortunately common topics. A way to break the silence and open the dialogue on the malaise of everyone, without falling into the Degrassi (hello Drake).Even if this season will divide after the success of its debut, it is obvious that the series succeeds in its main mission: to give the opportunity to speak. Netflix has also added prevention messages at the end of each episode redirecting to a site that helps those who feel the need.
In order not to miss his shot, 13 Reasons Why wanted to hit hard for this second season by integrating firearms. A risky bet, especially after the controversies launched during season 1 which accused the series of glorifying suicide. The writers hit it so hard that Netflix had to cancel the premiere that took place on the same day as a shooting at a high school in Sante Fe, Texas. Proof that, despite its detractors, this sequel has the merit of addressing essential topics.
