This is a really great show. Usually I just watch one or two
episodes of a new show before reviewing. I've been
binge-watching this one. It really draws
you in and makes you want to keep watching.
The show
is about a young guy, Clay (Dylan
Minnette) who's getting over the suicide of his friend,
Hannah (Katherine
Langford). Hannah has left a series of tapes for
each of her friends to listen to. As each listens, the
person passes the tapes on to another person. Each
tape side is about one of the people that she blames for
making her life unbearable.
We see and hear the
tapes, Hannah's voice, and flashbacks to the past, through
Clay's eyes. As he listens to the tapes, they start to
consume his life. As he binge-listens to them, they're
affecting his life, schoolwork, family relationships, etc.
He learns about all of the terrible things that people did
to Hannah. He also learns, gradually, who else has heard the
tapes, who is on them, and who might have helped her make
them. He seems to get more paranoid as the show goes
on (with good reason).
Some of the other students at
his school don't want him to listen to the tapes because
they're afraid that he might spill the beans about what
happened. The kids are all keeping the tapes secret from the
adults...especially her grieving parents.
Kate Walsh
of "Private Practice" plays her mom. The great Steven Webber
plays the school's principal, who's worried because Hannah's
mom is suing the school for allowing the other kids to bully
Hannah.
This is a very large cast, but they all do a
great job. Dylan Minnette is fabulous as Clay. His face and
his eyes are just wonderful at showing his teenage feelings.
Langford is also fantastic as Hannah. Everyone should enjoy
this show, with its great mystery, but especially teens.
I only have two minor gripes about the show, thus far.
One is that most of these actors don't look like teens. They
appear way too old to be high school students. That's a
standard TV problem. I guess it's hard to find great,
seasoned actors who are under 18.
The other problem
is that Katherine Langford is just too beautiful to play
Hannah. I don't believe that a girl that beautiful,
outgoing, and bright, from a two-parent home (with parents
who seem to love her and aren't dysfunctional) would kill
herself. I just don't buy it. Girls like that just aren't
bullied. Bullies go after the kids who are ugly, fat,
weird, socially awkward, gay, etc. Not someone like
her. Nope, I don't buy it. They should have made
Hannah a little ugly or have her wear glasses...something!
It makes no sense to me, otherwise. If they had said that
Hannah had a history of depression, then that would be
different. They barely mention depression at all.
Perhaps they're trying to send the message
that anyone can be bullied or that any teen could commit
suicide, but I don't think that's probably accurate... I
guess as someone who was bullied in school, I feel a little
bit defensive whenever they don't show bullying in an
accurate way. I do know that teen suicide has gone up, but I
doubt it's because of bullying. From what I read online, it
has a lot more to do with families falling on hard times,
due to the economic problems.
This is based on a book
by Jay Asher. I haven't read the book. The
series was written and directed by Brian Yorkey, who has
primarily been a theater writer and director.
MORE INFORMATION:
13 Reasons Why is a
new series from Netflix
adapted from the
best-selling books by
Jay Asher. It follows
teenager Clay Jensen
(Dylan Minnette) as he
returns home from school
to find a mysterious box
with his name on it
lying on his porch.
Inside he discovers
cassette tapes recorded
by Hannah Baker
(newcomer Katherine
Langford) - his
classmate and crush -
who tragically committed
suicide two weeks
earlier. On tape, Hannah
explains that there are
thirteen reasons why she
decided to end her life.
Will Clay be one of
them? If he listens,
he'll find out how he
made the list. Through
Hannah and Clay's dual
narratives, 13 Reasons
Why weaves an intricate
and heart wrenching
story of teenage life
that will deeply affect
viewers.
13 Reasons Why is
directed by Oscar Winner
Tom McCarthy
(Spotlight), Written by
Tony and Pulitzer Prize
Winner Brian Yorkey
(Next to Normal), and
executive produced by
Selena Gomez, Joy Gorman
and Brian Yorkey from
Anonymous Content, and
Kristel Laiblin. The
series is a produced for
Netflix by Paramount
Television.
Cast:
Dylan Minnette Clay
Jensen
Katherine Langford
Hannah Baker
Kate Walsh Mrs. Baker
(Hannah's mother)
Brain D'Arcy James
Mr. Baker (Hannah's
father)
Derek Luke Mr. Porter
(Hannah's guidance
counselor)
Brandon Flynn Justin
Foley
Justin Prentice Bryce
Walker
Alisha Boe Jessica
Davis
Christian Navarro
Tony Padilla
Tommy Dorfman Ryan
13 x 60
Format: Drama
Series Premiere Date:
March 31th, 2017
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