“13 Reasons Why” has taken over Netflix and Facebook feeds of millions of people. And there is good reason for it. It’s a show with a powerful message that talks about things many of us are too scared to share. The episodes don’t shy away from taboo subjects, such as sexual assault and suicide. There are hundreds of reasons you should be watching this series, but I’m going to give you thirteen reasons you should be watching “13 Reasons Why.”
1. Parents have a lot to learn from the story.
If you are a parent of a teenager, you know that they can be kind of confusing and mysterious at times. My mom watched most of the episodes with my little brother, and I asked what her thoughts were as a parent. She said, “As parents, we don’t always see or hear the daily interactions of our children or even understand how big of an impact a seemingly small slight can make. The whole series was an eye opener and, frankly, caused me pause. How many times have my own words or actions cause someone else strife? We can all do better.” On that note…
2. It shows how our actions can affect others.
We don’t always think about what a short text or nasty look can do to someone’s self-esteem. Something that doesn’t really seem like a big deal to us may be a big deal to someone else. You don’t always know what that person is going through when we say/do those things to them.
3. Adults need to listen when kids reach out to them.
(Small spoiler. If you care about that, skip this one.) There is a scene towards the end where Hannah actually tries to reach out to an adult and talks about a very terrible thing that someone did to her. The adult somewhat dismisses Hannah - asking if there was anything she could have done differently, if she asked them to stop, was she maybe confused about what happened - instead of taking her seriously. This shows that adults need to really listen when kids are telling them something and learn to recognize the signs and to not dismiss them as being overdramatic or misinterpreted.Hannah showed all of the signs to the people around her, and no one thought to ask, “hey are you okay? Do you want to talk about it?”
4. The suicide scene is graphic and raw.
I think it’s important that they show Hannah killing herself in the manner that they did. You see everything; the ugly, dirty truth. This could show those that have had thoughts of suicide that it’s not beautiful and sad, it’s ugly. And who would want their parents to find them that way?
5. The sexual assault scene is also very graphic.
(This could potentially be a spoiler as well. You’ve been warned.) There are two rape scenes that occur in the show, so if that is something that is very triggering to you, I recommend watching these episodes with another person. These scenes don’t just allude to sexual assault - they show it. It’s important that scenes show people exactly how terrible sexual assault is and make the viewers really uncomfortable. If they can see just how awful it is, more people will be likely to step in when they see something happen.
6. It’s relatable.
Whether you identify with Clay, Alex, Justin, or Hannah, there’s a character that everyone can relate to. Multiple times while watching the show, I found myself thinking, “Yeah, I’ve been there.” But, you also see teens just being teens, which is something that writers often get wrong.
7. It’s real.
Nothing is sugarcoated in this show. You see teenagers drinking, doing drugs, having sex, and cursing. It’s accurate to what high school is really like, and touches on what teenagers go through every day.
8. It shows that cyber bullying is serious.
Teens are more connected to technology than they have ever been. Everyone carries a tiny computer in their pocket, and they are powerful machines. They can ruin someone’s life in just a few minutes. You may not think that an embarrassing picture, or a rumor spread online, can affect someone’s life.
9. It keeps you entertained.
Each episode ends in a way that makes you want to watch the next right away. There is never a dull moment and the mystery keeps you engaged. The way the tapes are ordered allows the story to use non-linear storytelling, which is not something that we see a lot of.
10. The acting is incredible.
This show features a lot of new up-coming actors, but still managed to realistic and believable. The actors chosen for each role are extremely talented, and it even features some that you may recognize such as Kate Walsh and Derek Luke.
11. You can (and probably will) binge the whole thing.
The way the story is set up will make you want to watch the whole season in one night.
12. It starts a conversation.
The themes brought up in each episode opens up some topics for discussion. My boyfriend and I both watched the show and had different thoughts about the story (especially the ending). It’s also a great opportunity for parents to talk about bullying and depression with their kids.
13. Suicide doesn’t just affect one person.
Hannah’s suicide affected everyone in her life. True, she kind of roped them in to it, but it’s still true for real life.Suicide leaves others feeling helpless. “Why didn’t I notice? What could I have done? Why did they do it?” There is always a way to find help, you only need to reach out.
If you have considered suicide or know someone who has, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255).
