Recently, it was announced that the Netflix series "13 Reasons Why" was picked up for a second season. While some people may be beyond thrilled that their favorite book-turned-show is being expanded, I'm disappointed.
I don't think the story should be continued and here are 14 Reasons Why:
1. Hannah Baker finished telling her story.
Through thirteen tapes, Hannah Baker told her friends and family why she decided to end her life. Before recording those tapes, she sat down and brainstormed who she should mention and what she should say. Her story was told in a very strategic way, so I don't think it would be appropriate to continue telling her story if she had purposely ended it.
2. There isn't a second book.
If Jay Asher wanted to continue the story, he would have. There is no sequel to the book because there really isn't a need for one. I don't think it's fair for the screenwriter of the Netflix series to take over the story that Jay Asher created.
3. We've already seen the fallout.
I understand that the show ended with many unanswered questions, but so did the book. Sometimes a cliffhanger can be a good thing. It inspires imagination and lets each person decide how the story ends in their own head.
4. The name of the show won't make sense.
Hannah Baker had thirteen reasons why she decided that her life was no longer worth living. If season two isn't focused on those thirteen reasons, why still call the show 13 Reasons Why?
5. There really isn't a reason to continue the story.
We've heard the entire story: Hannah Baker struggled with depression for months and chose to make the worst decision possible. Unfortunately, her friends and family find out that they could've changed her mind, but only after it's too late. What else is there to say?
6. We can only handle so much drama.
Between the bullying, cliffhangers, and scene where Hannah dies, this show is jam-packed full of drama. It's incredibly hard to watch and I don't know how much more we can take.
7. Too much of a good thing isn't always good.
I will be the first person to recommend reading Jay Asher's book or watching the first season of the Netflix series, but that's it. The book and show discuss important issues about mental health but I think it may be starting to go too far.
8. The book's storyline will be overshadowed.
The storyline of the book follows Hannah's tapes. The show followed as closely to that as possible. Now, the screenwriter of the show is going to create a whole new set of plot points to make up a second season? It just seems like Jay Asher's work will be forgotten while this show makes headline after headline.
9. Hannah Baker can't be the main character anymore.
As sad as it is, Hannah Baker died. Without her, who will the show revolve around? Hannah Baker was special and she was the person who connected all of the people in the story.
10. The format of the show will have to be different.
Each episode of the first season followed each tape that Hannah recorded. Within those episodes, we saw as Clay went through his daily life and experienced flashbacks of memories with Hannah. How will the second season be formatted if there are no tapes to follow?
11. Just imagine the backlash this is going to get.
I read articles by people battling depression and read about how hard it was for them to watch Hannah Baker's story. I can't even imagine how traumatic it would be for families that have lost their loved ones to suicide to watch a show like this after the main character passes away.
12. Everyone is going to know the truth behind Hannah Baker's suicide.
It was made clear that the truth would be exposed to all of the characters in the show. How will the characters get along knowing the truth about their friends and family?
13. If they continue the story now, they might just over do it.
Like I said before, too much of a good thing isn't always good. I'm afraid that if they continue this story for too long, they're just going to run too far with it and ruin it.
14. The producers seem to be making a second season for the wrong reasons.
The producers of the Netflix show should be making a second season to continue the conversation on mental health awareness and advocate for suicide prevention. Unfortunately, it seems like they're only doing it for the ratings and streams on Netflix.