13 Reasons Why (2017)
After a teenage girl's perplexing suicide, a classmate receives a series of tapes that unravel the mystery of her tragic choice.
Details
First Air Date
3/31/2017
Last Air Date
6/5/2020
Network
Netflix
Rating
8/10 (4255 votes)
Status
Ended
Production Companies
Anonymous Content, Paramount Television Studios
About 13 Reasons Why
The 2017 series "13 Reasons Why" delves into the aftermath of a teenage girl's suicide, focusing on the audio cassettes she left behind. These tapes detail her perspective on the events and individuals she believes contributed to her decision, unraveling a mystery for a classmate who receives them. The narrative explores themes of suicide, sexual abuse, and bullying within a high school setting.
The series, which ran for four seasons, touches on mental health issues such as depression and guilt. Its keywords indicate a focus on complex and grim subjects, drawing from a young adult novel. The narrative employs an amateur sleuth approach as the protagonist navigates the information on the cassettes. The series concluded after 49 episodes, having explored its central mystery and its impact on the characters.
The show garnered significant discussion due to its sensitive subject matter and its depiction of certain events, particularly regarding sexual violence and mental illness. It explores the societal factors and individual experiences that can lead to tragic outcomes, prompting conversations around responsibility and awareness.
Why you might be searching for 13 Reasons Why
People are often searching for this series due to its sensitive themes like suicide and sexual abuse, and the central plot device of audio cassettes used to narrate a deceased character's perspective. Specific searches also indicate recall of scenes involving violence or self-harm, as well as the depiction of high school life and its social pressures.
What reviewers are saying
One reviewer, nostalgic for the walkman era, appreciated how the series used antiquated technology like cassette tapes to tell a thriller drama, and noted that while the message of the series was important, the first season felt drawn out and could have been shorter.
Read the full reviewAnother review criticizes the series for potentially glamorizing suicide and portraying female characters as perpetual victims, especially in later seasons. The reviewer felt Hannah Baker made questionable choices and questioned the show's overall message regarding responsibility and vulnerability.
Read the full reviewA reviewer commented that the show's melodrama intensified over its run, finding the first season superior despite its flaws, and describing later seasons as increasingly problematic and drawn out.
Read the full reviewOne perspective highlighted that the series frames suicide as a blame game, shifting responsibility away from the individual and suggesting that external factors dictate personal decisions, which the reviewer found problematic.
Read the full reviewFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about finding and identifying movies
You can stream all four seasons of 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. It is also available to buy on Amazon Video and Google Play Movies.
No, 13 Reasons Why is a fictional story based on Jay Asher's young adult novel, "Thirteen Reasons Why." While the events are fictional, the themes of bullying, sexual assault, and teen suicide were inspired by Asher's personal experiences and observations, making these issues feel very real to viewers romper.com.
There are four seasons of 13 Reasons Why. The series concluded with its fourth season, which was released on June 5, 2020 wikipedia.org.
The first season of 13 Reasons Why received positive reviews for its themes, emotional depth, and performances, especially from Dylan Minnette and Katherine Langford wikipedia.org. However, later seasons received mixed to negative reviews rottentomatoes.com. The series addresses sensitive topics such as suicide and sexual assault, which prompted discussions among mental health professionals.