What started as an ambitious series chronicling the reasons behind the suicide of a teenage girl is slowly turning into a cash grab. I can’t say I’m shocked.

A Recap: 13 Reasons Why, based on the 2007 novel by Jay Asher, is a show that follows the story of Hannah Baker, a teenage girl who takes her own life. Before doing so, she leaves behind thirteen tapes that document each reason that inspired her decision. These tapes are uncovered by her classmate Clay Jensen and her community is sent into a frenzy.

I will be the first to say that I thought the pilot season of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why was both incredible and like nothing I had ever seen before. Amidst the controversy the show brought on, I was always for the show and the issues it brought to the table. In today’s culture, we are so quick to shy away from the hard topics and from raw truth, and I think that’s why people, particularly parents, were quick to tear this program down. I appreciated the fact that 13 Reasons Why didn’t shy away from these topics . Yes, I felt uncomfortable at times watching the show, but that is the point: Life isn’t comfortable. Anyway, I published a post about my thoughts on the show’s first season in the Spring of 2017. You can read that post here.

We all know I loved the first season, so what about the second season? What did I think? For starters, I would like to say that I was neither for or against the show having a second season. I thought the first season could have stood alone, and perhaps it may have been more powerful that way. The story in the novel that the show is based on ends with Hannah’s death, so if the writers operated on that fact alone, it is clear that there was no actual need for a second season. However, because the show expanded on the novel both through plot lines and characterization, there were many unanswered questions at the pilot season’s finale. As someone who likes to be entertained, I also welcomed a second season. I only hoped that the writers would include Hannah in some way because 13 Reasons is her story, and I hoped that the content would be purposeful, not taking away the impact of the first season.

The second season is focused on the court case between Hannah’s parents and the school district that “enabled” Hannah to commit suicide. The tapes were the focal point of season one, but in season two, it’s all about the testimonies. Through these testimonies, viewers learn backstories about Hannah, and more behind the scenes information is uncovered, some of which doesn’t actually add up to what went down in the first season…Anyway, among the important moments that are brought to light, is the revelation of how Hannah’s parents contributed to her sadness in addition to her peers. I found this ironic, considering they were pointing fingers at the school.

These backstories also humanize the little monsters from season one. Justin Foley, for example, the star of Hannah’s first tape, and a player in one of the most horrific moments of season 1, gained my sympathy. Yeah, he messed up, and he has to pay the consequences for his actions, but we are also reminded that he’s just a troubled kid who fell victim to peer pressure.

Other characters, like Bryce Walker, don’t inspire the same change of heart. His characterization alone reveals some troubling aspects of high school culture, rape culture, and the power of image and money. Bryce couldn’t possibly be a sexual predator because he comes from a nice, wealthy family and he’s the star of the baseball team. Right? Wrong(Brock Turner anyone?).

One of my main issues with the second season is the drama weaved in between the flashbacks from the testimonies. Some of it is great, but some of it also leans towards the melodramatic side, which I wasn’t a fan of. I could’ve done without the plot line with Clay’s girlfriend Skye who is admitted to a mental institution. In my eyes, this was the show’s way of tackling solutions to mental illness even though I’m still not sure if Hannah was actually mentally ill? Anyway, my point is that there was a little bit more fluff than I would like, and much of it was the show’s attempt to slyly address the controversy it had stirred up.

Nevertheless, the content was still gripping and “triggering” as they say. Some of the bullying sequences are extremely hard to watch, and even the flashbacks are hard to stomach. Although, this time around, some of the graphic content doesn’t seem necessary, and I’m not saying this because I’m soft. I say this because it just doesn’t really need to be there-like all of the sex on TV these days that contribute nothing to storylines. The content was well placed in the first season. This time around it was a bit clumsier, but I applaud it for maintaining the grit from the first season that I think many teen shows lack these days.

The show did its best at including Hannah in the story. Instead of being a voice that looms over the heads of the students at Liberty High as she did in the first season, she is now one of Clay’s delusions-one that he frequently has arguments with I might add. At the end of the season, Clay says goodbye to Hannah at her funeral. Now that there’s going to be a third season, I have no idea how this will still be about Hannah considering she has said her goodbyes, but we shall see what the writers do.

Season two of 13 Reasons ends on a startling note. The sequences that take place are culturally relevant, and it is also interesting to see how the show tackles the motives behind why tragedy occurs. It is clear that the writers executed season two in the way they did, so that they could set up a season three. Season two wasn’t necessary, but now season three is, and the writers have officially got viewers trapped. Too many things occur in the episodes leading up to the finale for them to not continue on. The part of me that wants to be entertained is thrilled, but the other part of me knows that this is all about money. I don’t know how the writers will make this show remain impactful, because it is slowly creeping into melodramatic territory, especially as the characters move farther and farther away from Hannah’s death. How will this be about her 13 Reasons anymore? Rather than pull from source material, writers are going to resort to creating their own drama which never ends well. Some stories have to end. If I am here writing a review on 13 Reasons Why Season 5 in a couple years, I might be a little triggered-more so than the people who watch some of the graphic scenes. Listen, I’m all for sequels that seem necessary, and I give a giant thumbs up to capitalism, but sometimes the integrity of the source material or the purpose of a show should come first. Yes, I will watch 13 Reasons Why season three because I couldn’t possibly resist to not see what happens next(They have me trapped remember?). Although, I’ll be excited, I’ll also be skeptical. All I hope is that the writers prove me wrong by creating another gripping season that relates to the thirteen tapes that started it all.

Couturely Sound