“I hope you're ready, because I'm about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically, why my life ended. And if you're listening to these tapes, you're one of the reasons why.”
Literally on my first time back on Netflix this was the recommended watch, I had absolutely no idea what it was about, I never even read the description, I was just about to eat dinner and thought 'fuck it, that'll do for now.'......And then I was glued.
Thirteen Reasons is about a girl named Hannah struggling to live through school life and personal life, she is a victim to many 'jokes,' and eventually it becomes to much and she commits suicide. Leaving thirteen tapes to the people who were part of the reasons for why she did. It sounds brutal? Why would she do that? Well if you want to know you are gonna have to watch. (Or read as I did find the book in Water Stones the other day too.)
The story follows her friend Clay through his experience listening to the tapes and how deep it affects not only him but the other people involved, it hops back and forth between the past and present as Hannah narrates and shows everything that chipped away at her soul. It shows how she wanted someone to stop her, for someone to give her a reason not to, and it shows how little the people around her cared to even acknowledge that she was struggling.
“A lot of you cared, just not enough.”
Thirteen Reasons Why was well written and must have been intense for the actors and actresses involved in the series to play out the roles. At some points in the series I found myself agreeing with Hannah but also, I found myself thinking that she was making a mountain out of a molehill at other points (like the list) that obviously drew more attention to her.
Hannah did have such a tendency to over react that at one point in the series her friend told her that not all drama was about her.
The series shows how bullying and toxic behaviour can affect the people involved, and sends out a powerful message that you need to be aware that maybe the person you are having 'banter' (I use this word as it gets thrown around as a viable reason to target someone and get away with it.) with might not actually find it as funny as you and your friends.
Some events in Thirteen Reasons Why are hard to watch, personal experiences crept up and it made my stomach turn I'm pretty sure if I was watching this alone I would have cried through the series....a lot not just at the scenes, but at how powerful and relatable Hannah's words were, but that is the point. These tapes weren't left to glorify a death and entertain, they were left to show how hard it can be, for the victim, the family and the people who were part of her life. It shows how horrible, lonely and cold suicide can be.
Despite how...I'm gonna say traumatic...the series is, its actually one that will haunt me for a long time but its also one I would watch again because its such a powerful story. Not only does it build up the mystery of why her friend was on the tapes and what course of action he will take after each reason, but it also makes you think about how you would react and respond in the situations. Hannah has a poetic voice throughout the tapes and delivers many powerful messages in a beautifully tragic way.
I would like to buy the book at some point in the future too as I'm sure it has a slightly different take of Hannah's story. I love the poems that were in the series too, they hit hard and were beautifully written.
The video below contains spoilers....and may be triggering.
“I'm listening to someone give up. Someone I knew—someone I liked. I'm listening... but still, I'm too late.”
Totally worth watching 5/5
