Why didn't you say this to me when I was alive?" Regardless of your feelings towards the series (whether it's of animosity or reverence), there's a scene in the final episode that is almost impossible to bear. The series has crossed many boundaries in terms of the graphic depictions that have been included, but the scene I'm discussing is the epitome of how discomforting this show gets. It's testament to the acting as well, that the show is powerful enough to grab our attention.
Truthfully, I found this series frustrating and debilitating. But that didn't ruin the powerful message that supersedes all the events that occur. That no matter what people say, do or infer, we should always be kind and never be quick to judge. It's a rather topical theme to be discussing considering the current state of the world, but to have it shine through from a high-school drama, it's quite an achievement. Following a gradual increase of tension in the first seven episodes, the last six chucks into fifth gear and never stops - not even until the last minutes of the thirteenth episode. There are some truly harrowing seems to witness, and some equally sad ones. But all are important in the pantheon of reasons that pushed Hannah over the edge. However, instead of always laying blame on individuals this time, Hannah has given a few examples of her own mistakes. She feels guilty for ignoring Sheri's pleas and calling the police about the Stop sign. She feels mortified for losing her parents' deposit. And last, but not least, she blames herself for pushing the only person who ever showed any care for her away. Clay becomes a shining figure in the last few episodes as he comes to the realisation of many things. One major lesson that he's learned is to always challenge your friends, even if they may say otherwise, if they appear in trouble or distress, always be there for them to talk. His character development has been strong and unaltered throughout the series, and it's great to see him come out on top. Whether we know justice is served or not, his outwitting of Bryce is commendable, especially as he sacrifices himself to a few nasty bruises along the way. The main critique that I have for the show, however, is its lack of closure. There's a whole host of characters in this multi-layered show and each has had their share of woes in the maelstrom of emotions that ensued since Hannah's death. But Clay was the only character wrapped up properly. Everyone else was left in the air. Now, understandably, this can be compared to real life, as most of the time no answers are found to some terribly tragic events, but to see so many plot threads left hanging is a tough thing to end with. What has happened to Alex? How will Jess live with that terrible memory? Will Hannah's parents get justice? Will Bryce be once and for all silenced and locked up for his evil attacks on both Jess and Hannah? How does the trial conclude? After all, the prominent message that this series is conveying is all about helping those in a similar situation to Hannah and to absolutely avoid the same thing happening to anyone else. The show doesn't easily inform anyone where they can get help - it simply depicts the worst scenario possible. Mr Porter, I found, was portrayed as a pretty decent man and a helpful counsellor, who made one fatal mistake when he let Hannah leave his office on that fateful day - something he will regret for a long time, even more so now that Clay has given him his tape. The same goes for most of the people on the tapes. They were all (apart from Bryce of course) good people, who made very bad choices that unintentionally hurt Hannah, which then built up to an overwhelming amount. It's just a matter of watching what you say. If there is something to take away from this series, it is that life doesn't make it easy for anyone. But once you understand that, you can then be aware of the people around you, watch the things you say to them, and respect them no matter what situation they're in. It's a matter of recognising that you don't know what's going in their lives, similar to them not knowing what's going on in yours. Mutual understanding brings people together, and hopefully brings some happiness to the world. 8.5/10
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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." Netflix's new series is possibly its most courageous. The story of how a school environment drove a girl to suicide is harrowing and painful to watch, but it's very close to the truth. Bullying is considered commonplace in schools, but regardless of how harmless people think it is, there's no denying its affect on those targeted. 13 Reasons Why has touched on that perfectly, but in its first half of episodes, it has failed, in my view, to be consistent.
The plot itself is fascinating, and while it may not be original, it holds well for the countless characters that we're introduced to. The amount of thought that's gone into weaving these many plot threads is astounding, and it's great to see later episodes revisit old ones to reinforce the emotions and feelings of its characters. This is the first step for the audience to start empathising with our main character, and understand why she made this terrible choice. With regards to filmmaking, whilst simplistic at times, is enriched by its use of dark and light, and is comparable to a lot of other Netflix series in that respect. Transitions between timelines are handled extremely well, sometimes as easy as the sweep of camera in the right direction. But, at the same time, it also manages to bring our steering character into past scenes to be in Hannah's perspective. These are momentous decisions and help to follow Clay's character properly, without the need for exposition. On to the characters. Now, with so many, it's difficult to discuss all of them, but in some way, the characters discussed on the tapes are all connected anyway. They each have a guilty thread that connects them to this tragic event. Justin, for instance, is a drastically flawed character, who is the stereotypical bully in the school, who has wronged Hannah in one of the worst ways possible. The fact that four characters have already done something similar to Hannah since then, it gets a bit repetitive, but it hits home the message that the series is conveying. However, there are some inconsistencies in the portrayal of Hannah, and it's not the actress' fault. Between tapes, it seems her attitude reverts back to sarcastic and calm, which at this point makes me feel as though everything that's happened to her is petty. Even more so, it clashes with Clay's development, who is rapidly spiralling into an abyss of despair. This disparity makes episodes (especially 5 to 7), a bit frustrating to watch. The lack of closure is quite draining and you feel absolutely no justice for these characters. Inconsequently, the acting is impressive. Dylan Minnette especially, gives a multi-layered performance that is enhanced as the series progresses. Katherine Langford is just as good, with a genuine portrayal of a person who's been hurt many times, and is unable to communicate her troubles. The whole host of other cast are just as engaging, but I must highlight Kate Walsh for her exhausting performance as Hannah's mourning mother. Without her desperate and unforgiving nature, the sincerity of this show would not have held together. So far, I have been captured by the storyline and its characters, but at the same time, there's a frustration there that makes me question the integrity of these tapes and some of the far-fetched stories that they tell. Nevertheless, if they remain consistent in the second and final half, there's no doubt that this could be essential viewing with an overarching message for the whole world to hear. Bullying is not a fact of life, it is the scourge of life. 7.5/10 |
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October 2017
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