Kevin Ludy ’17
The new Netflix series “13 Reasons Why” brings to light the complexities and hardships high schoolers face. The highly anticipated show was released on March 31 but many fans were worried that it wouldn’t live up to the book’s high standards.
The series is about the suicide of Hannah Baker and the reaction her school has to it, primarily one of her best friends Clay Jensen. Prior to her death Baker made a series of seven tapes describing the 13 reasons why she committed suicide.
Once she was dead, she had a friend give out the tapes out to the people she feels are responsible for her death. The series alternates viewpoints between Jensen and Baker, which creates a powerful story about how your actions can impact others.
“I really enjoyed the book, so I’m hoping that the new show does it justice,” Julia Gershowitz ’19 said. “When I had read the book for the first time it had such a great impact on how I view the world, and I hope the series lets others feel the same way I did.”
The show was produced by big names including Selena Gomez, and the cast features newer actors like Dylan Minnette and Katherine Langford. These actors portray their characters perfectly, and the cinematography matches the serious tone of the show.
The show takes a slightly different path compared to the book, but overall it did not affect the quality of the story.
After watching the first episode, you really become invested in the story and learning more about Hannah’s life. The show was very thought out and is one of the better shows to hit Netflix recently.
“I went through a really, really hard time in middle school and the book ‘13 Reasons Why’ was one of the only things that helped me get through it,” an anonymous student said. “The book really did a great job of showing things that people can go through in school and I am extremely excited to watch the show.”
The series “13 Reasons Why” can mean different things for different people. For some it might be just a new show, while for others it may be a way to understand differences and raise empathy for their peers. This show is an excellent addition to Netflix, and lives up to the reputation of the book.
