Binge-watching and Netflix go hand in hand, it’s an inevitability. The level of new content they’re creating of late is fantastic. It’s a great platform which is allowing creation of shows which may not have worked on a network level, and is changing the way we watch television. One of the more recent additions to Netflix is 13 Reasons Why, the adaptation of the Young Adult novel of the same name by Jay Asher. While it’s all about high school and the drama that ensues, the content is definitely something that all adults should tune into. So here are 13 Reasons Why you should be watching 13 Reasons Why (With No Spoilers).
1 : The Book
The series is based on the book of the same name, Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Released in 2007, it tells the story of teenager Clay Jensen, as he listens to tapes which he receives after the suicide of his friend and classmate Hannah Baker. In the tapes, she has given her 13 reasons behind her suicide, each on a tape of their own, and she tells it from the start that he’s somewhere on there. It made its way to the New York Times Bestseller List in the number one spot and has sold over 2 million copies. From all accounts and from seeing this, I’m a firm believer it should be on every school curriculum for teenagers.
2: The Soundtrack
If you love your 1980s tunes, you’ll love this. You’ve got songs from The Cure, Joy Division and other bands who wouldn’t have looked astray on the soundtrack to classics like The Breakfast Club. There’s also a beautiful cover of one of my personal favourite songs “Only You” by series producer Selena Gomez which is well worth a listen. I’ve also discovered new bands (to me) like Lord Huron, who are just LOVELY.
3: The Producers
Speaking of herself, Selena Gomez and her Mammy are behind this fantastic show. Working closely with writer Jay Asher, they’ve kept the feeling of the book throughout and brought this story to the screen. Gomez had originally been mentioned as a possible contender for the lead role, but chose to stay behind the camera to share the story which she related to. In the earliest days of production, she had herself been in a treatment facility with other teenagers who were in a dark place, linked to her anxiety and depression.
She spoke to many young people and this cemented her decision to bring this show to the masses, increased its importance to her. “It hits a very important part of me, and I think this is what (kids) need to see,” she said. She spoke to CNN at a Netflix panel the other day, saying “They have to see something that’s going to shake them. They have to see something that’s frightening. … I want them to understand it. … I would do anything to have a good influence on this generation. It’s hard, but I definitely relate to everything that was going on, and I was there for the last episode. I was a mess just seeing it all come to life, because I’ve experienced just that.”
4: Mental Health
It’s growing in the amount of coverage it receives in the media and in public life, but accurate depictions of people living with depression and mental health issues can be rare to come across. This is something done really, really well in 13 Reasons Why. Because of this, I feel it will be a useful tool in educating young people and ensuring they speak out. Suicide and depression are topics that aren’t taken in any way lightly, and of course it is necessary to point out that this may trigger people who have associations with certain elements of the story. There are trigger warnings before the episodes concerned, as not to spoil the story I won’t go through them here but if you feel that you may be more sensitive to these issues it is probably best to look it up before viewing.