Thirteen Reasons Why: Season Two

May 28, 2018



As soon as the second season of the controversial show Thirteen Reasons Why was announced there was an understandable backlash from the online world. Personally, I found myself conflicted. As much as I wanted to know how they were going to develop the storyline from what we were shown in the first season; I was also terrified of the effects that it could have on my mental health based on the detrimental way that the first season affected me.

"While these are real issues, the stories are not." - A quote from the warning video which plays at the beginning of the second season, something that is so important to remember. Yes, these are real issues but everything in the show is presented through acting, everything is being put onto the screen to open up these conversations that would perhaps otherwise be a lot harder to have an open discussion about.

As I just mentioned, this season begins with a warning from the cast of the 'real world issues' that the show explores, encouraging anyone that is likely to be triggered to refrain from watching it or if they do then to do so with a trusted adult or friend. It also encourages anyone who feels triggered by the events of the show to seek help and links websites in which they can find some form of help.

For me, this was a big step in the right direction for the season - it had straight away changed what they had failed to do in the first season and sent people in immediate search of help if needed. You were also unable to skip to the next episode of the season until a title screen came up directing you to https://13reasonswhy.info/ which was another win from the producers. It really made the audience aware that there are helplines and various sources of help out there.

Once you land on the homepage of the site itself is full of local helplines, websites to go to and various other things. You come to a page that is titled 'Talk To Someone' and right from the get go it leads people to find the help that is necessary for them based on their location, meaning that no matter where in the world you are there is a library of help available for you.

This season is about the trial of Hannah Baker's family vs the school, you learn about the truth of the tapes and how she lived her life in the run up to her death in much more depth. As well as this it explores the characters attempts to rebuild their lives in the wake of her death, encourages victims of sexual assault to come forward and speak their truth, and tackles a lot of other issues.

Without giving too much of it away for those who want to watch it it explores mental health differently through Skye, who finds herself able to rebuild her life in spite of the way that she completely deteriorates. It also teaches you in a much more careful way than the last (that being said there needs to be a massive trigger warning for everyone before they watch the final episode specifically 38:00 - 40:00 minutes in which has a horrific scene that nobody I have spoken to about the show has been able to bring themselves to watch).

'No matter how many reasons there might be why, there are always more why not' - Mrs Baker to Clay at Hannah's funeral wake.
All in all this season was put together in a much better manner and gave a more positive outlook on mental health, it dealt with things in a way I felt was much more cautious than season one and for that they deserve some appreciation. However it can also be packed with triggers for other people, here's a tweet I found listing a heap of them for anyone who is perhaps considering it and would like to avoid them the best they can.

I think the thing is, you are the one who is able to judge what kind of mental state you are in if you are watching this. While there are definitely shows and movies which explore mental health in a healthier way his is also a show that has opened so many people's eyes to high school culture and mental health alongside many other issues. If this is the show that has made someone aware or lead them to seek help then that is great, however like I have mentioned it is also packed full of triggers which can be immensely detrimental too.

What were your views on the second season? Have you watched it? Let me know in the comments below and lets have a chat about it all!

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