13 Reasons Why on Netflix Jay Asher
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13 Reasons Why on Netflix

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13 Reasons Why on Netflix

A rumor based on a kiss ruined just about everything.

Guys, I just finished this series on Netflix & I need to talk about it. Obviously, SPOILERS AHEAD!

If you’re not familiar with the show, it’s based on a Young Adult novel by Jay Asher of the same name. It centers around a Hannah, who committed suicide & left cassette tapes as to her reasons why she took her life. Jay Asher is a well known & loved YA author & Netflix optioned the series & released it in April of 2017. The story deals with depression, bullying, drugs, drinking, isolation, suicide, high school, friendships, sexuality, sexual assault, abusive families; it’s obviously incredibly sensitive & heavy material.

Justin

First off, what do we think about Justin? I couldn’t stand him & the stunt he pulled with Hannah on the playground is unforgivable. But, my God- his home life? Bryce totally took advantage of him & held it over his head & then exerted control over him. His mother constantly picked her abusive boyfriends over her son & when he was crying to Jess because he had no place to live & wanted to do whatever he could to get back with her, my heart broke.

Seventeen

Jess

Jess, my Lord, did this girl suffer a huge downward spiral or what? Drinking liquor in bed, running around with Justin, slapping Hannah. I found it hard to like Jess. I know she was damaged & obviously has some serious self-esteem issues, but she was a Really crappy friend to pretty much everyone.

Radio Times

Alex

I feel like I wanted a little more of Alex. He was kind of a voice of reason at different times & I am Really Into Miles Heizer. I loved the coffee challenge we was doing with Hannah & Jess at the cafe, but when he & Jess began to date I knew the triangle wouldn’t last for long & that crushed me. We’ve all been the third wheel & we’ve all been squeezed out of friendships, but this one was brutal to watch.

Thought Catalog

Tony

Tony is my man. He is so sweet, kind, gentle & was dedicated to helping Hannah’s tapes get out the way that she wanted. Sometimes he was a little weird, remember the rock climbing with Clay, but he was my favorite character in this series.

Movie Pilot

Bryce

Bryce is undoubtedly the scum of the Earth. The fact that his house had a photo of an adult elephant next to a dead baby elephant speaks volumes about what kind of guy he was. This high school & this town is insane. The fact that this piece of shit raped 2 teenage girls without any repercussions makes my stomach turn. Where the hell were his parents anyway? This situation hit a little too close to reality & reminded me of a certain swimmer convicted of rape & the devastation the victim & her family continue to experience. 

Papel Pop

Clay

Clay & Hannah- why couldn’t they have made it work sooner? Argggghhhhh! Guys, make you move and tell and girl you’re Really Into her; the worst that can happen is that she tells you to go to hell. Ladies, same goes for you- if you’re Really Into someone- let them know. I guess It’s easy for me to say, I’m not stuck in this godforsaken high school with social media, bullying & lies.

Press Democrat

Hannah

Hannah, oh Hannah. When she was talking to Derek Luke (the counselor) about her feelings of depression & suicidal ideations…she hit the nail on the head. She just wanted everything to stop- she needed a break & my Lord, the girl couldn’t catch one. The suicide & rape scenes were near impossible to watch. I felt sick to my stomach after watching Hannah end her life & devastated that she felt that was her only choice. I read a few articles about why the writers chose to get so graphic with these scenes. Art is supposed to make you feel, even if you don’t agree with it & 13 Reasons Why definitely succeeded in that regard.

13 Reasons Why on Netflix Jay Asher
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Watching 13 Reasons Why on Netflix as a Parent

As a parent, this story was frustrating because I do feel like Hannah did not reach out to the right people. I don’t know if that could have saved her, but I feel like her parents would have done ANYTHING possible to help her. They were preoccupied with life, the business, but they were present & available for Hannah. I also don’t know how I really felt about the tapes. We all have an effect on everyone we meet & tiny decisions can have lifelong consequences (hello, Sheri & the stop sign) but to leave your loved ones behind & make their guilt & shame perhaps worse through these tapes is almost too much for me to handle. I suppose this was the best way Hannah had to get her story out & at perhaps all her friends, acquaintances & family understood her short, troubled life a bit better.

I need to know what you thought about this series- please leave me a note in the comments.

Teen

THE VERDICT

I am Really Into 13 Reasons Why on Netflix. I am looking forward to Season 2. While this series was incredibly difficult to watch, it was well acted, produced & directed & very important. Another Netflix series we are Really Into is Master of None.

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About the Author: Jay Asher

13 Reasons Why on Netflix Jay Asher Amazon
Amazon

Jay Asher’s debut YA novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, has appeared regularly on the New York Times bestsellers list for the past nine years. It has sold over 2.5 million copies in the United States alone and is currently in production to be a thirteen-part series on Netflix. His second YA novel, The Future of Us, was coauthored with Printz Honor winner Carolyn Mackler. He is also the author of the forthcoming What Light. His novels have been translated into thirty-five languages. Visit his blog at www.jayasher.blogspot.com and follow him on Twitter @jayasherguy.

Momma, wife, baker, reader & smart ass. I am Really Into doughnuts, inside jokes, trash TV, pizza, 48 Hours & George Michael.

4 Comments

  • ThattgirlJenn

    I read this book a few years ago and was excited to learn it was going to be made into a movie (at the time, before they decided to make it the tv series) I completely agree with you about everything. I wanted Hannah and Clay to end up together, I didn’t want her to feel so alone and suffer the way that she was. It was so heartbreaking. I didn’t grow up in the social media age, so I can imagine how much tougher it is for kids today. I really enjoyed hearing your thoughts on this!! ☺️

    • Sarah Slusher

      I totally agree- this was heartbreaking I just wanted Hannah & Clay to connect & not feel alone. They were so close so many different times & it was maddening. I am so incredibly thankful that I didn’t have to deal with middle, high school & social media. I can only imagine how awful it would have been/is for kids. I’m so glad I can talk to you about it- not many of my friends got into it.

  • shellyray

    I completely agree with what you said about Hannah not reaching out to the right people. Yes, she accidentally lost some money and her parents were angry, but they seemed like great parents overall and I’m sure they would have been happy to talk to her if she had said she needed to talk. It also bothered me that she left the tapes for all of the people that wronged her, but couldn’t even leave a note for her parents?

    • Sarah Slusher

      Yes! Exactly- her parents were involved, they were there & loved her so much. I know it, not even a note. It was heartbreaking and maddening.

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