If there’s a TV show that has earned dramatically mixed responses, it’s Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. On the one hand, the series is rarely mentioned without the word ‘controversial’ following closely behind and it has prompted warnings from schools and mental health experts about the perceived glamorization of teen suicide. But on the other, the series quickly set the record for the most conversation on Twitter garnering more than 11 million tweets in a month and has unsurprisingly gathered itself a really strong fan base.
And when you’re dealing with a show that’s created as much conversation as 13 Reasons Why has, there is a kind of expectation to hear from its stars and creators in the aftermath of the hype (and criticism) to find out how they feel about it all. Co-producer Selena Gomez, who you might remember having publically spoken about her own struggles with mental health in the past, had always anticipated a backlash. ‘It’s going to come no matter what. It’s not an easy subject to talk about. But I’m very fortunate with how it’s doing’, she told Billboard.
Writer Brian Yorky disagrees with claims that they glamorised suicide and feels ‘very strongly that we did the exact opposite’. Actress Shannon Purser (who plays Barb in Stranger Things and Ethel in Riverdale) took to Twitter a little while ago to warn people before watching the show, however. ‘I would advise against watching 13 Reasons Why if you currently struggle with suicidal thoughts or self-harm/have undergone sexual assault’, she said. ‘There are some very graphic scenes in there that could easily trigger painful memories and feelings. Please protect yourselves’.
The latest response to criticism of 13 Reasons Why though, is Katherine Langford who plays Hannah Baker. When asked about the show and the backlash it’s received on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon over the weekend, Katherine said: ‘Of course there’s controversy’.
‘I think things like these instigate discussion, which is the important part. And I think we cover son many important issues in the show that are going to affect people differently depending on their own personal context’, she added.
Katherine told Jimmy: ‘Everyone's feelings are valid, so I'm not going to tell anyone to feel anything differently, but personally being directly involved in the show and seeing the thought and consideration that went into it...Also being a young adult, playing a young adult and covering issues that are relevant, I feel really proud of the way that we covered it and the way we showed things.’
Having previously spoken about what it was like to recreate those particularly traumatic scenes that involved being sexually assaulted and taking her own life, hearing Katherine’s view on the inevitability of the show’s controversial response and pride in what 13 Reasons Why has achieved, feels pertinent. ‘I took a pretty heavy hit physically and emotionally. But I wanted to make sure that I did the character justice. I know there are so many girls out there who are Hannah’, she told The Hollywood Reporter last month. ‘They were challenging because they are so potent and intense and agonizingly painful to think about’.
As for Netflix’s responsibility to the handling of the show and care for its audience, Katherine was pretty complimentary. ‘The other cool thing is, with Netflix it’s ‘Yes we made this piece of entertainment', and there was a focus on trying to show it in a way that served justice to message in the book. But then what they also did is I feel like they've taken responsibility in the aftercare’, she told Jimmy.
‘So, we have a 30-minute Beyond the Reasons, which plays straight after episode 13, there are trigger warnings on nine, 12 and 13. And for me personally, I kind of take that upon myself as well', she added. 'My Instagram following has just grown exponentially, and I pretty much put the links to 13reasonswhy.info and the organisation itsonus.org – I put their links in my bio. Because I figure if one in 10 girls watch that out of five million, you're going to hopefully help a lot of people.'
Despite various concerns about the show's content, a whole new buzz is developing for 13 Reasons Why though now that after much umming, ahhing and conspiring, Selena Gomez finally confirmed that yes, there will be a second season. She posted a teaser video to her Instagram with the caption: 'Their story isn't over. Season 2 of #13ReasonsWhy is coming'.
A huge sigh of relief for fans who are desperate what happened to the tapes, the court case, and the rest of Hannah's classmates when the credits rolled on that dramatic last episode.
Like this? You might also be interested in…
What Happened To Alex? And Everything Else Yu Need To Know About The ’13 Reasons Why’ Series
What’s In A Meme: Did Netflix Get It Wrong With That 13 Reasons Why Joke?
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This article originally appeared on The Debrief.