This article contains spoilers:
The book 13 Reasons Why came out when I was in middle school. I heard everyone say it was an amazing book, but I was always hesitant to read it because of the heavy meaning behind it. I was too young and naïve to understand the concepts behind the book and everything it stood for.
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Recently, on March 31st, Netflix released its original series 13 Reasons Why, just in time for Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April. It has been the main topic of most social media platforms. From Twitter to Facebook, everyone seems to have their own opinions on the series. If you have seen it, you probably binge-watched it (like I did!). However, I had to stop watching it a few times because of how graphic some of the scenes were.
From scenes showing Hannah and Jessica being raped by Bryce, to Hannah ultimately committing suicide by slitting her wrists in the bathtub, this show portrays it all. Although some people may believe that these scenes were “too explicit,” they do a really good job at leaving a lasting impact on anyone who watches them.
No matter how many times we listen to school counselors educate us on suicidal warning signs and what to do if you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or bullying, we cannot fully understand what people experience or go through until we can visually see it or go through it ourselves. This is what 13 Reasons Why does for its viewers. It brings awareness to sexual assault, bullying, harassment, and suicide.
The author of the book, Jay Asher, defends all of the graphic scenes in the show; “It’s uncomfortable but that’s okay. It needs to be.”
Read more of Asher’s interview with BuzzFeed about the topic.
All in all, this is a series that everyone should watch. It will leave a lasting impression on anyone who has or has not dealt with the issues portrayed.