Review: Thirteen Reasons Why (Series Spoilers in paragraphs 4 and 5)
Spoiler alert: I am not going to tell you to watch this series, but I am not going to tell you not to watch it either. Like life and teen angst, it's complicated. This series is a must-see for some people. However, it may trigger some very strong emotions in others, which may make it a must-not-see for them. Here's why...
From a purely artistic standpoint, Thirteen Reasons Why was outstanding. The acting was phenomenal. Neophyte, Katherine Langford, became angst ridden Hannah Baker. Dylan Minette was a highly believable teen nerd, Clay Jensen, one of the very few characters who has a strong conscience. Tony, portrayed by Christian Navarro, is a guardian angel of sorts. Every character in the series goes through internal conflict and turmoil, and every actor portrays that conflict. The roles were each written to be multi-demnsional which makes it believable. This series contains a great deal of symbolism, from the color of Hannah's nail polish, to the many tattoos sported by the different characters. So if you're looking for solid entertainment by way of a good teen psychodrama, this series is for you.
As a parent of teenagers, a mental health professional, and someone who has suffered from varying degrees of depression, I viewed this series from a unique perspective. Word on the street was that this series may trigger strong emotions. However, it did not trigger the anticipated feelings of despair or grief. Mostly it just made me angry, and my anger was not directed to the expected targets. Watching it, I wanted to scream at the TV screen at Hannah for being so short-sighted. How can you not know that things will get better? As a professional, I understand that one of the hallmarks of depression is loss of hope. So intellectually I know that she couldn't possibly realize that her situation would improve. But the mom in me wanted to slap the stupid out of her.
This series teaches lack of responsibility for one's own destiny. Hannah, the heroine of the story, takes no responsibility for improving her own situation. She liked Clay. There was potential for a very positive relationship there. Instead of taking initiative to develop that, she pushes him away. The rumors, assaults, and eventually rape, were absolutely not her fault. But I wonder why she felt comfortable speaking to the school counselor about it and not her parents. She did not exhaust all potential avenues for help before taking drastic measures. The tapes that she left behind were a legacy of blame. By the time they become teens, children have to know to take responsibility for their own lives. Placing the blame on everyone around her does her no favors.
The way in which the series deals with mental health issues is highly unsettling. There is no mention of anyone getting help for their issues. In fact, throughout the whole series, there is not one mention of contacting a qualified mental health professional. Attorneys, parents and school officials get their fair share of screen time. There is a token school counselor. But most teens need a qualified psychotherapist. Even teens who are not "at risk" would benefit from a session or two. I was disappointed that this was completely omitted in a series where bullying is rampant and mental health issues abound. Suicide is glorified and sexual assault is swept under a rug. Someone in my position simply cannot condone this.
In a nutshell, the series is entertaining. But I could not, in good faith, recommend it to teens, parents of teens, or anyone else who may be triggered by the content. There is no sense of closure when the series ends. The viewer is left feeling unsettled, which can be very dangerous for some people. So if you do plan to watch it, make sure to have your therapist on speed dial.
From a purely artistic standpoint, Thirteen Reasons Why was outstanding. The acting was phenomenal. Neophyte, Katherine Langford, became angst ridden Hannah Baker. Dylan Minette was a highly believable teen nerd, Clay Jensen, one of the very few characters who has a strong conscience. Tony, portrayed by Christian Navarro, is a guardian angel of sorts. Every character in the series goes through internal conflict and turmoil, and every actor portrays that conflict. The roles were each written to be multi-demnsional which makes it believable. This series contains a great deal of symbolism, from the color of Hannah's nail polish, to the many tattoos sported by the different characters. So if you're looking for solid entertainment by way of a good teen psychodrama, this series is for you.
As a parent of teenagers, a mental health professional, and someone who has suffered from varying degrees of depression, I viewed this series from a unique perspective. Word on the street was that this series may trigger strong emotions. However, it did not trigger the anticipated feelings of despair or grief. Mostly it just made me angry, and my anger was not directed to the expected targets. Watching it, I wanted to scream at the TV screen at Hannah for being so short-sighted. How can you not know that things will get better? As a professional, I understand that one of the hallmarks of depression is loss of hope. So intellectually I know that she couldn't possibly realize that her situation would improve. But the mom in me wanted to slap the stupid out of her.
This series teaches lack of responsibility for one's own destiny. Hannah, the heroine of the story, takes no responsibility for improving her own situation. She liked Clay. There was potential for a very positive relationship there. Instead of taking initiative to develop that, she pushes him away. The rumors, assaults, and eventually rape, were absolutely not her fault. But I wonder why she felt comfortable speaking to the school counselor about it and not her parents. She did not exhaust all potential avenues for help before taking drastic measures. The tapes that she left behind were a legacy of blame. By the time they become teens, children have to know to take responsibility for their own lives. Placing the blame on everyone around her does her no favors.
The way in which the series deals with mental health issues is highly unsettling. There is no mention of anyone getting help for their issues. In fact, throughout the whole series, there is not one mention of contacting a qualified mental health professional. Attorneys, parents and school officials get their fair share of screen time. There is a token school counselor. But most teens need a qualified psychotherapist. Even teens who are not "at risk" would benefit from a session or two. I was disappointed that this was completely omitted in a series where bullying is rampant and mental health issues abound. Suicide is glorified and sexual assault is swept under a rug. Someone in my position simply cannot condone this.
In a nutshell, the series is entertaining. But I could not, in good faith, recommend it to teens, parents of teens, or anyone else who may be triggered by the content. There is no sense of closure when the series ends. The viewer is left feeling unsettled, which can be very dangerous for some people. So if you do plan to watch it, make sure to have your therapist on speed dial.
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