TEENS IN TROUBLE
Netflix’s controversial drama offers too few ‘Reasons’ to tune in
Suicide attempts among teenagers are up, according to a new study released yesterday. From 2008 to 2015, hospitalization rates have doubled for suicidal teenagers, according to researchers at Vanderbilt University. Girls account for about two-thirds of the cases, and hospitalizations occur much more during the school year than the summer, leading some to speculate that bullying in our schools is out of control.
Netflix’s controversial series “13 Reasons Why,” about the devastating impact of a high school girl’s suicide on her community, returns tomorrow for another round of teen angst, mawkish sentiment and horrific violence. It’s “Degrassi” with F-bombs mashed with “Ghost” and “Criminal Minds.”
In response to some of the criticism of the first season, producers have slapped a cast PSA on the premiere and added mental health resources to 13Reasonswhy. info. That’s commendable. It’s not enough.
While the first season traded on the device of cassette tapes containing Hannah’s (Katherine Langford) secrets, this one uses old-timey Polaroids as a hook for a new mystery. One can only imagine what producers will use for season three. Beepers? Viewmaster reels? An Etch A Sketch?
Clay (Dylan Minnette) tells everyone he’s moved on in the five months since Hannah killed herself. He’s dating Skye (Sosie Bacon), an old friend who cuts herself when she’s stressed, and Clay gives her a lot to stress about, since every time they try to have sex, he sees Hannah. Hannah’s mother, Olivia (Kate Walsh), is suing the school district for not protecting her child, and the trial drags out more than a few surprise confessions.
The courtroom scenes are among the least convincing scenes in the series. REVIEW “13 REASONS WHY” Grade: C The lawyer representing the school district leads the teens in conversations any responsible opposing counsel — played here by Wilson Cruz — would energetically object to.
At Liberty High, Jessica (Alisha Bo) returns to classes and cheerleading, hoping to put her trauma behind her.
This season, at least a few adults seem to be interested in helping the kids cope. School counselor Kevin Porter (Derek Luke) is determined to keep rapist Bryce (Justin Prentice) from harassing more students, but his methods may cost him dearly.
Late in the 13-episode season, there’s another sexual assault, and it’s one of the most brutal, graphic scenes filmed for TV in at least 40 years.
That, in turn, leads to a revenge plan that threatens the entire school, and the climax craters somewhere between absurd to astonishingly ill-advised.
And that won’t matter to the series’ young fans, who will lap it all up.
But there is something good to be said about “13 Reasons Why”: It’s the best advertisement for parents to get involved and to demand to watch shows together as a family.
Some shows are too important to be left to teenagers.