{"id":3754,"date":"2017-04-12T09:07:59","date_gmt":"2017-04-12T13:07:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=3754"},"modified":"2017-04-12T09:16:52","modified_gmt":"2017-04-12T13:16:52","slug":"13-reasons-explores-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/students.com.miami.edu\/reviewing\/?page_id=3754","title":{"rendered":"’13 Reasons Why’ explores mental health"},"content":{"rendered":"

Posted April 12, 2017<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

By KATE HOVAN<\/p>\n

For some people, there\u2019s a common misconception that on-screen adaptations are never quite as good as their literary counterparts. Certain stories are better left in print. \u201cTwilight\u201d and \u201cThe Lord of the Rings\u201d fans will you tell you that themselves.<\/p>\n

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Courtesy of Netflix.<\/p><\/div>\n

Every so often, though, producers bring books to the big screen successfully and \u201c13 Reasons Why\u201d is one of those cases.<\/p>\n

The new Netflix original series is based on Jay Asher\u2019s 2007 bestselling novel. In the novel, Hannah Baker is a teen who has committed suicide, but before her death, she recorded the 13 reasons why she took her own life on a series of cassette tapes.<\/p>\n

Hannah tells the story of her decline in a mostly chronological order and each person who led her to suicide has his or her own cassette tape. There are 13 people in total. Once a person is finished listening to all of the tapes, they are responsible for delivering them to the next person in line, or the person mentioned after him or herself in Hannah\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

Hannah, played by Australian actress Katherine Langford, narrates the story and appears in flashbacks throughout the show. This helps viewers to follow along with the chronology of the events that led to her death. As disturbing events plague Hannah\u2019s time in high school, Langford perfectly executes Hannah\u2019s decline from a headstrong, bubbly girl to a seriously troubled young adult.<\/p>\n

However, the story follows a boy named Clay after he receives the tapes. Clay listens to Hannah\u2019s story over a span of several days, if not more than a week or so, and slowly follows the journey through her final days as told in her own words. Clay has no idea why he is responsible for Hannah\u2019s suicide, though, and viewers will watch his roller coaster of emotions as he uncovers the truth and finally listens to the cassette tape about himself.<\/p>\n

Dylan Minnette, a 20-year-old American actor who grew up on camera and has appeared in shows like \u201cLost and Grey\u2019s Anatomy,\u201d plays Clay. In \u201c13 Reasons Why,\u201d Minnette portrays Clay as an intelligent student with some socially awkward tendencies. Minnette is a talented actor and proves to be excellently cast. Viewers will feel Clay\u2019s confusion and pain as he works through Hannah\u2019s death.<\/p>\n

Actress and singer Selena Gomez is behind creation of the show, taking on the role of an executive producer. In an interview<\/a> with CNN, Gomez explained that she read the book when she was younger and many of the issues portrayed on-screen hit \u201cvery close to home\u201d for her. Gomez herself was treated for mental health issues that were said to have stemmed from her battle with lupus. She aimed to translate the mental health struggles of many young adults through the show\u2019s production.<\/p>\n

Whether it be Gomez\u2019s personal relationship with Hannah\u2019s struggles or that of another executive producer\u2019s, \u201c13 Reasons Why\u201d seems to be a terrifyingly accurate representation of young adults who experience bullying, depression and suicidal thoughts. It is somewhat painful to listen to watch, but it is clear that serious planning went into the show\u2019s creation.<\/p>\n

Despite the show\u2019s dismal theme, it is important to note that viewers will grow to feel a strong connection to all 13 characters involved in Hannah\u2019s death. Their portrayal of students is extremely accurate of high school culture today. There are some bright moments, though they may seem few and far between as the story progresses. All of the cast members play their parts as high school students impeccably, making the show feel extremely relatable to millennial viewers.<\/p>\n

For better or for worse, those who have read the book will find that some changes have been made to account for time and plot issues. The most notable difference between the book and the Netflix series is the fact that Clay listens to the tapes over several days, not in a single night. This change essentially drags out the story\u2019s plot.<\/p>\n

Unlike a book, it would be difficult to keep an audience hooked if the entire season were to span across one night. Instead, there are plenty of cliffhangers, plot twists and suspenseful moments that make it successful as a show. However, the series\u2019 creators could have chosen to make episodes shorter or fewer in number, as there are points where the season seems to drag a bit.<\/p>\n

Though the series itself does not follow the book exactly, the most important part of \u201c13 Reasons Why\u201d is its supremely blunt depiction of some of the most horrific situations facing young adults today. The show sheds an indisputable light on rape culture, bullying and suicide. Any viewer who is not intrinsically changed after the 13th<\/sup> episode would be a rare case.<\/p>\n

The subject matter is extremely difficult to take in at times. Scenes can also be extremely graphic, or even traumatic for some. Viewer discretion is advised repeatedly at the beginning of each episode and is especially important to keep in mind during the final few episodes. The show is rated for mature audiences and technically more appropriate for older teens and adults. Hannah\u2019s final days and the events leading up to her suicide are graphic, but they serve an important purpose. Exposure of these situations is key to changing people\u2019s perspectives.<\/p>\n

\u201c13 Reasons Why\u201d will pull you in, leave you begging for more and ultimately change how you view the people in the world around you. If the show keeps just one person from harming himself or herself, or one person from committing an insensitive act against another, it will have been a success.<\/p>\n