Summary

• 13 Reasons Why controversy stems from graphic depictions, sparking debate on suicide and sexual assault.
• The show humanizes perpetrators, failing to provide proper redemption arcs for victims of sexual violence.
• The issue of drug culture in high school is portrayed in an exaggerated and disturbing light, causing concern.

This article contains mentions of suicide, sexual assault, and violence.

More than one 13 Reasons Why controversy clouds its public response, even as it prides itself on tackling difficult issues head-on. 13 Reasons Why landed on Netflix in 2017 and its first season tells the story of Hannah Baker's suicide, through a series of flashbacks detailing the "13 reasons why" she had taken her own life. Those reasons included a culture of bullying and drugs at her school, which resulted in many students making poor decisions and then trying to deal with the regrettable consequences.

The issues also included the revelation that Hannah and her friend, Jessica, had both been raped by the football captain, Bryce Walker. Not only were many of the scenes triggering for viewers, but Hannah's suicide was shown in graphic detail, prompting a social media outcry. 13 Reasons Why came back for a second season, and this time the controversial topics include sexual assault and school shootings. The last two seasons didn't hold back either, with more difficult subjects explored. With such a divisive show, keeping track of all the backlash is difficult.

12 Hannah's Suicide

Netflix Had To Edit Out The Suicide Scene

Undoubtedly the biggest controversy 13 Reasons Why faced is its decision to show Hannah Baker's suicide in graphic detail. The storyline caused an outcry, with many parenting groups claiming it could influence impressionable teenagers, and that it glamorized suicide. Showrunner Brian Yorkey and the cast defended the show, stating that they were trying to promote conversation between adults and teens, and teaching about the power of seeking help. After advice from medical experts, Netflix removed the controversial Hannah suicide scene.

The two sides of the argument both have valid points; for anyone contemplating suicide, the scene could prove to be a fatal trigger. On the other hand, the visible pain that Hannah went through could easily serve as a strong deterrent to anyone who thought suicide was an easy way out. Arguably, though, the scene that served as the biggest deterrent of all was Hannah's mother discovering her daughter's body.

11 The Rape Of Hannah, Jessica, And Chloe

The Sexual Assault Served As A Powerful Trigger

Another major criticism of 13 Reasons Why season 1 was its depiction of sexual violence, most specifically the rape of Jessica and Hannah by Bryce. Again, the showrunners defended the choice by saying it was highlighting an important topic that wasn't spoken about enough. While it's easy to agree that people should be discussing the matters of consent, peer pressure, and rape with teens, 13 Reasons Why focused much more on the behavior of Bryce, the perpetrator, rather than the impact his actions had on his victims.

Not only did 13 Reasons Why do this in season 1, it also did the same in season 2, when Bryce went on to rape Chloe, his girlfriend at the time. The problem was almost humanizing Bryce, rather than making him the villain he truly was. It also hurt since his actions helped cause Hannah's suicide and trauma to his victims, and he never seemed to face any real punishment for his actions.

10 Drug Culture

13 Reasons Why Over-Inflates Drugs In School

Drugs are part of high school life, and that's an unavoidable fact. However, they're certainly not something that every teenager does, and certainly not in the quantities or with the reckless abandon as depicted in 13 Reasons Why. Justin, who has been abandoned by his family and is not wealthy, somehow has the means to be a drug addict. While it is true that most kids can get drugs without a lot of money, it remains a disturbing portrayal of high school life.

13 Reasons Why showed that every teenage gathering automatically involves heavy drug use, especially by the football team, who are supposed to be the best athletes in the school. It's another instance of the show focusing on the negative aspects of school life, rather than the promise of a bright future for these kids. However, it is also an important point of discussion thanks to the easy access to drugs for certain kids with connections.

9 Bullying & Jock Culture

13 Reasons Why Shows The Bullying But Not The Underlying Issues

Bullying, and the toxic male-dominated sports culture at Liberty High, are major factors in 13 Reasons Why. Hannah was relentlessly bullied, and it seems as though getting slammed into lockers by a footballer is just par for the course for most. Again, one could argue that 13 Reasons Why highlights a major issue with real-world schools, which could be irable but 13 Reasons Why's failure to address it is the issue.

It's not until season 3 that viewers see a fairly ive principal allowing Jessica to give a school assembly based on the #MeToo movement. There's no discipline strategy in place to deal with the bullying, audiences are not shown the consequences of the jocks' behavior, and so the show fails to highlight the issue in a useful way at all. If anything, it merely promotes the fact that if you're a straight white male sports player in school, you can get away with pretty much anything.

8 Tyler's Assault

The Graphic Depiction Of The Assault Has Considered Too Much

Tyler Down is another victim of continual bullying. An outcast from the very start, 13 Reasons Why follows Tyler's journey from a quiet photography student to arriving fully armed at the spring dance. The school turns a blind eye to all of Tyler's troubles which is surprising given how overtly he was bullied. Monty, a member of the football team, is a continual thorn in Tyler's side, making his life worse and worse until it all culminates in a horrific physical and sexual assault.

The extremely graphic depiction of Tyler being sodomized with a broom handle and badly beaten was difficult to watch. Unsurprisingly, it sparked outrage, and the warning that preceded the show didn't feel like enough. It isn't the fact that it happened as it is again an important subject to highlight. However, the graphic nature of the assault is one of the hardest things to watch after getting through Hannah's suicide in season 1.

7 Tyler's Attempted Shooting

13 Reasons Why Downplays The School Shooting Issue

The debate over gun control in America has been raging for some time now and school shootings remain frequent occurrences. 13 Reasons Why's decision to have Tyler attempt a mass shooting raises discussion and awareness of an issue that affects most American school kids. It is the way the show deals with it that causes the problem. Tyler arrives at his decision based on the assault he suffers and the culmination of long-standing bullying. However, there is no look at the state of Tyler's mental health when he makes his decision.

The way the attempted shooting scene plays out is badly handled. Clay Jensen steps in front of Tyler's gun and talks him out of going through with it before Tony and Clay remove Tyler from the scene and dispose of his weapons. In season 3, rather than letting anyone learn about Tyler's attempt, Clay and his friends look after Tyler, so he is never alone. The implication that a group of 17-year-old kids can handle the ramifications of an attempted mass shooting, as well as provide adequate aftercare for a mentally unwell peer, is dangerous.

6 Bryce's Probation

Bryce Gets Away With Sexual Assault

When Hannah's tapes, detailing her 13 reasons, are released, everyone gets to hear Bryce's confession. Clay secretly records him itting that he raped Hannah and Jessica, and season 2 finds him on trial. Of course, while he is on the stand, it is Jessica who has to endure the real trial, being labeled a slut and being told she was asking for it.

Bryce is depicted as a star athlete, from a good home, and a student whose college chances would be ruined if convicted of rape. The result is that he receives a short 3-month probation term for his crimes, while Jessica (and subsequently Chloe) has to live with what he did to them and it was too late for Hannah. Although his sentence causes controversy and anger among fans, sadly, it's all too often reflected in courtrooms in real life.

5 Ani's Relationship With Bryce

Ani Makes Things Worse After Bryce's Crimes

The introduction of Ani in season 3 was met with such fierce backlash from fans that Grace Saif, who plays Ani, was forced to quit social media. While hounding an actress who plays a fictional character is wrong, it's easy to see why the character of Ani was detested so much. She sticks herself right in the middle of the problems that Clay and his friends are dealing with without knowing the history. Her lack of sensitivity is astounding, like asking Chloe if Bryce had been aware she was pregnant, right after they'd met.

She also works her way into Jessica's life, counseling her on her rape and recovery, all the while courting a relationship with the very man who had already raped three girls. The whole purpose of the character seems to be humanizing the despicable actions of Bryce Walker, and since Bryce never seems to have any redeeming features, it is too little, too late. Ani seems more concerned with making sure someone goes down for Bryce's murder than about his actual demise. Ani even tries pinning the blame on someone else - the wrong person.

4 The Redemption Arc For Bryce Walker

13 Reasons Why Tries To Humanize A Predator

There is no reason to humanize and offer redemption to Bryce Walker. Yes, he is a high school teenager and the show seems to want to show the kids can learn from their crimes. However, Bryce's crimes were horrific, and he ruined the lives of more than one person. The attempt to humanize Bryce in season 3 is wrong on more than one level. Bryce was a predator who sexually assaulted classmates and helped lead to Hannah's suicide. The later seasons try to show Bryce as a flawed teenager, not a monster.

Even still, Bryce never shows remorse for what he did and seems unwilling to take responsibility for anything he has done. He never once shows that he is nuanced in 13 Reasons Why. When the show tries to help rehabilitate him, it seems irresponsible. In season 3, Bryce shows regret only when things start to affect his life, and there is no reason the show should think that viewers should care what happens to him. His death never hits, because even as a teen, he doesn't deserve sympathy from anyone.

3 Monty's Season 3 Story Arc

Monty's Story Ended Without A Real Resolve

Monty was an unlikable character from the start. He spent most of 13 Reasons Why season 1 with Bryce, learning his habits and behaviors, making him an entitled bully. It is season 2 where Monty becomes more of a character in his own right, and like his mentor, he has no redeeming features. He bullies Tyler endlessly, assaults and violates him, and, as it seems for much of season 3, gets away with it. As it turned out, Monty has a secret: he is gay, and struggling to come to with his sexuality.

When Tyler manages to seek help for his assault, Monty is arrested, imprisoned, and subsequently killed in his cell. At the same time, Ani successfully pins Bryce's murder on him, even though he had an alibi; he was sleeping with a student from another school at the time. Monty is now dead, and audiences don't get to see the character learning to come to with his sexuality, or dealing with the consequences of his actions. Like many stories in 13 Reasons Why, this controversial episode ends with no lessons learned.