STEAM
Selena Gomez has announced on her Instagram account that Netflix hit ‘13 Reasons Why’ will come back for the second season. Gomez is an executive producer of the TV show, and has become the face of the programme.
“Their story isn't over. Season 2 of #13ReasonsWhy is coming,” a recent trailer stated, confirming the renewal of the series. This came as speculation about subsequent series of the hit show were already circling around.
The first season of the show, based on a bestselling book by Jay Asher, ‘13 Reasons Why’ reached viewers on 31st of March this year. All thirteen episodes have been publicized on Netflix.
The Netflix TV series touches upon serious issues such as rape, underage sex, underage drinking, bullying and - most significantly - suicide. It tells the story of a teenager, Hannah Baker, who made 13 tapes explaining her suicide after taking her own life.
“I am glad they spoke about these topics, they are important and they are relevant. Issues like this happen all the time and they do go without being talked about because people seem too scared to or they don't want to admit it happens. I think it helps to make people how they treat people and the ongoing effect it has because people don't realize that words or actions can have such an effect on people but they do,” said Abbie Whitehead, an active blogger for abbwhi.com, aged 21.
13 Reasons Why Season 2!
The show has become the most popular Netflix programme discussed on social media, Teen Vogue announced. But besides the popularity of the show, it also faced a lot of backlash for glamourizing suicide.
“We think that if a second season is going to be made there should be much more effort put into highlighting how damaging the issues are that they are showing. Perhaps a good idea would be setting up a charity that runs alongside the programme, specifically aimed at depression, bullying or dealing with the aftermath of rape for the teens and everyone else that this programme appeals to,” said Sarah Kauter from VerriBerri marketing agency.
People even put up petitions in order to take the show down from Netflix, but that has not been successful.
“Suicide is a complex and sensitive subject and this show doesn't spend enough time discussing the mental health aspect of such a decision and instead places blame on certain individuals,” said Sabrina Shaw, suicide prevention group supporter.
The backlash from the media was not on a lower note. Zoe Williams for the Guardian said: “It’s a revenge fantasy, so it portrays suicide as an act that will achieve something. It’s aimed at a young audience, who are particularly susceptible to contagion, and particularly likely to experience suicidal thoughts. It normalises and legitimises the act. It goes into too much and too graphic detail about the suicide itself – which is expressly against Ofcom guidelines because, however horrible it is to watch, this can still be read as a how-to.”
Besides the controversy of the show and mixed feelings from the public, producers and especially executive producer, Selena Gomez, joined the suicide prevention and even made semicolon tattoo symbolising the movement.
Whether people are ready for the show or not, it’s coming to Netflix and we better be prepared for what they show next.