It also perpetuates the myth that people who are bullied are the ones doing the shooting, when it’s shown in the Santa Fe case and many others that shooters are often the aggressors. Sadly, as the recent Sante Fe, Texas shootings have revealed, far less provocation is needed for someone who is ready to lash out. What’s problematic: Although Tyler ultimately did not pull the trigger, he is a fictional character that was mistreated horribly in order to be given a motivation for his extreme actions. What’s commendable: Depicting how Tyler gamely made attempts to handle his emotions despite numerous disappointments and unfair treatment but was only tipped over the edge by his rape. The show may have wanted to be as blunt and forthcoming as possible, but it ends up being far more off-putting than effective in starting a conversation. What’s problematic: This scene is overshadowed by the outcry that it’s far too violent and graphic for viewers. What’s commendable: Highlighting that sexual assault can happen to anyone, not just young girls, and that it’s not about sex or attraction. We’ve broken it down to acknowledge the merit of the show’s intentions, but also how the execution either falls short or could convey a different message entirely. The Danger of That EndingĪs with Hannah’s suicide, the messaging here is muddled in many ways. He confronts Tyler in the parking lot, talks him down, and then even offers him a getaway car, courtesy of Tony (Christian Navarro). Alerted of Tyler’s intentions by a text, Clay (Dylan Minnette) insists that nobody call the police and instead devises a plan. It is so brutal, in fact, that many viewers online have questioned if it was necessary for the scene to show as much as it did.īent on revenge, Tyler arms himself with his many guns, including one that looks like a semiautomatic rifle, and heads to the school dance.
The scene is far more graphic than has been depicted in any teen show before, even compared to Season 1. He needs a scapegoat on whom to vent his anger, and in a harrowing sequence, Monty sexually assaults Tyler in the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Monty (Timothy Granaderos) is upset that his life has been turned upside-down thanks to revelations in the trial and suspicions that he may have been harassing other students. But upon his return, he discovered the girl he liked was dating someone else, and another friend didn’t want to hang out with him anymore.
As a result, he was sent to a diversionary program that supposedly helped him deal with anger issues and learning how to react appropriately to others. Earlier in the season, he had gotten a taste for revenge when he started pranking the hypocritical students who had mistreated Hannah. In the finale, everything to do with the student Tyler (Devin Druid) is devastating, disturbing, and potentially dangerous. IndieWire examines how the show’s uneven ability to tackle these topics can lead to mixed messages. This puts an extra burden - whether it’s fair or not - for the show to address these topics wisely. The horrifying coincidence prompted Netflix to cancel its scheduled event to celebrate the premiere, but the fact that reality had intruded upon and eclipsed the show couldn’t be ignored. The morning that Netflix released Season 2 of “13 Reasons Why” coincided with an actual school shooting in Texas that killed 10 people. This leads to the season’s dramatic conclusion at the school dance that almost ends in a mass shooting. Sadly, in the process, it reveals that the issues she faced – social pressures, bullying, sexual assault, and violence – are still rampant at Liberty High, perhaps even more so as the trial over her death creates divisions in the community. The majority of the second season of Netflix’s teen drama “13 Reasons Why” is spent dredging up the past in order to get a better picture of why teenager Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) killed herself.