Everything we know about ’13 Reasons Why’ S3
The first season of 13 Reasons Why followed teenager Clay Jensen in his quest to uncover the story behind his classmate and crush, Hannah, and her decision to end her life. The second season gave us a look into the aftermath of Hannah’s death and court proceedings against Liberty High School.
13 Reasons Why has always addressed serious topics, so we doubt the third season will be any different. The trailer has sparked a lot of intrigue about what we can expect, and we can’t wait to see what they have in store. Here’s everything you need to know right now.
What is the story for the new season of 13 Reasons Why?
Judging by the trailer, the main question for the new season of 13 Reasons Why will be: who killed Bryce Walker?
Besides the 13 Reasons Why screenwriters, obviously, there are a number of suspects. The secrets at Liberty High run deep, and in the aftermath of the Homecoming game all of the friends have something to hide.
As the mystery of Bryce’s death engulfs the town, there are numerous suspects in focus. Who is the new girl? Police are determined to get to the truth, but with a web of secrets and lies this tangled, can anyone be found guilty? The new season of 13 Reasons Why is shaping up to look like Twin Peaks, but instead of the death of Laura Palmer, Bryce’s death is more like if Killer BOB washed up on shore.
Who’s leading the creative charge behind 13 Reasons Why S3?
Michael Morris, also known for directing Better Call Saul and The Preacher, will be directing the new season of 13 Reasons Why. Writers Brian Yorkey, who adapted the book for Netflix, and Jay Asher, author of the source novel, will be at the helm.
Who forms the merry cast of characters in murder-centric S3?
Dylan Minnette (The Open House, Don’t Breathe) investigates the murder most foul as Clay Jensen, while Brandon Flynn portrays Justin Foley. Alisha Boe (Paranormal Activity 4) stars as Jessica Davis, Christian Navarro (Vinyl) is Tony Padilla, Miles Heizer (Love, Simon, Nerve) portrays Alex Standall, and Devin Druid (Imperium) is Tyler Down.
Other lead characters on the show include Ross Butler (Riverdale, Shazam!) as Zach Dempsey, Timothy Granaderos (We Are Your Friends) as Montgomery de la Cruz, Anne Winters (Night School) as Chloe, Steven Weber (NCIS: New Orleans) as Principle Bowen.
Brenda Strong (Desperate Housewives, Supergirl) plays Mrs. Walker, Amy Hargreaves (Homeland) is Mrs. Jensen, and newcomer Grace Saif portrays Ani. Bex Taylor Klaus (Scream: The TV Series) acts the part of Casey and Tyler Barnhardt portrays Charlie. Justin Prentice (Me Again) plays the aforementioned murdered Bryce Walker.
Less than 13 reasons why 13 Reasons Why is controversial
Netflix’s teen drama 13 Reasons Why has been followed by controversy since its first conception. The show, based on a 2007 novel by Jay Asher, follows the suicide of a high school girl named Hannah Baker, who recorded tapes that explain her decision to take her life.
At the time of the show’s release, a host of commentators, from individual suicide survivors to the National Association of School Psychologists, mentioned a wide array of studies that linked portrayals of suicide in the media to increases in the suicide rate.
One study specifically reported watching 13 Reasons Why was “associated with a 28.9% increase in suicide rates among U.S. youth ages 10-17 in the month (April 2017) following the show’s release, after accounting for ongoing trends in suicide rates.”
An association is not, of course, the same thing as causality; suicide is a vastly complex phenomenon. A study from the University of Pennsylvania, published a week earlier, showed that suicide risk actually decreased for students who watched 13 Reasons Why all the way to the end of S2.
(Students who stopped in the middle meanwhile were at a higher risk for suicide.) There were other events – such as the suicide of Soundgarden’s Chris Cornell in May, 2017 – that may have contributed to the spike as well.
Before 13 Reasons Why’s premiere in 2017, Netflix contacted, among others, Executive Director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education Dan Reidenberg, whose advice was not to release the series, but “that wasn’t an option. That was made very clear to me,” he reported.
Netflix responded to the controversy surrounding the release of the show with this typical corporate bromide: “Entertainment has always been the ultimate connector and we hope that 13 Reasons Why can serve as a catalyst for conversation.”
Most of the conversation has centered around what a poor decision it was for Netflix to release the suicide scene itself. Netflix edited the controversial, graphic suicide scene more than two years after the 13 Reasons Why season one finale took place. The original cut was almost three minutes long, featuring a gruesome depiction of the character taking a razor blade to her wrists.
The new suicide scene, which has since been updated on the Netflix site, features Hannah looking at herself in the mirror before cutting away to a shot of her parents’ reaction to her suicide. Sources say Netflix will also monitor and issue takedowns for any pirated clips that feature the original, unedited scene.
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When the heck can we bingewatch 13 Reasons Why S3?
The third season of 13 Reasons Why will give us all the answers we need on August 23rd on Netflix.
