’13 Reasons Why’: Everything you need to know about S2, ranked

When season one of the high school drama 13 Reasons Why hit Netflix last year, it quickly became the most tweeted TV show of 2017. Mired in controversy, the show offers a graphic depiction of the suicide of teen protagonist Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), who leaves behind a series of tapes revealing the events and the people who led her to commit the act. With season two just around the corner (bringing with it a whole new set controversies), we’ve put together a ranked list of everything you need to know, including plots, new characters, and why this season is shrouded in mystery.

Release date

The highest up on the list, you probably already know that the second season of 13 Reasons Why arrives May 18. But it’s good to remind yourself as to why you’re keeping this Friday open.

Where can you watch it?

The thirteen new episodes will be available on Netflix. The streaming behemoth noted “The truth is coming,” at the end of April when announcing the premiere date, going on to state, “The tapes were just the beginning,” along with a 90-second teaser trailer. Speaking of which . . .

Cryptic trailers

As we know, the first season was based around the tapes that Hannah left for several people in the wake of her suicide. Creator Brian Yorkey said the tapes will not feature in the next installment, but that “there is a different sort of analog technology that plays a hugely important role in season two.” The trailers all but confirm this “analog technology” refers to polaroid photos, as one of the clips shows all the major players in freeze frame surrounded by polaroids, many of which foreshadow the drama to come.

Characters – the old and the new

Many of the cast members from season one are returning, including Dylan Minnette as Clay, Brandon Flynn’s Justin Foley, and Alisha Boe as Jessica Davis, as well as Christian Navarro (Tony), Miles Heizer (Alex), and Justin Prentice (the evil Bryce). The cast is also set to include Michele Selene Ang as Courtney and Ross Butler as Zach. Katherine Langford will be making a comeback, although her role might not be as significant as it was in S1. In an interview with W Magazine, Langford revealed, “The Hannah that we saw in season one, we were able to tell her story fully and she didn’t really come back in the same capacity or sort of as the same Hannah. It’s a different Hannah that you see in season two.”

There are some fresh faces too, as seven new characters were revealed last August:

Samantha Logan as Nina: A talented track star with a secret to hide.

Ben Lawson as Rick: The baseball coach at Liberty High.

Allison Miller as Sonya: A sharp and hardworking litigator.

Bryce Cass as Cyrus: A cynical mischief-maker.

Chelsea Alden as Mackenzie: Cyrus’s artsy, witty sister.

Kelli O’Hara as Jackie: A passionate advocate for victims of bullying.

Anne Winters as Chloe: The new head cheerleader at Liberty High.

The plot

Per the official synopsis, “Season 2 picks up in the aftermath of Hannah’s death and the start of our characters’ complicated journeys toward healing and recovery. Liberty High prepares to go on trial, but someone will stop at nothing to keep the truth surrounding Hannah’s death concealed. A series of ominous polaroids lead Clay (Dylan Minnette) and his classmates to uncover a sickening secret and a conspiracy to cover it up.” The new season will see Clay and his classmates testify in court when Hannah’s parents sue the high school for neglecting their bullied daughter’s requests for help. According to The Hollywood Reporter, “season two will explore Jessica’s (Alisha Boe) coming to terms with being a victim of sexual assault; Tyler’s (Devin Druid) isolation and decision to buy a gun and explosives; and Clay (Dylan Minnette) coming to terms with Hannah’s suicide.”

In terms of the timeline, Minnette declared S2 will kick off after a time jump. “Season two is a couple months after season one, and there’s a lot that’s happened to Clay in between. You’re playing catch-up when you start, and you see where Clay’s at.” Finally, the second season will not feature a suicide, noted Paramount TV president Amy Powell. However, this doesn’t mean the forthcoming installment won’t stir up its audiences. “We won’t show another suicide, (but) there’s new storytelling that is as provocative and unexpected.”