13 reasons why season 2 - WITH SPOILERS

[lexiewrites]

I've just finished watching season 2, and am hoping others have or will do soon to discuss it as it's one of those shows that I feel the need to talk about after watching.

I've also finished it. I agree the need to talk about it- the last episode was horrific, and although the story was pretty realistic, I obviously didn't end up with the feeling that justice was done.

This may be a bit babbling...

Frustrated justice wasn't done regarding Bryce although did think it was a realistic portrayal of what tends to happen to a rich, white, male offender. The judge saying he didn't want to ruin his life and future made me feel sick. I struggled with understanding his Mum too, she knew for a good while or at least had her suspicions and then there was the scene and what he said about raping Hannah I feel I would have done more than slap him! She was still there supporting him at court, so they didn't show her anger and upset with him as if she gave him a slap and she's now over it. Didn't make sense to me.

The last episode I really struggled with, and that's as an emotionally intelligent 30 year old so do worry for the many teenagers watching it. I know violence is pretty normal in the TV they are watching but the assault on Tyler was harrowing probably even more so than the two sexual assaults in season 1.

What are your thoughts @LadyLance?

@lexiewrites I agree, what was done to Tyler was so horrible to watch. It almost felt gratuitous. I do wonder if it felt even more horrible to watch because male on male sexual violence isn't shown on TV as often and so we are less immune to it. I felt like they could have given Tyler motivation to come to school with a gun without a scene quite that graphic.

TBF, I also found the photo of Bryce and Chloe quite hard to look at, but it was only ever on screen briefly. I did feel so sorry for Chloe. I can't imagine being confronted with a photo like that, having almost no time at all to process it and then having people trying to push you to talk about it in court. It might even be easier to convince yourself that you do remember it happening, rather than admitting you were raped.

I did really enjoy the show, but I felt like there was something a bit odd about telling a story mostly about sexism and sexual violence, and having a lot of focus on the way male characters react.

Clay really annoyed me at times, with his reaction to learning that Hannah was sexually active- although I do think he grew and moved past that by the end of the series.

I really hope that there's a third season, and Bryce eventually gets what's coming to him. I get wanting to tell a truthful story, but I also really needed some catharsis from the story and we didn't get that at all.

I agree it is odd that the male characters reactions are so central. I found Clays reactions infuriating and an absolute part of the larger problem.

I really felt for Chloe, the photo must have been awful to see and as you said then pushed into reporting it/going to the trial before she'd even had chance to process what had happened to her and to understand what was happening to her in their relationship(the scene when they were watching a film and he forced her to have sex) -and now she's pregnant were assuming with his child so she's in an awful situation.

I hope there's a season 3 I'd like to see Bryce go to jail but can't see that happening and for poor Tyler to recover.

I agree we're not so used to seeing sexual violence towards males on TV/films so that may be why it's affected me so much. I found the scene so upsetting before that part though, I think because he is presented as quite fragile physically and emotionally to see him attacked begging for them to stop was awful.

Yeah, poor Tyler. I think the attack was brutal enough when Montgomery hit his head on the sink, that they could have just left it there, or maybe implied a sexual element, rather than showing it so graphically on screen. I felt like it was done for shock value.

Also, when Alex went with Monty to go and get the photos, I was almost feeling sympathetic towards Monty, and now they've pushed him past all redemption.

I do enjoy the fact that all the characters, even Bryce, have a bit more depth to them. Because, yeah, he's an awful person, but he still felt abandoned by his parents, and sort of built this dysfunctional family with his teammates who also had shitty home lives. Like, I have no sympathy for Bryce at all, but I can see why he struggles to have normal relationships, and I think that's maybe why his mother wasn't more cruel, because she thinks if she'd been around more, she could have made a difference. Or maybe not. He's still a rich entitled asshole though.

I feel so sorry for Chloe.

One thing I did love this season was Jessica's character arc, and how she got progressively braver and stronger as the season went on.

I finished it last night.

The assault on Tyler is very disturbing, I’m not normally affected by scenes so much but it was so graffic.

I think it coincided well with ‘Me Too’, I’m not sure if they aimed to do so. The character who plays Justin has likened the whole Bryce situation to Weinstein and Trump.

I know people have mixed views and the show is criticised for its content, but I think it tells a realistic story. Yes, Hannah’s ‘story’ was heard and that isn’t the case for a lot of people, but it’s realistic in the sense that justice isn’t always served but that they’re are other ways of coping with bullying, sexual assault etc even when the law lets you down.

I must admit I enjoy it for entertainment too, it pulls on the heartstrings in some episodes. I shed a few tears when ‘The Night We Met’ played in the last episode. Poor Clay

I watched the whole of season 2 over the weekend. How did they know Tyler was on his way to the school with the weapons? Did he text someone? That doesn't seem realistic some how. I guess they couldn't have him shoot everyone as there'd be no one left for series 3.

I think I enjoyed it more than series 1. Despite the serious themes, series 1 left too many questions so seemed a bit daft in places. This series explained things a little more.

I agree, I enjoyed this season more than season 1, perhaps because the story got told from more than one POV.

I think it's a well done show, or at least it sucks you in, but I do get some of the criticisms, and can understand why it could be problematic for someone with depression to watch. Also, depicting actual suicide scenes as they did in season 1 is generally considered a no-no as it can inspire copycats. I think season 2 handled a lot of things better overall.

I'm not sure how they knew Tyler was coming to the school with a load of guns, but I'm really glad they were able to help him, at least temporarily! Although- I'm not sure how Clay will manage to explain being on the school steps with an assault rifle!

Tyler text MacKenzie.

The mop scene is the first time I’ve ever felt compelled to reach into the tv and hold someone. It was so harrowing.

I finished it over the weekend. I don’t know how to process the Tyler scene. It made me cry! It was heartbreaking. I think the kid that plays Tyler is really good.

I don’t know if we needed a second series though or maybe it should have been a bit shorter. Some episodes seemed to drag on. Although it was good to have the other persons perspective of Hannah’s stories. I did think bar Jessica and Hannah’s Mum it was a bit male centric. They could have developed Chloe more as a character to understand why she stays with Bryce. Or explored Nina’s story and why she reacts differently to Jessica. Not all rape victims respond the same.

I'm assuming they're doing a third season. I hope they develop Chloe's character more if so.

Oh my god. I thought the first 12 episodes were really well done and the last one was just a complete mess. The Tyler thing was horrible and really fucked me up, but I feel like the ending was a complete cop-out. It almost feels like they'd filmed a school shooting ending and quickly re-filmed it because of current events. It just felt like a such a cop-out. If they did it, they could have focused S3 on the aftermath and "started a conversation" like with Hannah's. But where does the show go from here now? Will it just be 90210?

Also, why does no-one ever GO TO THE BLOODY POLICE. Especially in Tyler's case - Monty's fingerprints will be on the broom, there's blood on the scene, there would be plenty of evidence to convict him. Argh.

Bryce's sentence is sadly completely representative of real life - rich white guys, judge doesn't want to ruin their "promising future". Whereas Justin got 6 months. It even reminds me of that Lavinia Woodward case - stabbed her boyfriend but got no jail time because she was some rich Oxford genius.

Rumour was they did do a re edit to change the end as it was originally a shooting and that’s why the release date was pushed back two months.

There’s an hour long discussion show on Netflix which I watched and on that the show runner explains why they did that scene. It’s based on assaults that are really happening in American high schools. I also think men are much less likely to report a sexual assault. Although in other aspects of the show such as the threatening notes why wouldn’t they tell anyone! I hope my kids would come to me or someone if things like this happened.

Did anyone else identify with "the clubhouse" and that whole culture? I liked the bit in the last episode, where the various female characters shared their stories. #metoo. Sadly, I identified with Chloe the most. My ex was abusive, and the more bad things I heard about him, and the more shitty things he did to me, the more I minimised and denied. I didn't want to be a single parent, or to loose him. I loved him, he could be totally sweet and charming, and I really, really wanted everything to be either exaggeration, lies, things being picked up wrong, or my failings, because it was easier for the fault to be mine, and be fixable, than admit I loved a bastard who wouldn't change. I kept telling myself at one point I just needed to be better and do better

I've known a few Bryces and Montys in my time. I'll probably meet more as the years go on. Thankfully I know plenty of nice men too! I loved the Zach episode, and I liked how hard he tried to do the right thing and be a good person, after the way he let Hannah down (as did Mr.Porter). I thought the Marcus episode was really interesting, how far men will go to protect themselves/save their own skins. I'm glad he got called out for being a hypocrite, and blackmailed into telling the truth. I don't think he felt any remorse or guilt though, just regret that he got caught red handed, and fear about how it would affect him.

"why does no-one ever GO TO THE BLOODY POLICE"

I went to the police. I know have a caution for assault, no credibility as a future witness, and my ex got off on the abh charge, so people assume I'm a crazy, jealous, lying money grabbing shit stirrer. The police don't always help.

*now

Omg amazing post. Couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed there wasn't a school shooting featuring Bryce and his gang and some of our favourites as a finale...

I also agree the Tyler scene was hard to watch but am asking myself and the world why a male rape so much harder to watch than a female one. The Hannah rape was barely commented on

I finished season 2 yesterday.

I had no idea that the Tyler scene was coming...
I physically shook after watching it.

I feel really shocked and shaky still.

Finished it a few days ago

I had the feeling there was gonna be a mass shooting for a few episodes

I read many more people are annoyed cuz of the men to men abuse and showing it on tv so have asked for the show to be cancelled as if not showing these things would stop them from real life.

The court case also reminded me to the Spanish case where a woman was raped by 5 assholes and she was drunk and entered into shock so never managed to say no to the sex. The guys have been accused of sexual assault (9years) instead of rape (25) as blaming the girl. It’s a big case at the moment in Spain and the same happens in the series as blaming her for never speaking loud enough

And yes the #metoo in the last episode is quite clear

Hope there is a 3 season not sure how he’s going to get away of the gun thing

I am so glad people are talking about it.

I've just finished it and cried so much. I feel like I need to be held (it's my TOTM too so I'm feeling extra delicate).

The scene with Tyler being beaten made me feel so so angry and filled me with sadness. God knows how a teenage audience is supposed to deal with watching it.

I sort of feel like I wanted Tyler to die so he didn't have to live with the physical and emotional pain. Especially after he didn't fight back and was trying to stay calm using the help he had received.

I also heard that the finale episode was re-shot due to the recent school shooting. I have no idea how I would have even begun to process it if they had gone ahead with their original idea.

I still feel so sick after watching the last episode. The bathroom scene is haunting me.

I do agree the bathroom scene was awful BUT I also think we have been desensitised to female sexual assault, and there is an element of the male on male violence that makes it more shocking to people. We almost expect girls/women to be sexually assaulted in media today, but we rarely see male on male violence- so it appears more shocking and somehow worse.

I can't remember there ever being calls to cancel a show after a male sexual assault on a female, and there have been some equally harrowing ones that I have seen.

Why would Tyler go to the police after how Jessica's trial went? Bryce was convicted, but he's back at school and essentially free to carry on as he is. Why would he not assume that the same would happen to Monty?

I'm concerned that if there is a third season it will become even more male centric- I think it's important to keep female voices active in a story like this.

I would like a third season, though! It was too much of a cliffhanger to finish on.

I’m so glad this thread is here. I just finished it last night and was really disturbed by to what happened to Tyler too. Monty’s anger was terrifying and I had no idea it would go that far. It made me so sad that there are people out there of all ages who don’t trust anyone enough to tell.
I stupidly stayed up late to watch it and so was thinking about it all last night. Still now.