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Season 2 of 13 Reasons Why: What We Know So Far

Despite some conflicting opinions on the graphic and brutally honest depictions of really tough issues in 13 Reasons Why, the series has been renewed for season 2 which has big fans of the show very excited. Selena Gomez held on to the book for years before turning it into a series and it’s clear that a lot of emotion and consideration went into turning the book into a show.

We both read the book and watched the series and think that Selena, the actors and actresses, and the cast and crew did an incredible job bringing justice to the story. Yes, some really dark topics were touched upon – but they’re not topics that are unheard of when it comes to young adults today.

The topics seem dark and scary because the stigma around some of the issues exists that ‘If we don’t talk about it, it’ll go away’. However, depression and anxiety; they don’t go away. Scars, mentally and physically, from abuse and sexual assault – they don’t go away. Suicidal thoughts don’t stop existing because a good day comes along…it’s just not that simple. Living with the weight of these struggles alone is more terrifying than seeing them play out in front of you on a screen. This series may be ‘too much’ for some viewers, but for those who have experienced the pain that the characters have experienced, it feels like a moment that’s been a long time coming.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and we won’t say that you’re wrong if you weren’t on board for a season 2, but we think it’s something that’s more necessary than some may want to believe.

That’s why when Entertainment Weekly got an exclusive interview with Brian Yorkey on season 2, we were excited to read it. He spoke of where he plans to go with some character arcs, cliffhangers, and what Hannah’s role will be when we see the show return in 2018.

DId you always want a season 2?
I knew by the time we finished season 1 that I wanted to continue. We really have characters who, after 13 episodes, are just beginning the process of recovery and the process of coming to terms with what part they might’ve played in Hannah’s death and how Hannah’s death will change their lives going forward. I think that there is so much that’s fascinating about the way we grieve, the way we recover, the way we learn to take better care of each other. I have heard from a number of people, “Well we heard all her tapes so her story is done.” That’s leaving aside the fact that for every tape there’s another person who has a story, which is the person Hannah mentions on her tape.

So Hannah will definitely be in season 2?
Oh absolutely. I think one of the things that is still hanging out there is this question of is someone responsible for Hannah’s death? Is the school responsible? Who is responsible, if anyone is? One way we’ll explore that question is through the trial and also through all of these kids reflecting on where they are a few months down the road and what other secrets are being uncovered. That’s going to take us into the past, into Hannah’s story. We’re going to get some new context for events we already know about and we’re going to see a lot of things we hadn’t even heard about yet that fill in some really interesting gaps in our understanding of who Hannah Baker was and what her life was.

I know you’ve talked about your interest in consequences for Bryce.
When people intimate that Jessica’s story is done, I find that a horrific thought because Jessica is just beginning the process of recovering from her rape, and we have a rapist who has not in any way been brought to justice. To leave those two things hanging out there in the world would be upsetting. I want to see how that at least starts to play out and I want to do Jessica’s story the deserved justice of following her as she goes back to school, as she tries to begin to recover from what happened to her, because it’s something that millions of young women go through. And also [I want to] see somebody punch Bryce in the face.

Can we expect answers when it comes to the many cliffhangers of the season 1 finale?
All the cliffhangers that we saw at the end of season 1 go back to the initial set of traumas that we’re talking about — go back to bullying, go back to Jessica’s rape, to Hannah’s rape. They’re all related, so I would very much like to explore where they all go and to see if there is, as I think there will be, some light for these kids. We’re going to continue to tell their stories really honestly. We’re going to answer all of the burning questions that people have about [the show]. Is Tyler going to do something? What’s going to happen to Alex? Will Bryce be brought to justice?

EW has more to the interview on their website, and we encourage you to check it out.  After reading all of it, we’re glad Brian addressed that Jessica’s story isn’t done and that justice is coming for Bryce. We’re also glad to know that we’ll see how other characters in the story viewed Hannah and that we’ll see more of their stories as well.

Are you looking forward to season 2? Let us know.

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