13 Reasons Why: Are Things Changing for Season 2?

By: Nicole Dintelman

Recently the TV world rejoiced when we learned that the Netflix hit “13 Reasons Why” was renewed for a second season. The drama deals with real life issues that teens face every day from suicide to substance abuse. The first season left a lot of questions that we need to have answered and, hopefully, a second season will do just that.

At Netflix’s FYSee Space panel in Beverly Hills Friday members of the show’s cast and producers were on hand to talk about the second season. Fans got to hear from stars Katherine Langford, Kate Walsh and Dylan Minnette while executive producer and showrunner Brian Yorkey and Netflix producer Tom McCarthy represented the producing team on the panel. The panel was moderated by Jenelle Riley, features editor for Variety Magazine.

The 1st season was built around Hannah (Langford) narrating her story via cassette tapes after she has already taken her life. While Hannah will not disappear from the second season; however, she will no longer be narrating. According to the transcript from the panel, Yorkey says that we were introduced to other characters and they have a story to tell as well.

Another change is there will no longer be a need for cassette tapes. While Hannah’s story is not finished, Clay (Minnette) has finished listening to all of them. That part of the story has finished for now. Yorkey says that in Season One it was about Hannah reclaiming her narrative so what she told were her truths. We take this to mean it may not be the truth of someone else. It will definitely be interesting to hear from the others that were on the tapes.

The first season of “13 Reasons Why” faced a lot of criticism because of their choice to include the graphic detail of Jessica (Alisha Boe) and Hannah’s rapes. They also included Hannah’s suicide in detail, which was not widely accepted by critics. The producers stand by their decision to include these scenes. It opened a dialogue and teens want to be talking about these issues. They did say they will include even more warnings going into the second season.

Minnette says that going into the second season he is going to forget the success of the first season and start fresh. He doesn’t want to get his hopes up. He wants to do his best work and hope everyone likes it. We think that it’s a good bet that the second season will be as big of a success as a first.

We have to wait until 2018 for the new season to hit Netflix, but if you’re like us you can’t wait! Do you think it will answer the questions that were left open from Season ONe? What are your hopes for Season Two? Do you like the sound of the direction they are taking for the next season? Tweet us at @StarryMag and let us know!