12 Reasons Why tries to be a lot of things and largely

12 Reasons Why tries to be a lot of things and largely fails; the series engages in a reckless romanticizatio of suicid and never attempts to inject the very real issues of mental health and depression into the narrative. Because of the show’s inability to handle its heavy subject matter, young, vulnerable viewers are left with a message that tells them the only way out is suicide. The idea that they can seek help or solace in the wisdom or knowledge of an adult – whether that be a counselor, therapist, or parent – is never reinforced. The show’s protagonist, Hannah, is severely bullied, which evidently leads to her suicide, but there’s never quite a moment when Hannah has a successful interaction with an adult who could have helped, and that’s devastating for anyone questioning whether or not they’ll ever be able to cope with the cruelty of others. Things can and do get better, but sadly, 13 Reasons Why never tells viewers that.

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