13 Reasons Why, the controversial Netflix series which revolves around the suicide of high school junior Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford) and the infamous 13 cassette tapes of clues she left behind, is gearing up to give us its second season this month.
While Hannah's cassettes were the ultimate focus of season one, polaroids will replace them as the new focus in the coming season, as noted by the trailer. Creator and showrunner, Brian Yorkey, says this season will explore equally heavy subjects, only without such a graphic depiction.
"To leave them there would be unfair to the characters and to the viewers that had come to care about them," Yorkey told The Hollywood Reporter. "In season two, we explore how these characters deal with the aftermath of what happened to Hannah. [Guidance counselor] Mr. Porter [Derek Luke] will be coming to terms with the way that he let Hannah down and will be determined not to let any kids down in the future."
The tapes were just the beginning. May 18. pic.twitter.com/MZczjM1fP3
— 13 Reasons Why (@13ReasonsWhy) April 30, 2018
According to Netflix, season two will "pick 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 and his classmates to uncover a sickening secret and a conspiracy to cover it up.”
The finale of season one set up numerous other storylines that could lead to a larger conversation about subjects revolving around sexual assault, gun violence and more. Season two is also said to 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 Clay's (Dylan Minnette) acceptance of Hannah's suicide.
Jessica's recovery will also be explored as Yorkey looks to examine what it's like to "go from being a victim of sexual assault to being a survivor of sex assault." Season two will also explore an ongoing case of numerous sexual assaults that is connected to one of the athletic teams at the high school at the center of 13 Reasons Why.
As dark and profound as these topics are going to be for the next season, it's important to initiate the conversation and learn how to avoid going on this path, and the show is doing just that.
Season two of 13 Reasons Why is set to premiere on May 18.