Jessica (24) on '13 Reasons Why': "There's so much gore for a show aimed at 15-year-olds"

TW: depression, suicide, self-harm

Jessica Ling (24) from Oxford, England, suffered from months of destructive feelings after watching the first season of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why. As a professional with a degree in film production, she noticed many mistakes in the way the show portrayed mental illness: “They didn’t even bother to think about how it would make the viewer feel.”

Jessica Ling doesn't think the director took the viewer's health into account.

“Initially, I had zero interest in watching the show. My friend kept telling me how great it was, so I eventually caved. I almost immediately knew it was not good for me. I lost a friend to suicide at 16 years old, so I was aware it would be triggering. But the way they physically showed the suicide is what hurt the most.”

At the end of season 1, the main character, Hannah, kills herself on-screen. No trigger warnings were put at the beginning of the episode, nor did the makers refer to any helplines for people who are dealing with negative thoughts. This lack of caution created a lot of criticism as viewers were suddenly exposed to shocking images that could potentially trigger them. Only in the second season did they incorporate trigger warnings and helplines.

“There’s just so much gore for a show that’s aimed at 15-year olds. Normally shows or films would just hint at the suicide, so you get the gist of what’s happening at that moment. In 13 Reasons Why, she just takes a razor and slits her wrists. It was just so real.”

Monkey see, monkey do

“When the show first came out in 2017, I was still recovering from self-harm. I’d been clean for about a year and all I wanted to do, for a reason I really can’t understand, was to go back down that depressive slope. I wanted to hurt myself again," Jessica says.

“It’s monkey see, monkey do; if people already had self-destructive tendencies, they’re going to want to copy Hannah’s behaviour. I consider myself very lucky with my mental health because I can cope with it quite well. But for people who can’t, the impact must be huge.”

Jessica goes on to compare films and TV shows to Disneyland: “Kids don’t understand that the Cinderella they’re meeting at that theme park isn’t an actual princess. It’s obviously on a different scale, but still similar. They have a hard time differentiating reality and television.”

Romanticising suicide

Although13 Reasons Why dealt with a lot of criticism, the show was simultaneously praised for showing such a raw and realistic side to depression. However, Jessica didn’t think the last scene was realistic at all: “Actually, that death was very peaceful in a way. That’s not how it happens in real life. I’m not a forensic pathologist in any way but I listen to enough crime shows to know that that kind of death is horrible and very violent. There’s no screaming in pain, no draining of colour, nothing. It’s done in a way that’s supposed to look raw but it’s so over-edited. I can’t imagine how many kids have thought that that’s the best way to die.”

“The only good thing about that suicide scene was her mother’s reaction. It was just so heart-wrenchingly true. When I lost my friend to suicide, we had no clue she was in such a low state. I saw the reaction of the people that knew her, and those same devastated, confused and heartbroken feelings were really shown in the series by Hannah’s mom.”

"It’s a TV show aimed at teenagers. You’re supposed to be responsible for what you put out there."

With Netflix comes great responsibility

“When you make a movie, from my own experience, you see it from your perspective as, for example, the director. It’s your job to look at the end result and make the appropriate changes. Messages may have come across the wrong way; music and light can totally change the dynamic of a scene. They did change the colour grading. When Hannah was alive, they’d use much warmer tones. After Hannah’s death, the scenes were much darker to give you a lower feeling during those scenes. But that wasn’t enough at all. They didn’t even bother to think about how it would make a viewer feel.”

Hannah & Clay, 13 Reasons Why: Netflix

But is it a TV show’s job to make the viewer happy? According to Jessica, the whole point of something being made is that there’s a reason behind it: “As a writer, you have to be safeguarding. It’s not a horror movie where there are no rules. It’s not just an entertainment show. It’s a TV show aimed at teenagers. You’re supposed to be responsible for what you put out there.”

Jessica finishes: “If I were to remake that show, I wouldn’t put Hannah’s point of view in it, because it’s too real for a lot of people. I would have made it into a story of why it happened without all the drama and stories. Because at the end of the day, she was sick. She needed help and she didn’t get it.”

If you ever think about suicide or self-harm, and are in need of a conversation, then you can always contact the Suicide Hotline on the number 1813 or www.zelfmoord1813.be for Belgium. For international helplines, please click this link.

Text: Femke Lippens

Picture: © Jessica Ling