’13 Reasons Why’ Review Roundup: Graphic Teen Melodrama Impresses Critics

The new Netflix original series, 13 Reasons Why, is a chilling tale of Hannah Baker, a teenager that killed herself and left behind prerecorded cassette tapes for her classmates. Each of these gives them reasons why they contributed to her decision to commit suicide. The first season, which became available for streaming today, garnered an impressive 94% on Rottentomatoes.

13 REASONS WHY REVIEW ROUNDUP

“Grief, guilt, regret, shame, malice, detachment, denial — the feelings swarming through the kids in 13 Reasons Why are deep and complicated, lest you think young-adult stories can only be about vampire hunger and love games. Netflix’s new adaptation of Jay Asher’s 2007 novel is an extraordinarily mature — and extraordinary — drama about the aftermath of teenager Hannah Baker’s suicide and the 13 people she blames in the tapes she leaves behind… The storytelling techniques on the show are wonderful..and 13 Reasons Why also has a pair of remarkable lead performances that do full justice to the ambiguities of the teen years…There are a few flaws in 13 Reasons Why, not least of all the overly choreographed script that always seems to be forcing face-offs between foes. Some of the characters, particularly the jocks, with their homoerotic clowning, are stereotypical. But none of these blemishes detracted from my thorough enjoyment. The drama is sensitive, surprising, consistently engaging, and, most important, unblinking.”
–Matthew Gilbert, The Boston Globe

“Young viewers may find the combination of thriller and morbid teenage melodrama in 13 Reasons Why addictive, though parents should be aware that it contains startlingly naturalistic depictions of rape and suicide. The rest of us won’t have as much patience for the show’s excessively convoluted, repetitive and unlikely story, or for the narrative gimmick reflected in its title.”
–Mike Hale, New York Times

“There’s a thoroughness here that is evident in the diversity of characters (in ethnicity and sexual-orientation) and issues, making sure that every fine point about consent, neglect, poverty and self-medication is addressed. It can also feel clunky, but it’s appreciated nevertheless. You can’t underestimate how instructive this show could be for a teen audience and the parents struggling to decipher them. If getting its message across means rolling it up in a slick and entertaining package, so be it.”

–Radheyan Simonpillai, NOW Toronto

“Whatever Thirteen Reasons Why gets right about teen tendencies toward melodrama fades as the series fumbles around with tone and emotional accuracy. The characters very rarely come across as real, perhaps because the story itself is so contrived.”
–Hank Stuever, The Washington Post

“All in all, 13 Reasons Why is an excellent blend of teen drama and mystery that may, in later episodes, be dragged down by its grim tone… It remains to be seen whether 13 Reasons Why will be able to garner the popularity of other teen dramas like My So-Called Life or Skins, but it certainly sets out to be the next exceptional drama that just so happens to be geared toward teens – and, for the most part, it succeeds.”
–Molly Freeman, Screenrant