Netflix cut a graphic suicide scene from the first season of 13 Reasons Why, but does that mean we should look forward to Season Three?
The move is a good publicity stunt for the show, whose viewers have been complaining about its graphic content for years. But worse scenes still remain, and the show’s producers have shown little concern for curbing its violent content in the future.
At the very least, the removal of the lead character’s suicide scene is a good first step.
An update on 13 Reasons Why
If you or someone you know needs help finding crisis resources please visit https://t.co/cNtjtuNG1p pic.twitter.com/SxGjbYpZF6
— Netflix US (@netflix) July 16, 2019
“We’ve heard from many young people that 13 Reasons Why encouraged them to start conversations about difficult issues like depression and suicide and get help — often for the first time,” Netflix tweeted Tuesday. “As we prepare to launch Season 3 later this summer, we’ve been mindful about the ongoing debate around the show. So on the advice of medical experts, including Dr. Christine Moutier, chief medical officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, we’ve decided with creator Brian Yorkey and the producers to edit the scene in which Hannah takes her own life from Season 1.”
The scene in the first season’s finale, which depicted Hannah slitting her wrists in a bathtub in an excruciating three-minute clip, now only shows her crying in a bathroom mirror before showing her parents pulling her out of the tub. The scene is still difficult to watch, of course, but the previous graphic material was neither appropriate nor helpful in a show marketed to teenagers.
But if 13 Reasons Why really wants to cleanse itself of all explicit content, it should also remove its infamous rape scene. Many viewers agree.
#13ReasonsWhy so they decided to get rid of the suicide scene but not tylers rape scene? Which to me, was actually far more traumatizing than the suicide pic.twitter.com/tW5u15Z3B9
— ?Charlie ( チャーリー )??????? (@Charlieydwi) July 16, 2019
lol get rid of the show not just that one scene #13reasonswhy
— em ? (@emilyhollt) July 16, 2019
Some viewers said they think the show should be unflinching in its depiction of reality, but 13 Reasons Why has never really been about realism. It depicts its heroine, who kills herself, as a tragic martyr who reaps posthumous revenge. If 13 Reasons Why was actually helpful for people struggling with suicidal thoughts, it probably would not have coincided with an uptick in suicides.
Like the new HBO show Euphoria, 13 Reasons Why is predicated more on graphic content for its own sake than on representations of reality that will be helpful for teens. Executive producer Selena Gomez has said that the show is an “honest” depiction of important issues. But if Netflix really wants to improve the show, it needs to remove other scenes. As the show’s newest season comes out, it should bear in mind that “honest” depictions are not always appropriate for all audiences, and violence isn’t “honest” if it’s there to make headlines.
