13 Reasons Why Star Calls Season 2 a ‘Redemptive’ Story

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One of the stars of 13 Reasons Why season 2 says the show will focus on rehabilitation and accountability. From its initial release on Netflix last year, 13 Reasons Why stirred up a wealth of discussion and controversy. Following the story of Hannah Baker, who took her own life, 13 Reasons Why shone a spotlight on the behaviors and actions of a group of high school students in the age of social media. While suicide was the main focus of the show, it also examined bullying (both in person and online), substance abuse, and rape.

Bryce Walker, played by Justin Prentice, was the star of the school sports team; the arrogant, good looking and rich jock who thought he could treat people however he chose. During season one, he not only raped an unconscious Jessica during a party, but he also raped Hannah, and in doing so, became one of her reasons for killing herself. At the end of season one, an angry Clay Jensen had extracted a confession from him, and Jessica had just found courage to tell her dad what had happened. Meanwhile, Hannah’s parents were continuing with their law suit against the school, and they are now in possession of Hannah’s tapes.

While the exact nature of season 2’s storylines are not yet known, Kate Walsh, who plays Hannah’s mother, Olivia, says that 13 Reasons Why will tell a ‘redemptive story’ that’s more ‘hope-filled’ than season one. Speaking to E News, Walsh also added that viewers will follow Bryce’s story closely, taking a look at what happens in the aftermath of season one’s events.

“It’s a very exciting season for a lot of reasons. You see us sort of following the trail of Bryce Walker, so this season deals with sexual assault, it deals with truth, it deals with responsibility, it deals with the aftermath of Hannah’s death…And really trying to, again, look for responsibility and accountability. It’s very intense and very, I think, still totally addictive.”

This will please many, especially in light of the Me Too movement. To see Bryce having to face the music and deal with the repercussions of his actions, will hopefully send a strong message to those watching that rape has consequences. Of course, it also has huge consequences for its victims, too, and surely 13 Reasons Why will also allow the viewer to follow Jessica’s progress too, as she starts to gather the pieces of her shattered life back together.

As well as catching up with Jessica and Bryce, there’s Alex’s suicide attempt, and Tyler’s potential school shooting to deal with. Walsh’s remarks seem to hint that 13 Reasons Why will finally focus on the characters accessing the help they need, and, hopefully, others becoming more aware of their own actions following Hannah’s death. Not only will that send a more positive message to its impressionable audience, it might also quiet some of its critics who complained that season one only focused on negatives.

13 Reasons Why is available for streaming now on Netflix. Season 2 is expected to arrive in 2018.