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What’s Going On With 13 Reasons Why Season 2’s Release?
13 Reasons Why Season 2 is coming, but Netflix still hasn’t announced the release date. Could it be because they’re going to drop it as a surprise?
Season 1 of 13 Reasons Why caused a vast amount of controversy when it was released in March 2017. Its delicate subject matter – the suicide of a teenage girl – led to an outcry, with some claiming the graphic detail glorified the action, while others praised the show for prompting open and honest discussion. 13 Reasons Why also dealt with many other issues facing teenagers, including bullying, harassment, and rape. Regardless of the divisive reaction, the show was a massive success for Netflix and spawned a fervent and dedicated fandom.
Adapted from Jay Asher’s YA novel of the same name, 13 Reasons Why Season 1 came to a natural conclusion with the death of its main protagonist and narrator, but at the same time left a lot of questions unanswered. To the surprise of no one, the show was quickly picked up for a second season, which will seek to tie up some of those loose ends, and follow the characters as they come to terms with the contents of the cassette tapes that Hannah Baker left behind. But, over a year later, fans are still waiting.
13 Reasons Why Season 2 finished filming last year, but at the time of writing, Netflix hasn’t given the show a release date. Many fans were guessing that Season 2 would arrive on March 31st, exactly a year after the show made its debut, but the date came and went without incident. However, that theory now has fans speculating that Season 2 will arrive without warning, possibly even as soon as this Friday.
Netflix has previously experimented with surprise release dates. The Cloverfield Paradox dropped unexpectedly straight after the Super Bowl to a mixed response, but doing it with a whole season of TV will be bolder move. Of course, with such an engaged audience eagerly waiting for new episodes, Netflix knows that whenever it does drop Season 2, the internet will go wild and the fans will immediately start watching.
A surprise release would delight many, but those controversial aspects may be problematic. Given the teenage audience, it removes parental oversight; knowing that Season 2 will deal with the aftermath of rape and how it affects the victim, as well as depression, anxiety, and possibly another suicide attempt, parents might value the chance to discuss these issues with their teenagers before the show airs. As with Season 1, the plotlines for Season 2 look sure to stir up plenty of heated discussion. In fact, the issues tackled in Season 2 are once again so sensitive in nature that some of the cast, including Dylan Minnette (Clay), Katherine Langford (Hannah) and Alisha Boe (Jessica) have recorded a video warning vulnerable teenagers not to watch alone, and to talk to an adult if they’re affected by any of the subjects raised.
However, Netflix might not have been planning a surprise release date at all, but instead have had one thrust upon them. There are rumors (via Reddit) that suggest the release of 13 Reasons Why Season 2 has been delayed due to redits. The edits in question relate to something that started at the end of Season 1, when Tyler headed into school with a backpack full of guns and ammo.
Whether a full school shooting scene ever took place or it was narrowly averted, given the current climate in the US it wouldn’t be surprising for anything pertaining to any kind of school shooting is being edited out. If this rumor is indeed correct, then we could see the show’s release delayed. This poses its own issue for Netflix, though; releasing in May or later then runs the risk of coinciding with end of year exams or finals for many of 13 Reasons Why‘s audience.
So, when will we see 13 Reasons Why Season 2? It seems reasonable to expect it sooner rather than later, although given Netflix announces it shows only a month or so in advance, we won’t know until a trailer – or the entire show – drops.
