Allegra Papera
Online Arts Editor
Netflix’s “13 Reasons Why” is far too cheesy to genuinely impress viewers.
Netflix’s adaptation of Jay Asher’s 2006 novel “Thirteen Reasons Why” fails to live up to fans’ expectations with its overuse of cliches, disorganization, and boring characters. The only mildly redeeming aspect of the show are its shots of Northern California’s bright greenery.
PHOTOS: Click here to check out photos pertaining to Netflix’s new series.
“13 Reasons Why,” set in Northern California, follows the quiet high schooler Clay (Dylan Minnette) after the suicide of his schoolmate and coworker (Katherine Langford) stirs up a discomfort in the community that is impossible to ignore.
Soon after Hannah’s death, an unexpected and mysterious package filled with thirteen cassette tapes that Hannah made to explain the reasons she killed herself is dropped at Clay’s doorstep, he being one of them.
The most apparent aspect of the series is its undeniable cheesiness. Just in the first episode, viewers are exposed to a plethora of overused cliches. This can be seen when Hannah uses the age old “we’re talking about homework” excuse to stay on the phone with one of her crushes when her mom shows suspicion, making viewers cringe.
The show also makes it difficult for viewers to genuinely enjoy Hannah as a character. Her actions, like holding hands with Clay to make her crush jealous, do not portray her as the cool, mysterious girl she’s supposed to be, but more so an awkward liar who tries too hard to get attention, making her an unlikable character who detracts from the show’s quality.
Click here to read USA Today‘s opinion story about the series.
Another one of the show’s flaws is its disorganized plot that jumbles scenes together without any clear transitions. This messiness makes it hard for viewers to get a true grasp on what roles the less prevalent characters play, requiring too much effort from them to understand details that should be made obvious.
Read what the New York Times has to say about the series.
One strong factor that stands out from all of the series’ flaws are the beautiful outdoors shots of the bright greenery in Northern California. In a flurry of disappointment, these colorful images serve as a breath of fresh air, making the show a bit more tolerable.
Ultimately, “13 Reasons Why” as a Netflix series fails to live up to the hype that the wildly successful novel has created thanks to its utterly irritating characters, embarrassing cliches, and disorganization.
“13 Reasons Why” is available to stream on Netflix.
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