In the first season of hit Netflix series 13 Reasons Why, parents were left angered by the lead character, Hanna Baker’s, suicide scene which could have been potentially damaging for their children to see. Now, the second season has brought an even more confronting reality to the television screen, and fans and parents are not happy.
The scene in question takes place in the final episode, and centers around bullied photographer Tyler Down (portrayed by actor Devin Druid) who is the first student to testify in the trial between Hannah’s parents and the school district. The character’s testimony where he reveals the extent of bullying that goes on at the school makes him a target once the testimony is over.
In the final episodes [WARNING SPOILERS] the photographer’s fellow classmates corner him in the bathroom and one athlete proceeds to brutally sodomise him with a broken mop, leaving Tyler both mentally and physically devastated.
The show’s creator Brian Yorkey said that the scene was important to include because it’s women who are usually depicted as rape victims in movies and TV, when in reality both sexes are equally victimised.
Yorkey told Vulture magazine, ‘We’re committed on this show to telling truthful stories about things that young people go through in as unflinching a way as we can.
‘When we talk about something being ‘disgusting’ or hard to watch, often that means we are attaching shame to the experience. We would rather not be confronted with it. We would rather it stay out of our consciousness.
‘This is why these kinds of assaults are under reported. This is why victims have a hard time seeking help. We believe that talking about it is so much better than silence.’
Has Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why gone too far? Is it appropriate viewing for teenagers? This week’s special episode of TV podcast, Binge List, answers all those questions. Listen on iTunes: http://po.st/syE3JF or OMNY: http://po.st/Uj6J8R
If you or someone you know is seeking help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit BeyondBlue.com.
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