f13.net

Netflix. It is a suicide story that inserts a bit of Veronica Mars. The acting is generally good, the overall mystery is interesting (but a bit predictable), and it was filmed near where I live in Northern California. Not that that last part matters to you, but it was odd seeing familiar places on the show.

While the story moves at a reasonable pace, theRe is an infuriating story mechanic that a character drags out an insanely long time to facilitate the story taking so long. I did not read the book the show is based upon, but even if the book did it this way, it doesn't work on film.
Worth a watch. No perfect, but worth a watch. I have a feeling one or two of the stars will go on to bigger things. The leading lady is really good in several episodes, despite a few inconsistencies in who her character is.

This is the series that consulted many suicide experts and did the opposite of what they recommended in order to not glamorize or otherwise induce on-the-edge teens into suicide. I refuse to watch for that reason alone.

So you wanted them to glamorize and encourage teen suicide?  Given the teens I know, I think we're on the same page.

My wife binged this over a weekend and I heard some of it from the other room. It sounded good and she certainly thought the ending was pretty powerful.

No. Your reading comprehension lacks.

Suicide experts said: Don't portray her as the heroine. It will glamorize her death. 
The show did.

SE: Don't show the suicide. It will REALLY glamorize things and there's plenty of research showing that exposure makes vulnerable teens even more vulnerable.
The show did anyway.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2017/04/14/the-problem-with-how-13-reasons-why-treats-suicide/?utm_term=.b473916f5e4a
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/879606
http://www.cnn.com/2017/04/25/health/13-reasons-why-teen-suicide-debate-explainer/


It's one thing to do something like this within the context of then starting a dialogue. That wasn't the intention, or else we'd have an immediate follow-up episode discussing it, or resources provided by Netflix for assistance. They did neither.

Calm thyself. I was just pointing out the sentence was ambiguous as it was written - relax.

The argument against having suicide, drugs, drinking, sex or any other charged topic in schools, media, etc... is pretty much the same.  I don't subscribe to the theory that education about a topic is bad.  Hiding these concepts is ridiculous past a certain young age.  Prepare the kids for the world, don't sell them fantasies.

"But this isn't just education - it glamorizes it!"  The main character is sympathetic and compelling.  To that extent, yes, audiences can see themselves making the decision that she does.  However, they can also see just how much damage it does.  They can see the hurt it causes and they can see that if she reached out to the right people in the right way, she had another path available and her decision to take her own life was a mistake.  I took two messages from the series:

1.) There is help out there if you look for it, even if you don't see it right now.
2.) People should reach out to make sure the people in their lives know they are there to help.

I don't see anyone really walking away from this and considering it a blueprint for the way to end their life.

It sure is a good thing you're more of an expert on this topic than all those mental health professionals who thought otherwise when consulted.