Why '13 Reasons Why' needs a third season

Much like its first season, the finale of the second season of Netflix series '13 Reasons Why' has drawn in very strong opinion from most viewers. A lot of them, especially parents of young adults in America have expressed displeasure at the graphic scene in the final episode of the series that shows outcast Tyler getting brutally raped in the bathroom of Liberty High School.

Speaking to Vulture, the creator of the show Brian Yorkey has stated that talking about burning issues that plague American teenagers at present was important. "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.... We believe that talking about it is so much better than silence."

*spoilers ahead*

For those who have watched the season 2 till the end, would know that the final episode is a cliffhanger. After being brutally raped, Tyler decides to take revenge and lands up at the annual dance with guns. Clay, the do-gooder, manages to convince Tyler to not take such a drastic step and Tyler eventually races off in Tony'scar, leaving Clay holding his gun.

Now, with season 2 ending at such a crucial point, one can't help but wonder whether the makers have planned for a third season at all.

'13 Reasons Why' started with Hannah Baker's suicide and the tapes that she left behind which strings a story of how the young girl was bullied, labelled and raped before she decided to end her life. The second season was more about the court battle that Hannah'sparents decide to fight against the school for overlooking Hannah's case/ plea for help. While the first season had the viewers learning Hannah's point of view, the second season gave the other side of the story- that of her friends.

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It can be safely assumed that Hannah will not feature in third season. But there is so much still left to be told about the group at Liberty High. What happens to Tyler? Does Justin finally come clean of his heroin addiction? Does Clay find love after Hannah? What happens to Alex and Jessica? Does Bryce finally turn a new leaf?

There has been no official announcement around the third season yet from the makers. But with so many question left unanswered it is likely that another season will be in the offing soon.
Hannah's presence will loom large even in the third season, Yorkey told Entertainment Weekly. “Should we get a season 3, the loss of Hannah will continue to be the inciting traumatic event for this group of kids and parents. It will always be part of the story. But I don’t see a tremendous continued presence for Hannah because I think we needed her to finish telling everyone else’s side of her story and we needed her so that Clay could get to a point of saying, ‘I love you and I let you go.’ If the story does continue, and certainly there is lots more to know about a lot of these characters, then the spotlight focus on Hannah Baker is probably done.”

The story addressed issues like mental health, gun violence, rape, consent and bullying in high schools. Some may argue that the season 2 is the right closure for the series, but the conversation has just started around these burning problems and the third season, if they do plan to make it, will address these issues in greater detail.

It may have been theend of Hannah Baker's story- but there is so much more than the show can tell to its audience. Theirdepiction of life'sreal issues may be graphic at times- but one thing is for sure, '13 Reasons Why' has surely opened up the point of discussion. That a lot can be changed if one reaches out and talk.