During the semester break, I spent some time catching up on Netflix series that have been very popular on social media. Over the Easter weekend, I binged the entire season of “13 Reasons Why” – a controversial show detailing the events leading up to a high school student’s suicide, while bringing to light the people she felt caused her to decide to take her life.

While the series itself is highly controversial given the subject matter; that is not the purpose of this post. Instead, I want to look at a transcription of the first few minutes of the series – to highlight how it seamlessly sets up several elements of the world that come into play during the series. My notes on this will be in red.

***

[The camera slowly zooms out of Hannah’s locker, decorated with pictures, stickers and letters.]

Hannah VO: Hey, it’s Hannah. Hannah Baker. That’s right. Don’t adjust your… whatever device you’re hearing this on. [Students start crowding.] It’s me, live and in stereo. No return engagements, no encore, and this time, absolutely no requests. Get a snack. Settle in. Because I’m about to tell you the story of my life.

[Clay is at his locker. He turns around and sees Hannah, she smiles and disappears. He turns back around and walks towards her locker. Two girls are standing in front of off it.]

It is established that Hannah Baker has died – though the circumstances surrounding this are not yet made clear. The points-of-view are also established – story will be told through the eyes of Clay, but Hannah will also guide a lot of the narrative.

Girl: She was so pretty.
Girl 2: Totally.

[They take a selfie and walk away.]

Girl 2: What is it again?
Girl: #NeverForget.

The setting is further established – modern day, high school. There will be many teenagers, many of them focused on their image/’status’; and how they portray these on their social media pages.

[Clay watches them leave and approaches her locker. Justin walks up to him.]

Justin: What the hell are you doing?
Clay: Nothing. I’m just-
Justin: Looking for something? Dramatic irony – we later learn that Justin has previously held Hannah’s “tapes” that she recorded, outlining the people who drove her to suicide. Justin is one of them. Clay will soon come into possession of the tapes.
Clay: What would I be looking for?
Justin: You tell me.
Clay: Do you even know my name?
Justin: ‘Course I do, Clay.

[Mr Porter walks up to them.]

Mr Porter: Guys. Second bell.
Justin: You’re not that innocent, Jensen. I don’t give a shit what she says. We don’t know what Justin means by “what she says”, but this is the first seed of doubt as to whether Clay had some involvement in hurting Hannah – something revisited throughout the series.
Mr .Porter: Mr Foley, let’s go. Get to homeroom.

[Clay watches him leave.]

Mr Porter: You too, Mr Jensen. Mr Porter – the school counselor – displays somewhat lackadaisical demeanor in dealing with the students foreshadows how it will be revealed that he failed to help Hannah when she needed him

[Clay glances at the locker again.]

***

As we can see, this opening sequence is filled with a lot of meaning for someone with knowledge of the story; but it also provides a compelling introduction to a new viewer – just what happened to Hannah? What was Clay’s relationship with her? What about Justin? And why is he acting so aggressive towards Clay?

All of this is set up without clunky exposition, which enhances the viewers engagement with the world by making sure that they feel as though the events are flowing naturally. The questions raised also provide a “hook” for the viewer to continue watching in hopes that their questions may be soon answered…

This exploration has definitely helped me continue to explore how I may introduce my world if I am to produce a script as part of my final product.