13 Reasons Why: Let the Dead Bury the Dead

First of all, we are back at home.  We got back yesterday and while the kids stayed at home, my wife and I took my brother out for lunch to the Lexden Crown. I like eating there and the food was good, though nothing compared to the Italian that we had eaten the night before. It was good to catch up, though he came out as a Spurs fan! Still, he ain’t heavy, he is my brother.  I drove him to the station after, but it was a rail replacement service to take him from Colchester and due to his ticket, I could not take him down towards London to get the train where he would swap back onto the train.

Leia was overjoyed to see us and could not contain her excitement. My brother taught her a few things and she will now fetch a ball to us and will sit again.

And I watched the final episode of the third series of 13 Reasons Why with my Son. I had watched it before with my daughter and knew who the culprit was, but my son had cheated and had looked it up on the internet. I think that Bryce was on the path to redemption, my son disagrees.  We will have to agree to disagree on that one. Though neither of us shed a tear over the death that occurred to another character.

Anyway, time to get out of bed and walk the dog around the garden as I have this week off.

13 Reasons Why; And Then the Hurricane Hit

It is good getting back into this with my son.  And it was good again, which is not guaranteed when it comes to every episode this series.  It is building up to the climax with the identity of the killer of Bryce Walker becoming known.  

The most important part is the bravery of the characters when it comes to addressing issues of assault.  I am not sure that would happen in a school setting but I think it is important to show as it will mean those who watch it will be aware of how people should react.

13 Reasons Why; There Are a Few Things I Haven't Told You

It has been a while since my son and I watched this.  And this was a very important episode when it comes to the issues of addressing the acceptance of misogyny.  Hopefully it will not be as long until we watch the next episode together.

13 Reasons Why; The World Closing In

Is redemption possible if true repentance has taken place?  In my view yes.  I think my daughter thought so when watching this before, but my son does not appear to agree, yet.

On a different note, my son was not able to go to school today as he vomited last night, but my daughter returned.  My wife and I spent the morning shopping either on-line or in Waitrose while he looked after Leia (his school said that there was no work for him as him being home was not COVID related).

13 Reasons Why; Always Waiting for the Next Bad News

Drugs screw up the lives of people.  And it can be very hard to kick the habit.  This episode looks at some of he issues involved, but not the deaths that I have seen due to drugs.

13 Reasons Why; In High School, Even on a Good Day, It's Hard to Tell Who's on Your Side

People in a just system are considered innocent until proven guilty. However accusations can cause problems, but can also help others come forwards.

This episode addresses some of the pressures that Clay Jensen comes under once he is a person linked to the murder of Bryce, but does not address how it can be useful for other victims to come forward when someone is charged, a big example being Jimmy Savile.  

It is also about how people often see the good in others, and how we can not realise that.

13 Reasons Why; There Are a Number of Problems with Clay Jensen

First of all, family.

My wife and daughter took Leia out for a walk this morning allowing me to cycle into work.  I did not get out of bed as early as I would like, but it was nice to cuddle up to my wife.  Once they had left, I got on my bike and cycled in for paperwork.  I have not done this as often as before as my daughter had wanted to come into work with me to do her homework in once of the offices.  But I need to get fitter and if she wants to come, she is going to have to get her mother to drop her off, or cycle in with me.  Anyway, they went for a walk down in Wivenhoe and my wife, who has never been as keen on walking as I have been, did a personal best for this year!

My daughter herself has been a bit stressed out her return to school tomorrow.  My son has to attend for testing, and then he is in properly tomorrow.  He had been in last week for testing and since then, the friend who he was with has developed COVID.  This did result in a scare this morning, until we realised that she was negative on the day.  Her mother became unwell and tested positive yesterday, his friend testing positive today.  The house is a lot calmer now compared to how it was this morning.  Needless to say, we wish the best for her friend and family.

As for 13 Reasons Why, my son and I watched it this evening before he went off to bed.  This episode looks at the rehabilitation of Bryce Walker, and his ability to still attract women to him.  Hence the video...

 

13 Reasons Why; You Can Tell the Heart of a Man by How He Grieves

Another day and another traumatic episode.  This one dealt with illegal immigration.  Personally, I am in favour of the deportation of illegal immigrants, a controversial view, but one I will stick by.  I do think that the immigration system in the UK is a mess, made worse by Brexit and that controls on immigration in the UK are too strict.   

At the moment, we have a shortage of HGV drivers.  Companies have called upon to allow a HGV drivers in from abroad on a short-term temporary basis, but this has been rejected by Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, as a short-term temporary solution.  Saying that, we are also short in many other areas such as in dentistry.  The nation will adapt, but Brexit immigration rules are already causing issues to many areas and companies in Europe and elsewhere are making more profits while British companies are now even more disadvantaged.

  

13 Reasons Why; Nobody's Clean

Watching this with my son was interesting.  The two issues brought up were drugs and prostitution.  Drugs have been an issue in other episodes, but here, steroids were discussed.  Buying sex for money was also never mentioned before, and while this episode did not deal with the ethics of this, it did look at drugs.

I have mentioned before, that I do think that drugs should be legal and regulated, but I am not sure about steroids.  The first post-mortem that I saw was of a body builder who had a massive heart due to steroids.  The muscle growth outstripped the blood supply to it and he died.  Since then I have seen ruptured ligaments which do not heal and also others with heart attacks thanks to the use of illegal steroids.  I have suspected that it has contributed to behavioural issues with some, and I see one person on occasion who uses them but has muscles that are so developed, they have joint issues because his body should not have that build.  And he has acne and very small testicles.  Saying that, drugs screw up lives, and just because I think that they should be legal and regulated does not take away from the many lives I have seen ruined by drugs, and too many ended.

As for prostitution, again, this is something I think should be legal, but again regulated. But this view applies to all those who work in the sex industry. Help should be offered to aid those who are forced into sex to get out, or ideally, not to get into it.  The ethics of using a prostitute were not addressed in this episode though.

Needless today, I told my son not to use drugs.  Hopefully he will listen. 

13 Reasons Why; Angry, Young and Man

Closure is not always possible.  Some people regret or learn to understand the consequences of the crimes that they do, others do not.  But is revenge the right way to bring about closure?  My son says no.

13 Reasons Why; The Good Person Is Indistinguishable from the Bad

This was a traumatic episode for my son to watch with me being with him. Not just the journey of self discovery, but the most graphic depiction of sex so far in the series (or the other two).  It did discuss some of the after effects of rape on the victim along with how they will want to move on with life and the difficulty to cross certain boundaries. 

13 Reasons Why; If You're Breathing, You're a Liar

Another traumatic episode dealing with teenage pregnancy, the choices faced when it comes to this as well as discussing the consequences.

Things are different in the UK, in that we do not have any protestors outside clinics, but the consequences of continuing with a pregnancy when a teenager are the same.  A loss of earnings for the woman, restricted choices with employment and relationships as well.  For many, this is a choice that they are willing to take, and I firmly believe that women should be supported in the decision to keep a baby. That is why I consider the UK to have a pro-life alternative to terminations. The US may consider itself to have a pro-life movement, but with the lack of maternity pay, inadequate childcare support and a lack of decent gun controls, I consider them to be pro-birth instead.  

My son is keen on watching them as quickly as possible so I may watch another tomorrow.

13 Reasons Why; Yeah. I'm the New Girl

A new day and a new episode.  I have watched this series before, and I did not like it as much as the other two before.  Watching teenage melodrama is even less enjoyable now considering the two teenagers I live with.  But watching it means that I get to spend time with my son which is great.  

Getting home, my wife and daughter were watching Love Island and Leia went crazy on seeing me.  Once she calmed down, I ate my dinner while watching it with my son.  

Watching it the second time round is interesting.  Of course there is trauma from the previous episode from the last series, but the characters themselves are unaware of what happened.  One of the annoying issues of the last series, that being changing that happened was not noticed by me.  But I have to say, I enjoyed watching it the second time more than the first.  

13 Reasons Why; Bye

What a traumatic episode.  I knew what was to happen, but this is still shocking to see it again.  Closure was present regarding Hannah Baker which was lovely.  The court case had an interesting outcome and did lead to an interesting discussion with my son.  Great disco. 

13 Reasons Why; The Box of Polaroids

Redemption is an interesting topic.  That was the topic of this episode, but not everyone can be redeemed.  The outcome of the court case was an interesting one and led to a conversation about conviction rates with my son.  I identify most with Mr Porter out of all the characters, though I am a lot more honest about my own mistakes than he is.  One more episode to go...

On the downside, people at work laughed at me about how Arsenal went from top to bottom of the table on the first day of the league. 

13 Reasons Why; Bryce and Chlöe

First of all, family.  I had wanted the children to take Leia for a walk this morning so I would have the energy to cycle to work, but they did not. This is despite the promises before we got her that they would walk the dog.  Saying that, I love walking with Leia, but I need to get back on my bike, and cycling in the morning means less traffic.  Instead, my wife decided to take her out, so I walked with her and Leia. What an amazing start to the day I have to say.

I still got to cycle to work, this being a round about trip to see if I am still able to cycle to my Wednesday job, where I have been working from home since the pandemic began.  I can do it, and I think that I may be better at doing so than I was back in 2020.  

My son and I watched one more episode of 13 Reasons Why, this touching on some of the reasons that women do not come forwards when it comes to rape and sexual assault, this being the awareness that others will judge them for this (among other reasons).  I did not get a chance to discuss this with him fully, but a big example is how Christine Blasey Ford was subject to abuse after speaking about her experiences. 

Later, the two of us watched What If...?  I love it.  Not sure that Hayley Atwell was drawn as well as she could be, but other than that minor issue, an awesome episode.  The two of us are going to be watching this later this week hopefully when the next episode comes out.

13 Reasons Why; Smile, B1+ches!

Am watching the episode with my son while trying not to fall asleep.  I got home late, had an argument with my wife (I hope we sort it out because she is amazing) and am now watching this.  The episode is very interesting, but I am surprised that Justin Foley had not been let in on the secret clubhouse.  

It is a powerful episode though.  Similar themes are present to Roll Red Roll.  Not that I have watched it yet.

13 Reasons Why; The Missing Page

First of all, family update.  My daughter has been a bit short with us today (and yesterday) as she is worried about her results tomorrow.  I say results, I mean result for her GCSE in Religious Studies.  

As for 13 Reasons Why, my son and I discussed suicide.  A patient I had looked after was found dead recently.  We discussed this a bit, but he preferred to not discuss why some boys do not consider all forms of rape to be rape.  We did not discuss how some women look the other way when it comes to sexual assault or take part in victim blaming.  He is frustrated at the pace at which we watch this, but he is still watching it with me and took time away from watching Friends to watch this with me.

13 Reasons Why; The Little Girl

Family update first.  We had Nick, Lyndsay and Hamish round yesterday. A great night but I had to go to bed before the night ended.  Just as well considering that I had to walk Leia this morning.  I had intended to go into work, but we ended up going out to The Whalebone for lunch.  Afterwards I worked from home before my wife and I went to the Brightlingsea music festival. We saw a friend of ours play and also listened to the Filthy Lounge Band. The ABBA tribute duo were great but we had to leave early to beat the traffic rush as people left.

As for 13 Reasons Why, the issues my son and I discussed were that of drug abuse.  The episode had two errors, a man who had little money in the first series was having an affair in the second.  (My son did point out that the lady may have paid, but accepted this was unlikely.)  The next issue was that Bryce encountered students listening to a recording of his confession to Clay, which should have told him where the recording came from as it was not part of the original tapes.

13 Reasons Why; The Third Polaroid

First of all, things got worse with my son, and then better.  We had a discussion about what had happened and in hindsight his anger was predictable.  Things looked quite bleak, but then when my wife and daughter were out getting our dog groomed, he came down and we had another talk.  We watched Bad Batch and then this episode of 13 Reasons Why.

We talked about how one person wanting to do the right thing can be the wrong thing, and although intentions may be pure, consequences are real.  Needless to say, my son dislikes Bryce Walker even more than before,

Have to go now, we have friends coming round soon.