Ep 2. Episode 2

Episode 2 of 13 Reasons Why continues to explore the circumstances leading up to the suicide of high school student Hannah Baker (played by Katherine Langford). The episode opens with a brief scene of a teenage girl purposely knocking over a stack of books in the library, causing chaos. This leads into a flashback where Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), Hannah's former classmate and crush, is seen entering the library to find a book. He is still trying to process the revelation of the first episode: that Hannah had left behind 13 cassette tapes, each explaining a reason why she took her own life.

Hannah's voice narrates her second reason for committing suicide, which is the subject of this episode. She explains that she was objectified and harassed by some of the male students at her school, and that it all started with a photo that was taken of her at a party. The party in question is shown through flashbacks, with Hannah explaining how she was initially having a good time until things took a turn for the worse. She was offered a drink by popular jock Justin (Brandon Flynn) and took it, only to find out that it had been spiked with alcohol. She became disoriented and ended up in a bedroom with Justin, where he took a photo of her and his friend Bryce (Justin Prentice) proceeded to sexually assault her. The episode depicts this assault through flashbacks, though it is not shown in graphic detail.

Hannah's narration also explains how the photo that Justin took became a tool for bullying and harassment by other students. He had circulated it around the school, leading to Hannah being labelled a "slut" and "easy." When Clay confronts Justin about the photo, he initially denies it but eventually admits to taking the photo and circulating it. He tries to defend himself by saying that he had no idea that Bryce was going to assault Hannah, but Clay is still disgusted by his actions.

The episode also explores the aftermath of Hannah's death on the students at Liberty High School. Hannah's friend Jessica (Alisha Boe) is seen struggling to cope, as she was also assaulted by Bryce at the same party where Hannah was assaulted. She has repressed the memory of the assault and is only beginning to remember it through therapy sessions. Additionally, the absence of Hannah is affecting everyone differently, with some students feeling guilt for not being able to help her while she was alive, and others feeling anger towards her because they believe that she ruined their lives by sharing their secrets on the tapes.

The episode ends with a tense scene where Clay is confronted by another student, Tyler (Devin Druid), who is known for taking photos of people without their permission. Tyler tries to take a picture of Clay, who becomes enraged and attacks him. Clay's outburst is a result of the stress and anxiety caused by listening to the tapes and learning about the terrible things that happened to Hannah. He is still struggling to understand why she took her own life and what he could have done to prevent it.

Overall, Episode 2 of 13 Reasons Why is a harrowing exploration of the impact of sexual assault and bullying on young people. It delves into some dark subject matter but does so in a sensitive way, without resorting to gratuitous violence or graphic imagery. The show's young cast delivers powerful performances, particularly Katherine Langford as Hannah and Dylan Minnette as Clay. The episode ends on a cliffhanger, leaving the audience eager to find out what happens next and what other revelations Hannah's tapes will bring.