13 Reasons Why: Netflix defends season 3 renewal

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Netflix’s vice president of original programming, Cindy Holland has defended the streaming service’s decision to renew contentious teen drama, 13 Reasons Why.

Holland, speaking at TCA this past weekend, was asked if there was any doubts about continuing the series past its critically-reviled second season: “Honestly, the biggest consideration was, is there more story to be told and what is that story?”

Producers spoke to showrunner Brian Yorkey and his writing team and Holland said, “we had a very thoughtful conversation about the fact that we needed to see how these characters move on, to the extent to which they move on, following Jessica through her journey of recovery following that kind of trauma.”

She acknowledged the backlash against the second season, which premiered in May this year, and affirmed that “Brian felt very strongly about the topics covered in Season 2,” but that going forward he is “seeking to be mindful.”

“We felt we owed it to the characters as much as to the fans,” Holland said before going on to call 13 Reasons Why one of Netflix’s most popular shows.

This reiterates what the streaming service’s CEO Reed Hastings said at their annual shareholder meeting in June, “13 Reasons Why has been enormously popular and successful. It’s engaging content. It is controversial. But nobody has to watch it.”

13 Reasons Why season 3 is expected to bow in early 2019 and we’ll be sure to pass on any news as we get it.

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