Netflix's '13 Reasons Why' and BBC/HBO's 'The Casual Vacancy' Reviewed

Artribune reviews two television series that explore themes of absence, responsibility, and consequence. '13 Reasons Why' (Netflix, 2017), created by Brian Yorkey based on Jay Asher's novel, follows the suicide of teenager Hannah Baker, who leaves 13 cassette tapes explaining her reasons. The series delves into bullying, violence, and the struggles of being young and LGBTQ+ in a bourgeois society, with friend Clay Jansen embodying the haunting 'what if' questions. The show also appeals to 40-somethings with nostalgic 1980s references and employs contrasting cinematography for flashbacks. 'The Casual Vacancy' (BBC/HBO, 2014), adapted from J.K. Rowling's novel, is a surreal and sophisticated miniseries set in a small English town, examining bourgeois anxiety, power, hypocrisy, and generational conflict. Both series emphasize that every action has repercussions.