It’s been years. Yet, somehow, the conversation around the tapes on 13 reasons why just won’t die down. You probably remember where you were when you first heard Hannah Baker’s voice crackling through a cassette player. It was lo-fi. It was haunting. Honestly, it was a little bit traumatizing for a lot of us.
Netflix basically changed the teen drama landscape overnight with this show. But let's be real: it wasn't just the acting or the lighting. It was the gimmick—if you can even call it that—of the physical tapes.
Thirteen sides. Seven cassettes. One box that essentially blew up a small town's worth of secrets.
People are still searching for the specifics of what was on those tapes because the show handles them in such a non-linear, messy way. It’s easy to lose track. Was Justin on there twice? Why did Clay take so long to listen to his? We’re going to get into the weeds of it all. No fluff, just the actual breakdown of what happened on those recordings and why they caused such a massive stir in real-world psychology circles.
The Raw Reality of the 13 Tapes
The structure of the show follows a very specific, almost cruel logic. Hannah Baker, played by Katherine Langford, leaves behind a box of tapes. If you’re on the tapes, you’re one of the reasons why she decided to end her life. That’s the premise. It’s heavy.
Here is the thing people forget: the tapes weren't just a diary. They were a map. Hannah mailed them to Justin Foley first, with instructions to pass them to the next person on the list. If someone broke the chain? Tony Padilla—the guy with the Mustang and the leather jacket—had a second set of "safety" tapes ready to go public. It was a failsafe. A dead man's switch.
Who was actually on them?
It starts with Justin Foley. He was her first crush. He let a photo get out that shouldn't have, and that was the first domino.
Then you’ve got Alex Standall. He made a "hot or not" list. It sounds like typical high school stupidity, right? But for Hannah, it was the catalyst for being objectified by everyone else.
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Jessica Davis is next. She was Hannah’s friend, but the list caused a rift that ended in a literal slap and a broken friendship.
Then there’s Tyler Down. The stalker. He took photos through her window. This is where the tapes move from "school drama" into actual criminal behavior.
Courtney Crimsen used Hannah to hide her own sexuality.
Marcus Cole tried to humiliate her on a date.
Zach Dempsey? He stole her "compliment" notes in a class meant to boost self-esteem. It seems minor compared to the others, but in the context of her mental state, it was huge.
Ryan Shaver published her private poem.
Then we get to the big ones. Justin Foley again—this time for what happened at Jessica’s party.
Sheri Holland knocked over a stop sign that led to a fatal accident.
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Clay Jensen. The protagonist. He’s Tape 6, Side A.
Bryce Walker. Tape 6, Side B. The monster of the series.
And finally, Mr. Porter. The school counselor who failed to help when she finally reached out.
Why Clay Jensen Took Forever to Listen
One of the biggest frustrations for viewers was Clay. He’s the "good guy," yet he takes almost the entire season to get through the tapes on 13 reasons why. Why? Because he’s terrified.
Every other "subject" on the tapes had already listened to them. They were all part of this secret club of panicked teenagers trying to keep the truth buried. Clay was the outsider. He was grieving. Every time he pressed "play," he had to hear the voice of the girl he loved blaming him—or so he thought—for her death.
When we finally get to Clay's tape, it’s different. Hannah admits he doesn't belong on the tapes. She tells him his name is there because he was part of her story and she needed him to hear why she pushed him away. It’s the only tape that isn't an accusation of malice, but rather an apology for her own inability to let him in.
The Real-World Fallout and Scientific Backlash
We can't talk about these tapes without talking about the massive controversy they sparked. This isn't just TV critique; it's public health.
Shortly after the show premiered, researchers noticed a spike. The Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry published a study suggesting a 28.9% increase in suicide rates among U.S. youth ages 10-17 in the month following the show's release. That’s a terrifying number.
Experts like Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), were extremely vocal. They argued the show broke almost every "safe reporting" guideline.
- It glamorized the act.
- It presented suicide as a way to get revenge.
- The tapes acted as a "voice from beyond the grave," which is a dangerous fantasy for struggling teens.
Netflix eventually added content warnings. They even went back and edited out the graphic scene of Hannah's death in Season 1. But the tapes on 13 reasons why were already out there. The cultural impact was permanent.
The "Safety" Tapes and the Second Set
Tony Padilla is the keeper of the secrets. He’s the bridge between the living and the dead.
The presence of the second set of tapes is what drives the tension. If the "Tape 13" group—Justin, Jessica, Marcus, Courtney—don't follow the rules, the truth comes out.
But think about the logistics. Hannah had to sit in her room, recording these in real-time. She had to plan the mailing. She had to recruit Tony. It shows a level of premeditation that is both impressive and deeply disturbing. It wasn't a cry for help; it was a final word.
Later seasons tried to move away from the tapes, shifting to Polaroids and trial testimonies, but they never had the same bite. The cassettes were tactile. They had that specific hiss of magnetic tape. They felt intimate. You were basically eavesdropping on a ghost.
Breaking Down the "Reasons" vs. the Reality
Looking back, the show is a polarizing mess. Some see it as a brave look at bullying and sexual assault. Others see it as a "revenge porn" fantasy that blames victims of trauma for not being "strong enough."
Take the Mr. Porter tape. He’s the adult. He’s the one who should have seen the signs. On the tape, Hannah is devastatingly clear about his failure. But in Season 2, we see his side—a man overwhelmed by a system that doesn't give him the tools to save everyone. The tapes only give us Hannah’s perspective. They are inherently biased. They are her truth, but they aren't the whole truth.
Actionable Takeaways for Parents and Viewers
If you’re revisiting the show or watching it for the first time, you have to approach the tapes on 13 reasons why with a critical eye. It is fiction. It is a dramatization.
- Watch with a partner: If you're a teenager, watch this with an adult you trust. If you're a parent, watch it with your kid. You need to talk about it.
- Recognize the "Revenge" Trap: Suicide is never a way to "get back" at people. The show makes the tapes seem like a powerful tool for justice, but in reality, the person who made them isn't there to see it.
- Identify the "Small" Moments: The show is great at showing how small, seemingly "minor" acts of unkindness (like Alex’s list) pile up. Use it as a lesson in empathy.
- Know the Resources: If the themes of the tapes are hitting too close to home, reach out. Call or text 988 in the US and Canada. Use the resources that actually exist in the real world—the ones Hannah didn't feel she could use.
The tapes served their purpose as a narrative device. They got us talking. But the most important thing is to make sure the conversation doesn't end where Hannah's did.
Check in on your friends. Don't assume the "quiet ones" are okay. And for heaven's sake, if someone hands you a cassette tape in 2026, maybe just find a way to listen without the drama.
Actually, does anyone even own a tape player anymore? Probably just Tony.
Practical Steps for Media Literacy
- Contextualize the "Tapes": Understand that Hannah is an "unreliable narrator." What she says on the tapes is filtered through her pain.
- Separate Fiction from Health: Consult sites like The Jed Foundation for actual guidance on mental health rather than relying on a Netflix script.
- Engage in "Active Viewing": Ask yourself, "What could this character have done differently?" during every episode. It helps break the "inevitability" of the plot.
The legacy of the tapes on 13 reasons why is complicated. It's a mix of groundbreaking storytelling and dangerous execution. Whether you love the show or hate it, those recordings remain some of the most influential pieces of media in the last decade. They forced a global audience to look at the consequences of their actions, even if that lesson came wrapped in a controversial package.
Stay aware. Talk to each other. That’s the only way to make sure a story like this stays on the screen and out of real life.
Next Steps: If you are struggling, please reach out to a professional. If you want to dive deeper into the production side, look into the "13 Reasons Why: Beyond the Reasons" specials on Netflix where the cast and mental health professionals discuss the heavy themes of the series.