13 Reasons Why: All The Polaroids And What They Mean In Season 2

21 May 2018, 14:57

13 Reasons Why Polaroids
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why
Nicky Idika

By Nicky Idika

Who sent the Polaroids to Clay and what do they really mean in 13 Reasons Why season 2?

In 13 Reasons Why season 1, Hannah Baker's tapes act as a structure for her very complex narrative. What's striking is Hannah's use of a fairly old medium--the audio tape.

In season 2, we see another older medium being deployed by the Liberty high school students. Polaroids are at the centre of this season's main mystery and Clay is tasked with finding out if and how the mysterious photos connect to rapist Bryce and his other victims.

Polaroids from 13 Reasons Why Season 2:

This is the first Polaroid Clay receives by his locker. On the front is a photograph of Bryce and a young woman at a party. On the back is text that says "Hannah wasn't the only one."

The first Polaroid

First Polaroid
First . Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why
First Polaroid
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

This is the second Polaroid Clay receives. On the front is a photograph of Bryce bent over a young women who is unseen. Bryce is not wearing trousers. On the back is text that says "He won't stop"

The second Polaroid

Second Polaroid 13 Reasons why front
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why
Second Polaroid Back 13 Reasons Why
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

The third Polaroid is left on Clay's car window. On the front is a photograph of a woman without bottoms sitting in a young man's lap. It does appear that they are having sex. On the back it says "The Clubhouse".

The Third Polaroid

Third Polaroid 13 Reasons why front
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why
Third Polaroid 13 Reasons why back
Third Polaroid 13 Reasons why back. Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

Finding out about "The Clubhouse" points the crew in the right direction. Eventually, they are able to figure out that The Clubhouse is a party spot for the baseball team and their ringleader Bryce.

Sheri goes under cover into the lion's den, getting a first hand look at what really goes on in The Clubhouse. Later Sheri, Clay, and Justin look over the box of Polaroids given to them by Zach.

They include shots like these.

Polaroid pile 13 Reasons why
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

The shots include images of young women in various states of undress. Members of the baseball team feature prominently and it is understood that this is why they want to keep the whole situation under wraps.

There are also photographs of people they didn't expect to be there.

Nina 13 Reasons Why
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why
Hannah polaroid
Hannah polaroid. Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

Who was leaving the Polaroids for Clay?

During a particularly heated exchange, we find out that it was Zach all along that was leaving clues for Clay. When Clay asks why he didn't just step forward and expose Bryce himself, Zach says "cuz I'm a fucking coward. And you're not."

Zach 13 Reasons Why
Picture: Netflix/13 Reasons Why

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