But while the popular show is drawing rave reviews for exploring those difficult themes for young adults, it also prominently features the North Bay as its backdrop, including Fernwood Cemetery, the 32-acre hillside natural cemetery in Tam Valley offering green burials using wooden caskets and eliminating embalming fluid, metal caskets and tombstones.
“We’re thrilled to have our gorgeous property shown in such a landmark television show on Netflix,” says Fernwood’s Heather Ferguson.
13 Reasons Why has been something of a phenomenon since its release on March 31. TV Guide called it “a haunting, and at times brutal 13 episode series” that tackles the alarming pressures and pitfalls of high school life, as experienced by one teen suicide victim, Hannah, who recorded tapes for each of the people whose varying degrees of hurtful behaviors have played a part in her decision to end her life.
The first two episodes were directed by Tom McCarthy, whose film Spotlight garnered an Academy Award for best picture in 2016. Originally conceived as a film set to be released by Universal Pictures with former Disney star Selena Gomez in the lead role, the Netflix series is co-produced by Gomez and backed by Paramount Television.
Asher appeared at Hall Middle School in Larkspur recently to promote the book, saying that Gomez “had such a strong understanding of the book … I think that’s why it turned out … as well as it did,” according to the Marin Independent Journal.
Here are the other North Bay sites featured in the series, according to Pop Sugar:
- Vallejo: Monet’s, Liberty High (interior shots, from a soundstage), The Crestmont, Baker’s Drug Store
- San Rafael: Neighbourhood scenes, Clay’s house
- Petaluma: Walplex (not a real store, FYI)
- Corte Madera: Neighbourhood scenes
- Larkspur: Neighbourhood scene
- Mount Diablo: Clay and Tony’s rock climbing scene
- Sebastapol: Liberty High (exterior shots, taken at Analy High School)
The 411: MORE INFO on Fernwood Cemetery. Here’s the trailer for 13 Reasons Why: