Here's where 13 Reasons Why was filmed and which area of the United States the series supposedly took place. Based on the novel by Jay Asher, the teen drama debuted on Netflix in 2017. Due to the graphic subject material involving rape and suicide, the series became clouded in controversy. Despite the criticism, series creator Brian Yorkey and Netflix managed to expand from the original novel, developing four seasons before coming to an end.
When 13 Reasons Why first dropped on the streaming giant, it primarily followed Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), a teenager who left behind a series of cassette tapes which detailed why she took her own life. At the center was Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), her friend (and crush) who received the tapes and tried to get to the bottom of the tragic death. Many other classmates at Liberty High School had a connection to Hannah, including Bryce Walker (Justin Prentice), her rapist. Whereas season 2 revolved around a lawsuit against the school, season 3 centered on the murder of Bryce. The final season ultimately focused on those caught up in the web of lies and cover-up of Bryce's murder in the hopes the group could put the past behind them once and for all.
Although 13 Reasons Why veered away from certain aspects of Asher's novel, there are some key similarities. The setting of the book was the fictional town of Crestmont, California. Even though the characters fail to consistently mention their hometown, the show also took place in an unnamed fictional California location. The only information regarding the setting was the fact they resided in Evergreen County, another made-up location. The vague setting was meant to show a small town deemed safe by its citizens that could be relatable to all viewers. To match the California and west coast tone, 13 Reasons Why was primarily filmed on-location throughout the Golden State.
13 Reasons Why Filmed On-Location But Encountered Issues
While some key scenes were completed with soundstages, 13 Reasons Why filmed around Northern California. Vallejo, California, was the key location for filming scenes at Monet's coffee shop, The Crestmont Movie Theatre, Baker's Drug Store, and the mall. Of course, most of the exterior of the buildings were redone to fit the fictional setting. Other California towns featured in the series were Benicia, San Rafael, Crockett, and Mill Valley. Liberty High was fictional but the scenes were shot inside a real school. The production team used Analy High School located in Sebastopol, California.
On two separate occasions, filming for 13 Reasons Why was halted because of California wildfires. First, came the October 2017 Northern California wildfires, aka the North Bay Fires and Wine Country Fires, which occurred during season 2's production. Filming for season 3 began commenced in the summer of 2018 but was forced to stop due to the destructive Camp Fire which delayed production until December. Despite the hurdles, 13 Reasons Why was able to get through four seasons to tie up all the loose ends but those not ready to say goodbye can visit many of the filming locations.