I love Netflix.
Well, there goes my "Hey, check out my blog because I'm different from everyone else!" identity, since I now sound like every teenager in the world. But honestly, it's true. Netflix is freaking awesome. Because I watch so many of its shows, it's actually made me aware of all of the similarities between TV shows on Netflix. One of these similarities has been on my mind for a while now, and it's made me want to observe other small things that could be symbolic on shows. But for now, here's my main question: Why are there bikes in all of these TV shows? I've noticed it in two shows in particular, both Netflix Originals: Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why. Stranger Things, the thrilling story about five kids who get involved in the "upside down", has its young main characters riding everywhere around town on their bikes. 13 Reasons Why, one of Netflix's newest additions about a high school girl who commits suicide and leaves behind 13 tapes explaining why she took her life, follows a teenage boy and how he handles these tapes, all while riding around town on his bike.
So what's with the bike thing? Is it just coincidental, or is there more to it? I side with the latter. To me, bikes represent a sense of freedom, especially for kids who aren't old enough to drive yet. They have their limits, but not to the extent where you can't get anywhere. Both Stranger Things and 13 Reasons Why have main characters breaking the rules and going out when they're not supposed to with their bikes. I read an NPR article called Kids On Bikes (you can click here to read that) and it points out that bikes are "nearly silent" so it is easy for kids to creep around and do things they may not be supposed to do.
I also found that adding bikes in shows as the main mode of transportation creates an eerier mode, since the rider is exposed to the open air and can't really hide from anyone- or anything- like they could in a car or on a bus. I did some research on what a bike symbolizes, and a lot of what I found correlates perfectly with these two shows. A bike can represent doing things on your own without anyone's help. This goes with both shows where the kids are on their own and can't/won't seek adult help. Clay Jenson, in 13 Reasons Why, uses his bike to visit spots the tapes mention, while the five kids in Stranger Things are trying to solve mystery on top of mystery while riding their bikes through the woods or across town.
I found this information really interesting, since at first I just thought it was coincidental that bikes were the main mode of transportation for kids in these TV shows. But there really is reasoning behind this one type of chosen transport.
On a side note... I just finished 13 Reasons Why (which came out on Netflix on March 31) and I was thinking of writing a review on the show, since I have thoughts on it. A lot of thoughts. If you would like to read about that, just comment below:)
That's all for now, folks... maybe go outside and ride a bike... :)
- Evangeline
Sources:
NPR article: http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/07/27/487602000/kids-on-bikes-the-sci-fi-nostalgia-of-stranger-things-paper-girls-super-8
Bike symbolism: http://www.dreamsymbolism.info/dreamdictionary/bike-dreams.php
