13 Reasons Why Season 1 Episode 1 Free

Okay, let's be honest. We all know what we did back then.

Remember 13 Reasons Why? The show that sparked a million conversations?

Rewind to Episode 1: Free (as in, you know...)

Specifically, let's talk about Episode 1 being "free". You know, the unofficial way a lot of us experienced it.

Back when streaming services weren't quite the norm for some.

Guilty Pleasures and Pixelated Screens

I'm not saying I did it. I'm just saying... dial-up internet was a struggle.

Those buffering times were epic! Like watching paint dry, but with more angst.

And the quality? Let's just say it was more "abstract art" than HD.

Remember accidentally clicking on a "Watch Now!" button only to be bombarded with pop-ups?

Suddenly, your computer was yelling at you about viruses and Nigerian princes.

Good times. Sort of.

The Ethical Dilemma (aka, My Mom's Lecture)

My mom gave me the talk. You know, the one about copyright infringement and supporting the arts.

I pretended to listen intently. But inside, I was plotting how to avoid buffering during Hannah Baker's tapes.

Did I feel a little guilty? Maybe. Did I stop? Nope!

Friends Don't Let Friends Pay (Just Kidding… Mostly)

Sharing was caring, right? Except when it came to passwords.

"Hey, can I borrow your Netflix login?" became the pickup line of 2017.

Suddenly, everyone was watching 13 Reasons Why on your account.

The Soundtrack to Our Shady Streaming

The soundtrack was amazing. Even the illegally downloaded version sounded pretty good.

Selena Gomez's involvement definitely added to the hype.

We were all suddenly experts on indie pop and angst-ridden lyrics.

Looking Back: A Little Embarrassed, A Little Nostalgic

Okay, maybe watching 13 Reasons Why Episode 1 "free" wasn't the most ethical thing to do.

But hey, we were young. We were broke. And we were desperate to know who was on those tapes!

Besides, who actually pays for streaming services these days anyway? (Don't answer that.)

Now We're (Mostly) Grown Ups... Mostly

These days, I (mostly) pay for my streaming subscriptions. (Don't tell my mom I said "mostly").

But sometimes, I still get a little nostalgic for those pixelated, buffering-filled days of watching 13 Reasons Why Episode 1.

It was a simpler time. A time when the biggest problem was avoiding pop-up ads and my mom's disappointed sigh.

Ah, youth!

Let's just agree to never speak of this again. Deal?