"Looking for Alaska" looks great, perhaps
On Friday, Oct. 18, Hulu released its new original series, “Looking for Alaska,” based on the 2005 novel by John Green. The story follows Miles “Pudge” Halter (Charlie Plummer) and his new life at Culver Creek Preparatory School, a boarding school in the woods of Alabama. Miles quickly falls in with a new crowd of friends, comprised of his roommate Chip “The Colonel” Martin (Denny Love), Chip’s friend Takumi Hikohito (Jay Lee) and the clever yet complicated Alaska Young (Kristine Froseth). Through all of the pranks and rivalries at Culver Creek, Alaska and Miles grow closer as Miles strives to find his “great perhaps,” a way of describing the meaning of life and death, which is the original reason why he transferred to Culver Creek. Though the show at first appears to be a normal coming of age, teen drama, it swiftly reveals to be so much more. Like any good John Green story, “Looking for Alaska” showcases the ins and outs of friendships, relationships and tragedies, while taking the audience on a journey of an unraveling mystery and the quest to understand the complicated nature of life in the process. The quality of the series not only lies in the stellar acting and cinematography, but the presentation of the story itself through eight enticing episodes.In this day and age, a good TV show can be decided by its binge quality and whether viewers actually care to finish the series at all. In this sense, “Looking for Alaska” hit the nail on the head. The show begins with a lighthearted mood but slowly transitions into an enticing mystery surrounding the tragedy and hardships that can be found in everybody's lives. One episode bleeds into another as each part ends one step closer to the mystery at the heart of the series. While it keeps you giggling every now and again, this show is also serious, as it tackles heavy, controversial topics. The reality of the events of the story and the way they are portrayed is hauntingly accurate and frustrating. The connection that the show creates between the characters and the audience adds a unique component to the story in the sense that the audience suffers through the tragedies with the characters in their screens.For audiences searching for a touching examination of the human condition, “Looking for Alaska” is a perfect match. This series will not only bring a tear to your eye, but it will inspire you to think deeper about the labyrinth that is life, death and the struggle that lies in between. “Looking for Alaska” deserves 5 stars and is a series worth watching due to its enticing format and relatable characters.