Looking for Alaska episode 1 review: Miles and his great perhaps
By Meg Dowell
Hulu’s adaption of Looking For Alaska starts out dark but turns up the laughs, just so we know we’re about to get our hearts broken.
There are two kinds of people streaming Hulu’s Looking for Alaska right now: Those who have read the book (many who have read it more than once and know it well) and those who have no prior knowledge whatsoever of who or what this Alaska is that everyone’s looking for.
I can only speak from the perspective of someone who has multiple copies of this book on her shelves. But so far, I’m confident in saying you’ll instantly fall in love with the series whether you’ve experienced the story before or not.
Fans of the book may be surprised to see one of the story’s most pivotal moments play out within the first moments of the show — first we see rain, then the lights of police cars, then another car quickly speeding toward the scene.
We know it’s coming before it happens: the crash. We just don’t expect it to hit so soon. We just hit play, and already we have to relive this moment — but on a screen instead of just in our heads this time.
It doesn’t matter, though, because that’s what pulls you in. The crash. The major event that happens between Before and After.
Personally, I like this change — the addition of a prologue that forces you to jump back and forth through time. It works extremely well as part of the show, especially if you’re just discovering this story and don’t already know how it ends.
For what would be considered a pilot episode in traditional television show, episode 1 of Looking For Alaska executes exposition and characterization flawlessly. Halfway through the first episode we know who Miles’ (Pudge’s) enemies are, his attraction to Alaska, and, most importantly, why he wanted to study at Culver Creek in the first place.
And by the end, we know his relationships with The Colonel and Alaska are only going to grow stronger — and deeper and darker. His parents tell him they hope he finds “his great perhaps,” the last words of a French poet that inspired him to leave home. His last words in this episode are nothing short of inspiring: “I think I have.”
Can we also talk about the music in this show for a second? It’s exactly what you’d expect from a high school teen drama, but it also fits the setting perfectly. These kids are just here to have a good time.
Speaking of good times, there’s a lot of humor here just in episode 1 alone — at least for a drama that at some point involves a very tragic car crash (no spoilers). But it works.
At one point I found myself thinking, “Why is this so entertaining? I’m supposed to be sad!” But I’m not ashamed to admit I’ve read the book more than once (OK, more than five times at this point). I know this is how it goes. There’s a balance of light and dark here. You won’t get through the darkness without the lighthearted moments.
This series is going to get sadder as it goes on. So just enjoy the laughter. Enjoy the jokes. The actors absolutely nail the comedic moments.
John Green was right to put his trust in Charlie Plummer and Kristine Froseth to bring these characters to life. I feel like I’m actually watching an extended version of a story that has only existed inside my head for the past 12 years. I haven’t even cried yet because I’m too much in awe of the whole thing. And I’m only one hour in.
If you’re not already watching, the time is now. This is a very faithful, dare I say even say enriched, book-to-screen adaption. Even if you’re not a Green or Alaska fan, you’re going to love it.
And if you are … you’re not going to be able to look away.
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