Looking for Alaska

This is probably the best "mini series" I have seen, originally broadcast on Hulu, I found it on a set of three DVDs at my public library. Not only is it presented very well, there are a couple of interesting extras on bringing the book to the screen.

It is set mostly in 2005, in a rural boarding school that more resembles a summer camp. The author based a lot of it on his own experiences as a teenage student. Most of it is filmed in the Hammond, Louisiana area.

Miles is the new student from Florida, one of the students he meets is a girl named Alaska Young, tall, attractive, smart, vivacious, but often troubled, partly because of how she lost her mother only a few years earlier. Miles has an instant attraction to Alaska, she is definitely one who changes his life.

Not really wanting to categorize it, in essence it is a "coming of age" of a variety of students with a variety of backgrounds. It explores relationships and death, is there an afterlife? Or do we just die and fade away from everyone's memory?

The eight episodes play almost eight hours but my wife and I never were bored with any of it. The characters are all interesting and richly drawn. We watched one or two episodes at a time, over approximately one week. It truly one of the best mini-series we have ever watched.

Loved it. very much true to the book. I remember years back when I first read this book i loved it and this show is exactly how i imagined it to be. For me this show is great.

Literally the best for any TV show yet and adds a lot to the emotions...Good novel portrayals are rare. This is one of those shows that get it right (Tones down the unnecessary intimate scenes from the book)

Started this series with no expectations, had never heard of the books or series, but I thought it sounded interesting. Man was I blown away. The first few episodes are at but slow, but then it gets you hooked, and in the end I sat in my couch with tears rolling down my face.

The actors fits their roles well, and the acting is top notch. The character development is great and not too forced. The cinematography and musical score fits well.

I read the novel when I was 15. I enjoyed it. Partly, because at that age, I found the concepts presented in the book very cool. Now, I find these declarations in the book a bit pretentious, and I had a similar feeling when watching the trailer for the series.

Out of curiosity, I watched it. It started out as I expected. Some lightly cringy lines and humour. But after a short time, I found myself enjoying it, despite not necessarily relating to these ideas. The first few episodes are harmless, even funny at times. I quickly began getting attached to the characters, just the same as I did when I first read the book. The series explores them quite in-depth (for a teenage-drama series), and they do it fairly well. I especially enjoyed the backstory of Dr. Hyde and his expanded involvement with the characters. Kristine Froseth is a good Alaska, and embodies the complicated and mysterious character very well. But in my opinion, Denny Love, who plays The Colonel totally steals the show. He has multiple scenes (in the later episodes) where his performance and intense emotional expressions really left an impression on me. I hope I will get to see his performances in more series.

The show sets up a wonderful atmosphere, and with great music, watching it was quite an experience. I wasn't planning on it, but I binge watched it all. Yes, not everything about it was perfect; the cinematography was nice, with few bright moments, but not exceptional. Acting of the supporting cast was similar. The reason I give it a 9, though, is because it did exactly what it was supposed to - that is, make you care for the characters and their story. It was quite an emotional roller-coaster, and for me, that makes it worth watching.