Looking for Alaska (miniseries)

Looking for Alaska is an American teen drama streaming television miniseries created by Josh Schwartz. It is based on the 2005 novel of the same name by John Green. After a film adaptation was repeatedly delayed at Paramount Pictures, Hulu finalized a deal and ordered an eight-episode limited series.[2] It stars Charlie Plummer and Kristine Froseth in the two lead roles Miles Halter and Alaska Young, respectively. The miniseries premiered on Hulu on October 18, 2019.[3] It received acclaim from critics as well as fans of the book, with praise going toward its writing, acting and faithfulness to the original source material.

Looking for Alaska
GenreTeen drama
Tragedy
Created byJosh Schwartz
Based onLooking for Alaska
by John Green
Starring
Music bySiddhartha Khosla
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes8 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Producers
  • Samson Mücke
  • Mark Rowen
  • Kirk A. Moore
CinematographyRamsey Nickell
Editors
  • Matt Ramsey
  • Shoshanah Tanzer
  • Todd Gerlinger
  • Hillary P. Wills
Running time48–57 minutes
Production companies
Budget$57.1 million[1]
Release
Original network
Original releaseOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)

Premise

Looking For Alaska tells the story of a teenage boy named Miles Halter who is obsessed with famous last words and seeking "the Great Perhaps", a concept inspired by the last words of poet Francois Rabelais. This desire leads him to enroll at Culver Creek Academy in Alabama, hoping to find something less boring and safe than the life he's always lived and gain a deeper perspective on life. At Culver Creek, he befriends his roommate Chip "The Colonel" Martin, who introduces him to Alaska Young, whom he later falls in love with, and Takumi Hikohito. Throughout his "new life" at the school, Miles learns many lessons about life, love, and the art of letting go.[4][5][6]

Cast

Main
  • Charlie Plummer as Miles "Pudge" Halter, a new high school junior at Culver Creek Academy from Orlando, Florida
  • Kristine Froseth as Alaska Young, the girl who catches Pudge's eye when he arrives at Culver Creek Academy
  • Denny Love as Chip "The Colonel" Martin, Pudge's roommate and friend
  • Jay Lee as Takumi Hikohito, Alaska and The Colonel's best friend
  • Sofia Vassilieva as Lara Buterskaya, a Romanian girl that Alaska sets up on a date with Pudge
  • Landry Bender as Sara, The Colonel's girlfriend and later ex-girlfriend
  • Uriah Shelton as Longwell Chase, one of the wealthy kids known as the Weekday Warriors as they were able to go home each weekend
  • Jordan Connor as Kevin, a member of the Weekday Warriors
  • Timothy Simons as Mr. Starnes, aka "The Eagle", the headmaster of Culver Creek Academy
  • Ron Cephas Jones as Dr. Hyde, an elderly religions teacher at Culver Creek Academy

Recurring
  • Meg Wright as Marya, Alaska's former roommate and best friend who gets expelled at the start of the new semester.
  • Lucy Faust as Madame O'Malley, the French teacher at Culver Creek Academy
  • Henry Zaga as Jake, Alaska's boyfriend who attends college
  • Deneen Tyler as Dolores Martin, The Colonel's single mother

Guest
  • Brandon Stanley as Paul, Marya's boyfriend who gets expelled at the start of the new semester
  • Rachel Matthews as Fiona, Jake's best friend

Episodes
No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release date
1"Famous Last Words"Sarah Adina SmithJosh SchwartzOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
In 2005, Miles Halter moves from Florida to Alabama to attend Culver Creek Academy, intending to seek his "Great Perhaps". He meets his roommate Chip "The Colonel" Martin, and is introduced to his new classmates, including Takumi and Alaska. The Colonel warns Miles about the "Weekday Warriors", a group of wealthy students at the academy, and Mr. "The Eagle" Starnes, the school's stern headmaster. Alaska's roommate Marya and her boyfriend Paul, a Weekday Warriors member, are both expelled after The Eagle finds them hooking up. Miles, obsessed with people's last words, makes a deal with Alaska that if he finds the answer to the question, "How do I get out of this Labyrinth?" she will get him laid. Refusing to take sides in the rivalry between the Warriors and The Colonel, Miles gets his limbs bound in plastic wrap, and is thrown into the lake during the night.
2"Tell Them I Said Something..."Rachel Lee GoldenbergJosh Schwartz & Warren Hsu LeonardOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
The Colonel is invited to a country club ball by his girlfriend Sara. Miles, The Colonel, Takumi and Alaska agree to strike back against the Weekend Warriors, leading to a series of pranks played against both sides. As payback for a hair-dye prank, the Weekend Warriors destroy The Colonel's new suit. Alaska helps sew together another one and secretly infiltrates the ball with Takumi and Miles. The Eagle discovers Miles' involvement in the pranks and Miles chooses to face a hearing and risk expulsion to avoid ratting out his friends. Alaska agrees to a truce with the Weekend Warriors. At the hearing, the student jury gives Miles a light punishment thanks to a series of favors The Colonel, Takumi, and Alaska agreed to do for the jury members, including getting their classmate Lara a date with Miles.
3"I've Never Felt Better..."Brett HaleyStephanie Savage & Ashley WigfieldOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
Alaska starts planning a group date so that Miles will finally go out with Lara. Takumi learns Paul and Marya will be visiting Culver Creek at an upcoming basketball game. Alaska's boyfriend Jake comes by for the date night. The date goes south when Miles is concussed and Marya accuses Alaska of being the rat. Sara becomes appalled by The Colonel taking Alaska's side, and breaks up with him. Takumi tells The Colonel that he'd seen Alaska leaving to The Eagle's house the day Paul and Marya were expelled. Alaska escapes Culver Creek with Jake but later leaves him, believing she isn't good enough. Returning to the school, Alaska is taken to The Eagle's house for leaving campus without permission, where she pleads with him to let her stay at Culver Creek.
4"The Nourishment Is Palatable"Ami Canaan MannJosh Schwartz & Kirk A. MooreOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
With The Colonel and Takumi avoiding her, Alaska asks Miles to stay with her at Culver Creek over Thanksgiving. By chance, Miles talks to Jake over the phone, discovering Alaska has broken off contact with him. The two loot the student dorms for alcohol and porn. After being asked about it by Miles, Alaska calls Jake and officially breaks up with him. After finding out the two are alone at school, The Colonel's mother Dolores invites them to their home for Thanksgiving. The group initially has a good time, but Miles' desire to sleep with Alaska and The Colonel's refusal to reconnect leaves Alaska more isolated than ever.
5"I'll Show You That It Won't Shoot"Clea DuVallLeila Gerstein & Kendall RogersOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
The Colonel is bothered by seeing that Sara is now dating Longwell. Miles tries to convince Lara to go to the school dance with him. During the night, the Weekend Warriors flood Alaska's dorm, destroying a large section of her Life's Library. Alaska, Takumi, and The Colonel reconcile and formulate a plan to sabotage the Warriors' college applications while everyone is at the dance. Miles is asked to be lookout, which nearly ruins his date with Lara. The Eagle nearly catches them, but Takumi and Miles set off fireworks to draw him away. After successfully pulling off the stunt, Alaska reveals how her mother died and admits to Miles that it's the reason why she's so unwilling to go home.
6"We Are All Going"Megan GriffithsWarren Hsu Leonard & Ashley WigfieldOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
In a flashback, we see a young Alaska with her mother at the zoo where she teaches her that mommas are always needed. Miles and Lara move forward quickly with their relationship. Meanwhile, the Colonel must face the consequences of the group's pranks as the Warriors' parents threaten legal action against Culver Creek for the fraudulent applications. Lara and Miles fight over Miles' loyalty to his friends. Miles and Alaska stay with the Colonel during his last night at Culver Creek. While the Colonel sleeps off a drunken stupor, Miles and Alaska begin a game of truth-or-dare, culminating in Alaska confessing she had feelings for Miles and an intimate moment between the two. Both fall asleep, with Alaska saying "To be continued." Later in the night, a crying and still-drunk Alaska wakes both Miles and The Colonel, asking them to distract The Eagle so she can drive off campus. The boys comply and the episode ends with Alaska driving off into the dark.
7"Now Comes the Mystery"Rashaad Ernesto GreenJosh Schwartz & Stephanie SavageOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
The Eagle calls an assembly, notifying the school that Alaska Young left campus the previous night and died in a terrible accident. The accident is attributed to her intoxication. The characters try to piece together why Alaska died. During her funeral, the gang figures out that Alaska's ex-boyfriend Jake called her the night she died. They conclude that, during the call, she remembered their anniversary and, guilty over breaking up and making out with Miles, was driving to Jake to apologize when she got into the accident. This conclusion is brought into question as Miles and The Colonel see a line Alaska wrote in her copy of "The General and His Labyrinth", leading them to believe Alaska might have died by suicide.
8"It's Very Beautiful Over There"Josh SchwartzJosh SchwartzOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)

Miles, The Colonel, and Takumi continue investigating Alaska's death, now trying to determine whether or not she died by suicide. They realize that Alaska wasn't going to see Jake, but rather, to visit her mother's grave on the anniversary of her death. While they are still unable to answer the question of whether Alaska died by suicide, they are given a small measure of closure. Later, the friends plan and play a memorial prank for Alaska Young which amuses even the Eagle. The episode ends with Miles' narration on the uncertainty behind Alaska's death, on how everyone shared at least a little blame, and on how it is possible to forgive nonetheless.

A few minor subplots that were built in previous episodes are also resolved in the final episode. The Eagle is humanized as more than an authoritarian administrator. Takumi and Lara start a relationship, as do The Eagle and Madam O'Malley, the French teacher.

Production

Development

The film rights to the novel were acquired by Paramount Pictures in 2005 shortly before the novel was published. The screenplay was potentially going to be written and directed by Josh Schwartz (creator of The O.C.)[7] but, due to a lack of interest by Paramount, the production had been shelved indefinitely.[8] It had been reported that Paramount was putting the screenplay in review due to the success of the film adaptation of John Green's breakout novel, The Fault in Our Stars. On February 27, 2015, The Hollywood Reporter announced that Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, screenwriters for Temple Hill Entertainment who had worked on adaptations for The Fault in Our Stars and Paper Towns, would be writing and executive producing for the film.[9] Paramount was actively casting the latest version of the screenplay, which was written by Sarah Polley.[10][11] Rebecca Thomas was set to direct.[12] Green also confirmed that Neustadter and Weber were still involved with the film.[13] In August 2015, it was announced filming would begin in the fall in Michigan.[14] It was later announced that filming would begin in early 2016 because of lack of casting decisions. Later in 2016, Green announced in a Vlogbrothers video and on social media that the film adaptation had once again been shelved indefinitely.[15] Green has voiced his frustration of the development process of the film adaptation over the years. He quoted, "It has always fallen apart for one reason or another."[16] In May 2018, Hulu finalized a deal with Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, and proceeded to order an eight-episode limited series based on the book. Schwartz served as executive producer and showrunner, while Savage served as executive producer alongside John Green, Jessica Tuchinsky, Mark Waters, Marty Bowen, and Isaac Klausner.[2]

Casting
Cast and author (left to right): Kristine Froseth, Charlie Plummer, Jay Lee, Denny Love, and John Green, on Vlogbrothers in 2019

In October 2018, Charlie Plummer and Kristine Froseth were cast as the lead roles of the series, portraying Miles "Pudge" Halter and Alaska Young, respectively.[17] In March 2019, Hulu announced six new cast members had joined the limited series; Denny Love, Jay Lee, Sofia Vassilieva, Landry Bender, Uriah Shelton, and Jordan Connor.[18] The following month, Timothy Simons and Ron Cephas Jones were announced to join the cast as The Eagle and Dr. Hyde, respectively.[19] In May 2019, it was reported that Rachel Matthews and Henry Zaga had been cast in recurring roles.[20]

Filming locations

The series was primarily shot in Louisiana. Episode 1 offers a glimpse of the Piggly Wiggly in Independence. Miss Ann's Fast Food in Amite pops up occasionally. The "school" the kids attend is really Solomon Episcopal Conference Center in Loranger.

The Audubon Zoo's elephant sculpture shows up in Episode 6. The Mandeville end of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway approach crops up in Episode 7. The Abita Springs Town Hall plays a police station in Episode 8.[21]

Distribution

In April 2020, Looking for Alaska was released in Canada on CBC Gem.[22]

Music
Looking for Alaska (Music from the Original Series)
Soundtrack album / Compilation by
various artists
ReleasedOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)
Length55:23

The soundtrack album for the miniseries, titled Looking for Alaska (Music from the Original Series), was released digitally on October 18, 2019, via Paramount and Sony Music Entertainment.[23][24] It is a compilation album that consists of songs used in the miniseries.

Looking for Alaska (Music from the Original Series) track listing
No.TitleArtist(s)Length
1."So Here We Are"Bloc Party3:51
2."I Will Follow You into the Dark (Death Cab For Cutie cover)"Miya Folick3:53
3."Ask Me Anything"The Strokes3:09
4."To Be Alone with You (Sufjan Stevens cover)"Fleurie2:53
5."Crosses"José González2:41
6."Orange Sky (Alexi Murdoch cover)"Kat Cunning4:58
7."Macarena (Los Del Rio Bayside Boys cover)"BEGINNERS3:25
8."With Arms Outstretched"Rilo Kiley3:42
9."Salvation (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club cover)"BAILEN3:52
10."The Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth"Clap Your Hands Say Yeah5:45
11."Take Me Out (Franz Ferdinand cover)"Young Summer3:38
12."An Honest Mistake (the Bravery cover)"Mating Ritual featuring Lizzy Land3:48
13."The World at Large"Modest Mouse4:32
14."Looking for Alaska Score Suite"Siddhartha Khosla5:10
Total length:55:23

Reception
The performances of Charlie Plummer, Kristine Froseth and Denny Love garnered critical acclaim.

Looking For Alaska received acclaim from critics and readers of the book, with praises going towards its writing, performances (particularly that of Plummer, Froseth and Love), visuals, its soundtrack (with critics favorably comparing it to Schwartz's other series The O.C.), directing, and improvements upon its source material. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the miniseries holds a "Certified Fresh" approval rating of 91% based on 35 reviews, with an average rating of 8.5/10. The website's critical consensus reads, "Bittersweet and beautifully performed, Looking for Alaska is the rare adaptation that deviates from its source material only to find something even better."[25] On Metacritic, it has a weighted average score of 72 out of 100, based on 10 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews."[26]

Critics called the series Schwartz's finest series to date. Kathryn VanArendonk of Vulture called it a "rare adaptation that dismantles the original in order to build something that works better" and praised Love's charismatic performance as The Colonel.[27] IndieWire's LaToya Ferguson graded the miniseries with an "A" and said, "Looking For Alaska is your standard, tried and true, coming-of-age story. And for that, it stands out from the rest." She also praised Plummer's performance as Miles, saying that he "captures the milquetoast nature of the character (both the funny and frustrating aspects of that), while also finding a way to make your heart break for him."[4] The Guardian's writer Rebecca Nicholson gave the miniseries a 3 out of 5 stars and called the performances of the young cast "excellent" and Emmy-worthy (most notably that of Froseth, Love and Plummer), and further praising the characterization of The Colonel.[28]

Alan Sepinwall of Rolling Stone gave the miniseries a 4 out of 5 stars and said, "It's a familiar coming-of-age story, but one executed at a high level and with far more thought than usual given to all the kids who were forced to grow up long before the main character has to". He also praised the cast as "exceedingly charming" and singling out the performances' of Froseth and Love.[29] Variety's Caroline Framke also praised the cast (particularly Froseth and Love), while further highlighting the former's performance as Alaska, saying that "As Alaska, she has to portray a character alternately depicted as mysterious and vulnerable, flinty and fragile, wildly intelligent and crushingly naive. The series and Froseth take great and obvious pains to flesh Alaska out beyond the basic role of Miles’ first love, which could so easily flatten her into nothing at all".[30] Petrana Radulovic of Polygon summarized the miniseries as "a messy, raw depiction of grief — ultimately, what the book was supposed to be about, and what the show captures better" and called Froseth's performance "brilliant".[31] Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter praised the performances of Froseth and Plummer, calling the former "a marvel" and highlighting the latter's ability to nail "a tougher task" for playing Miles successfully.[32]

References
  1. "Initial Certification Search" (Type "Looking for Alaska" in the search box). Fastlane NextGen. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
  2. Petski, Denise (May 9, 2018). "Hulu Ordering 'Looking For Alaska' Limited Series From Josh Schwartz Based On John Green's Novel From Paramount TV". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 17, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2019.
  3. Iannucci, Rebecca (June 1, 2019). "Looking for Alaska Series Adaptation Set for October Launch on Hulu". TVLine. Archived from the original on May 24, 2022. Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  4. Ferguson, LaToya (October 18, 2019). "'Looking For Alaska' Review: The Throwback Teen Drama the Genre Needs". IndieWire. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  5. Bucksbaum, Sydney (July 23, 2019). "First look at Hulu's Looking For Alaska shows Miles and Alaska's first connection". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  6. Green, John Green. "Looking for Alaska". John Green. Archived from the original on September 10, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  7. "Interview with Josh Schwartz". Summer 2007. Archived from the original on January 15, 2010. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  8. "John Green New York Times Bestselling Author - Movie Questions". Archived from the original on June 22, 2013. Retrieved September 15, 2012.
  9. "Fault in Our Stars Writers, Producers Reuniting for Next John Green Adaptation (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. February 27, 2015. Archived from the original on February 28, 2015. Retrieved February 27, 2015.
  10. "Sarah Polley will adapt and direct John Green's Looking for Alaska". Entertainment Weekly's EW.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2015.
  11. "Breakdown Express". talentrep.breakdownexpress.com. Archived from the original on March 22, 2023. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  12. "Rebecca Thomas to direct adaptation of John Green's Looking for Alaska". Entertainment Weekly. June 24, 2015. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  13. vlogbrothers (June 30, 2015), "Some News", Youtube, archived from the original on March 22, 2023, retrieved January 22, 2016
  14. Christine (August 8, 2015). "John Green's Looking for Alaska will film in Michigan this fall". On Location Vacations. Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  15. "John Green Looking for Alaska Movie Doomed". MTV. Archived from the original on September 21, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  16. vlogbrothers (January 19, 2016), The Looking for Alaska Movie, Davos, and Hufflepuff Shade: It's Question Tuesday, archived from the original on September 5, 2021, retrieved November 10, 2017
  17. Petski, Denise (October 30, 2018). "'Looking For Alaska': Kristine Froseth & Charlie Plummer Set As Leads In Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 9, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  18. Petski, Denise (March 21, 2019). "'Looking For Alaska': Hulu Limited Series Adds Six To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2019.
  19. Petski, Denise (April 5, 2019). "'Looking For Alaska': Timothy Simons & Ron Cephas Jones Join Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 5, 2020. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
  20. Petski, Denise (May 8, 2019). "'Looking For Alaska': Rachel Matthews & Henry Zaga To Recur In Hulu Limited Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved May 8, 2019.
  21. "Looking for Louisiana in 'Looking for Alaska'". nola.com. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
  22. "What's new on CBC Gem in April 2020 | CBC Television". Archived from the original on April 2, 2020. Retrieved January 25, 2021.
  23. Ginsberg, Gab (October 11, 2019). "Hulu's 'Looking For Alaska' Soundtrack Features The Strokes, Modest Mouse: See Full Track List (Exclusive)". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  24. Various artists (October 18, 2019). "Looking for Alaska (Music from the Original Series)". Spotify. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  25. "Looking for Alaska: Season 1 (2019)". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on October 30, 2019. Retrieved September 21, 2021.
  26. "Looking for Alaska: Season 1". Metacritic. Archived from the original on October 2, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2019.
  27. VanArendonk, Kathryn (October 8, 2019). "Looking for Alaska Is the Rare Adaptation That Improves on the Original". Vulture. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  28. Nicholson, Rebecca (October 19, 2018). "Looking for Alaska review – is this Dawson's Creek throwback too wholesome for Gen Z?". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  29. Sepinwall, Alan (October 9, 2019). "'Looking for Alaska' Review: High-School Melodrama Done Right". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  30. Framke, Caroline (October 15, 2019). "TV Review: 'Looking for Alaska'". Variety. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  31. Radulovic, Petrana (October 28, 2019). "Hulu's Looking for Alaska overcomes 15 years of contentious John Green fandom". Polygon. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
  32. Fienberg, Daniel (October 10, 2019). "'Looking for Alaska': TV Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on July 16, 2022. Retrieved July 16, 2022.
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