Looking for Alaska

This series does well to not cut corners on developing the intoxicating characters John Green developed in his first award-winning novel. The eight-part format allows for each one to be introduced and revealed over the time that their complexity demands, and this is Looking for Alaska's real treasure. Obviously, Miles is at the forefront from the beginning, relatable in his determination to find life's inspiration and surprisingly solid in his willingness to stick to his values while still broadening his experiences among new company. Self-assured Alaska coaxes him out of his shell a little at a time, but even as they get closer and he gets to know her better, she's still mysterious and captivating to Miles and to viewers. And therein lies the show's hook.

While this central relationship evolves, others fill the background in similarly fascinating fashion. The Colonel is a thoroughly intriguing character, a hard-working "scholarship kid" as Alaska coins them (herself included), completely out of his element and at odds with those more privileged by money and, in his assessment, by race, which makes his choice of girlfriends in the sharp-tongued debutante Sara (Landry Bender) that much more perplexing. Even The Eagle and the resident baddies, the Weekend Warriors, have backstories that hint at further depth and leave viewers wanting more. Looking for Alaska is an authentic dissection of the teen experience as seen through the eyes of several heterogeneous characters expertly crafted by Green and portrayed by this show's talented cast.