Jeff

This started out so strong, running (at times) line for line w the book. The casting is phenomenal. The setting is very well imagined. BUT (and semi spoiler here) the gang did not ostracize Alaska--in fact, they didn't know she was the rat until the end of the book, leaving it up to the reader whether her betrayal had anything to do with her demise. Given how much care went into this production, I can't figure out why they paint such a devide between Alaska and the gang. It leaves her friend group looking really callus and cold (my main gripe). The adaptation suggests she was bullied into her final act, despite the friend group's reconciliation. Ultimately, the gang comes back together, but not before the boys' character is tainted by their cruelty. I mean, it's still 4 stars, but sad they kept so much only to change the one thing this book underscores frequently: the power of friendship. "We had to forgive to survive in the labyrinth" some how gets inverted in the end.

Charming friendships but missing some sort of cinematic glue, some fluidity. Without the right ingredients it reads cheesy. Ultimately the movie couldn't decide if it wanted to be entertaining or educational. It definitely wasn't both.

Pretty redundant in later seasons but entertaining for the first 2 seasons