Looking for Alaska Recap: All Falling Apart

This recap of Hulu Series Looking for Alaska Season 1 Episode 3, “I’ve Never Felt Better…” contains significant spoilers. You can read the recap of the previous episode by clicking these words.

Everything is falling apart for our characters in Episode 3. The foundations that have kept everyone together in the first two episodes have proven to be fragile. “I’ve Never Felt Better…” begins with Alaska (Kristine Froseth) forcing Miles (Charlie Plummer) to ask Lara out for a first date. It’s weird watching Alaska and Miles, who have the most common interests, yet are forcefully staying away from each other romantically. While that’s happening, Hank speaks to Takumi about the potential rat — Takumi soon after speaks to Alaska.

Miles does not do a lot of dating, so while he clumsily puts on a shirt, he rushes over to Alaska’s to get an opinion. She intimately undresses his shirt and then starts ironing it. Alaska asks Miles to practice a conversation on her for the date, and he asks where her name came from, getting an intriguing answer. Everything about Alaska appears to be fascinating. All of a sudden, Alaska’s boyfriend Jake shows up, and they immediately start snogging in front of Miles, who hurriedly leaves.

It’s the tripe and a half date night at the basketball game with the “half” being Takumi who does not have a date. The Colonel antagonises one of the players who forcefully throws the ball at him — The Colonel ducks, and it hits Miles, who is immediately concussed. Alaska tries to speak to Marya at the event, but she accuses Alaska of being the rat.

It’s not looking good for Alaska — Sara also thinks Alaska is the rat and confronts her boyfriend Colonel about it. Sara offers him an ultimatum, and his silence suggests he has picked Alaska. Sara breaks up with him — their relationship is now over.

Meanwhile, Lara takes Miles to the hospital. They finally have “alone” time, and they both get to know each other. Lara hints that when they return home, Miles can stay in her bed so she can keep an eye on his concussion. He agrees.

Episode 3 reveals a turning point. Takumi tells The Colonel that he saw Alaska leaving The Eagle’s house the day Paul and Marya got kicked out, which suggests she is the rat. The Colonel is furious, knowing that he has lost Sara for defending Alaska.

As everything falls apart, Alaska goes to a college party with Jake and gets ridiculously drunk. She tells a friend of Jake that she is perfect for him, and chooses to leave without saying goodbye to Jake.

While Lara and Miles are on the way home, Miles sees Alaska at the roadside. He asks where Jake is and wonders why he didn’t take her home. The scene speaks volumes as she tries to make out that she’s exhausted from all the sex she’s had with Jake to toy with Miles’ emotions. When they return to the campus, Miles chooses to go after Alaska rather than to Lara’s.

Alaska asks for The Eagle for help. He says that the other option is to go home, despite it not being a viable option. The Eagle states the option remaining is Alaska has to learn to live at Culver Creek Academy and being called a rat is not the worst thing in the world.

Looking for Alaska Season 1 Episode 3, “I’ve Never Felt Better…” ends with The Colonel confiding in Miles about Sara, wishing he treated her better and going over his mistakes. When Alaska returns to her house, there is graffiti on her door that spells “rat”.

Notable Points

• Miles does not like sport. The Colonel purposefully distracts the games for his own protests and mind games.

You can read the recap of the fourth episode by clicking these words.