This review may contain spoilers
Overall, this was a pretty entertaining watch. I thought it would be just another Squid Game or Battle Royal knock off, but it wasn't. What I found interesting was that even if there were many similarities between these shows, Alice in Borderland was definitely its own thing. I loved the puzzle games and the variety of challenges; I am not a gamer and I don’t play cards but they explained the rules in a way that could be understood by anyone. The show also used different areas of an abandoned cityscape very effectively for its background. It was refreshing how the game backgrounds would switch from an abandoned building to a hotel to even a beach resort.
The male lead was pretty smart and capable; it was a lot of fun watching him come up with last minute solutions when it seemed that he would lose. Despite being a very good and pure character, he also knew how to trick people, which came as a surprise but very handy for survival. At first, I didn’t like how he seemed to be the only smart character but it turned out that there were other characters (like the mysterious Chisaya) who were just as intelligent and could come up with their own ways to win.
I heard somewhere that the female characters were shallow in comparison but I didn’t think so. All FLs here were very strong, likable and had different capabilities. The parallels between the main FL Usagi and the rabbit from Alice in Wonderland was represented well, in that they made her a mountain climber who was very good at parkour; she also provided a very good motivation for the ML. Kuina, who gave the initial impression of being a beach bum, turned out to be a very capable fighter while Ann was not just the Mad Hatter's henchman but an intelligent forensic researcher.
One of the things I didn’t like is how the characters would sometimes have these overly long, philosophical discussions which really didn’t serve any purpose, It made some of the episodes (and the game that was ongoing) boring. I liked the challenge with the King of Clubs for example, but it could have been more exciting if they trimmed down these overly long conversations between ML Arisu and the king. I am not sure why they did it, it was as if they were trying to make the plot deeper than it had to be and I felt it was unnecessary.
Another thing is that, while I don’t mind the violence, the level of injuries the characters got (particularly in the last episode) was too much that I really could not understand how they survived. While I am happy that they did make it, it seemed impossible, given how brutal the fight scene was.
I am also not sure about the final challenge with the Queen of Hearts and how she was able to make the ML lose hope at first. Even at the very end, I wasn’t sure what the whole point of Borderland was…was it created to punish people who did wrong things in the real world? Two seasons have already passed but many important points weren't cleared yet. I heard there was going to be a third season but to be honest, I kind of worry that they will stretch the plot out too much and ruin it. It was exciting to see the joker card at the very end but there is a danger of ruining a good thing when it takes too long to come up with a proper conclusion.
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Entertaining
I enjoyed Imawa no Kuni no Alice aka Alice in Borderland and looking forward to the next seasons. This really kept my attention throughout as I was intrigued to see what sort of games they would come up with. I’m more interesting to know more about the games and why things are happening this way.What I don’t like is some of the characters aren’t memorable and there are so many people that they just become fillers. I wish it would focus more on just a couple of main characters and I also wish it was a little longer to give more character development.
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I binged watched this until 4:59 am
I just finished watching 'Alice in Borderland', and I'm still reeling from the intense ride that it took me on. This drama is like a dark, twisted wonderland that sucks you in and refuses to let go. The cast, led by Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, deliver performances that are both haunting and mesmerizing. Yamazaki's portrayal of Arisu is particularly impressive, as he brings depth and nuance to a character that could have easily been one-dimensional.The story is a complex web of mystery and suspense, with plot twists that will keep you guessing until the very end. Just when you think you have a handle on what's going on, the drama throws in another curveball that will leave you reeling. It's a true thrill ride that will keep you on the edge of your seat.
The cinematography is stunning, with a blend of eerie and beautiful visuals that perfectly capture the drama's surreal atmosphere. The use of lighting, color, and camera angles creates a dreamlike quality that immerses you in the world of Borderland. And the OST? Absolutely chilling and addictive! The music perfectly complements the drama's tone, adding an extra layer of tension and emotion to each scene.
'Alice in Borderland' is not for the faint of heart, but if you're ready for a mind-bending, emotional rollercoaster, then buckle up and get ready to enter the rabbit hole. Highly recommended for fans of psychological thrillers and dark fantasy, this drama will leave you breathless and eager for more.
IF I GOT ANYTHING WRONG PLS TELL ME I DONT WANT TO MISLEAD YOU GUYS
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one of the only live adaptations of an anime/manga that i’ve really loved
definitely had moments that made me annoyed because someone did something stupid or was blind to the obvious or because of plot holes that didn’t really seem to have any explanation but besides that i really enjoyed this show :) i loved the FL and ML i think the casting was great for them, and i 1000% fell for Chishiya (i really do hope they get him a less fried wig for season 3 though). didn’t read the manga/watch the anime before watching this, but took a quick look after watching both seasons of the live action and in all honesty i prefer the live action more which is something i never thought i’d say about a live action anime (i normally find that the wigs/costumes/backgrounds just look a little too extra which makes sense because it’s difficult to replicate certain manga/anime exactly because they aren’t as easy to film as they are to draw but i normally cant get past it so i don’t really watch live actions of sci fi/action/fantasy anime/manga at all) i actually finished both seasons in less than a week because i was so invested in this series ! really love arisu’s character yamazaki did a great job with making him feel human and not just a character on the screen. i always love a genius character who figures things out just in time or happens to get lucky occasionally (not tooo much). the concept of the whole borderlands thing is really interesting and i’m excited to see what netflix is going to do with the third season! definitely recommend this show if you like smart characters, action, dystopian, survival games, thriller, mystery, a teeny bit of romance, high stakes, and trauma bonding ?Was this review helpful to you?
Funnily kinda agreed with 3GGG: "Interesting but Unmemorable". Interesting choice of title to summarize the drama. Haha... Yeah I also feel, compared to other reviewers, my mark gonna be a little bit lower. So for you fans of the drama or anime or manga, don't be mad at us. Haha...
This part or season of the drama is starting to give introduction to everyone about who is who and sometimes also their part in the whole 'game'. The character getting to know each other but also lose someone, know the game, find partner & companion & finally found a purpose, aka how to finish the game & get out to the real world.
But even with many thing that happen in this season, I still kinda feel this lack of something that I don't know what was it..... No, I'm not say they lack of good acting or just simply bad performance. But yeah maybe also like 3GGG, J-drama sometime not fly in same wave length with me too... Haha... And if you compare this to the hunger game. I still feel the character development better in hunger game than in here,
Overall this just another drama to watch. We need to watch the other season to get the whole picture...
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First Japanese drama I've ever watched. and......
This is the first-ever Japanese drama I've watched. The survival plot got my attention that's why I spent my leisure time watching this drama. I could label myself as an anime lover/watcher as I've watched a ton of anime since childhood but I never got interested in watching a drama from Japan as I found their acting sometimes exaggerated (I watched clips from TikTok) which is not for my taste when it comes to dramas unless its an anime you can be hysteric all you want cause it's cute. However, this one is different, I was amused by how it was directed and acted.First of all, let's talk about the cinematography, EXQUISITE. It is so well done, I wasn't expecting it would that superb. I thought it would have some naive special effects. ambiance. camera transitions etc but I was amused. Second is the plot, I've seen a lot of kinds of dramas/movies like this and I always find myself immersed in the situations they got into and try to guess or find the answers for myself if my observations/suspicions are correct. This drama got my intuitive self wrong, there are just those scenes where you thought your guess was right but it wasn't, so good job on making it unexpected answers from the wrong guesses the viewers made. The third is the acting, the acting was superb I'm not going to lie. I thought sometimes they are just going to act hysterically but they did not. Lastly, I've found some scenes that look like anime scenes. For instance, random flashbacks from characters, the way they sound sometimes reminds me of anime, and some transitions when there are many scenes that are going on simultaneously.
In conclusion, It is a great drama that is worth your time. I wouldn't say I would watch it again because it's too violent for me and I already know the mystery the drama has so the thrill would be gone if I rewatch this.
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Extraordinary
Extraordinary series. Although not as much as Squid Game, I can say that it is an original adaptation. The adaptation from the manga is pretty impressive. 8/10. I liked the story. Music is not good at all. Acting so so because some actors/actresses doesnt good acting. I'm looking forward to release second season. If you liked Squid game you like this series too. Every episode's time is 40 mins in average. So you won't boring at all. I watched Korean drama for 5-6 years. Let's give a chance Japanese this time :)Was this review helpful to you?
There were a few things that I felt could have made this better. They tried to provide the backstories to too many characters with the limited time they had. More time should have spent on the MC’s backstory and some other main characters. It was so brief that you kinda just get a glean into the reason why he didn’t live a life until the games.
Then there was the last game. The more people and killing involved doesn’t always equal better. The game itself was underwhelming for me personally compared to the rest of the story. What saved it was the introduction of two strong and intelligent female characters, more depth into one of the intelligent male characters, and the race to save MC. The ending was a bit average to me compared to the beginning.
Despite the drawbacks, it is entertaining filled with characters whose survivals you’ll care about and well worth the watch. There is a lot of potential for an amazing Season 2.
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Worth watching
I can't explain much. Out of words. Really great production quality. Awesome storyline and best cast. It will hook you till the end. Just go and watch. 10/10 for me.!!Story: 10 I will say both the writer of the manga and the series are genius. The director managed to fit 31 chapters of a manga in only 8 episodes without making it feel rushed in any way.
Acting/Cast: 10 They managed to find the best cast. Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya's duo is great as always. They found the perfect actor for the past(boy) kuina, which explains why she doesn't look much like a trans girl. Mira just looks like she came right out of the manga. And the acting is all good
Music:10 Enough to make one feel the suspense
Rewatch Value: 10 Can never get enough of it.
Overall:10 The best live action in history is here!!
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Live Action Manga
This was a good adaptation of the Manga. When I started it I didn't know it was sourced from a Manga, but once I was done with first season I looked it up. Of course, then I ruined it for myself by reading the Manga, but still plan to be watching the second season when it comes out in December. This was like Squid Games on Steroids.I'm always pleasantly surprised by how faithful these live action adaptations are to the original source material when it's not done by Hollywood or Amazon.
It's not perfect, but it's definitely closer than what we got with Wheel of Time or Avatar, the Last Airbender.
It's worth the watch, but only in the original language. I tried the dub, and it changes the tone of the series into something of a comedy. But that's just my preference of sub over dub talking.
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This review may contain spoilers
rewatched 12/21-12/22
its been a year since my first watch of the drama so i rewatched before the 2nd season came out and wow! the drama never really failed me and i still was impressed after a second watch a year later! the best parts in my opinion were the first half of the season and the last episode..(no hate just didnt like hiragi and the other men). with only 8 eps and each having 45 min avg run time, it never managed to feel rushed or too slow for me, the cinematography was excellent as always and episode 3 remains as one of the saddest episodes in drama history in my books😖Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Survival Of The Fittest & Smartest!
15/01/2023
In brief, this is about everyday people taken into a parallel world similar to their own only they have no idea why. In order to survive they must play all these games against playing card characters (E.g. Jack of Hearts/9 of clubs) to buy them time through visas as well as enable them to collect all 52 cards if they win the games.
Each game is a live or die situation and as each progresses it gets harder and harder to win as well as to stay alive.
Quite simply, if the hosts lose they die - if the players lose they die.
In addition, no one can really be trusted and outside of the games and set rules anything goes!
Once all 52 cards are collected the survivors don't know whether or not they get to return back to their own world or if something else is in store for them all together.
Expect alot of gore, death, intense adrenaline rushes and psychological moments throughout each action packed episode.
My favourite characters in this entire series are Arisu and Chesiya even though the main duo is Arisu and Usagi by the end of season one. Unfortunately, Chesiya isn't actually a main character like Arisu and Usagi, but still has a strong impact and presence throughout both seasons.
If Usagi had been taken out at all I wouldn't have cared.
Different story for Arisu and most definitely Chesiya.
To me Arisu is likeable because he represents hope, positivity, possiblities plus he's simply just a decent person (once he's evolved) that cares about everyone not just himself whereas Chesiya is a somewhat complex character that does what it takes to survive even if it means double crossing someone. He is indifferent, unemotional, doesn't care plus he has a very high IQ which makes him just that bit more interesting.
In fact, I like Chesiya a little more than Arisu despite Chesiya making some rather cut throat underhanded decisions on his part.
What is brilliant about this series is that the games just keep getting better and better throughout each episode with some of the best being in season two.
I am also a fan of SQUID GAME and want to say that I like SQUID GAME and ALICE IN BORDERLAND for different reasons.
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