Alice in Borderland Season 3

started with 0 expectations and I was right!

let me start by saying Alice in Borderland is one of my favorite series if not THE one. I started this season with my expectations below 0 and sadly I didn't get rewarded much.

the way they return to Borderland is just weird. And what happened to Usagi? She's happily married to Arisu, I thought she was over her dad but now suddenly she wants to see him? How is she going to see him, he's been dead for years, it's not like he was in a coma or in a limbo but whatever, it's just weird.

Arisu going back to save Usagi of course makes sense and is in character, but the fact that Banda wanted him just because he was bored of other players in the game?? Just find an hobby, bro, try knitting. He didn't even meet Arisu in the games and was obsessed by his thinking skills, if that was true he could've asked for Chishiya back too since he actually faced him.

And Ryuji the professor is just weird, he has this weird obsession for Usagi (god knows why when there's tons of other survivors with near-death experiences) but whatI REALLY don't get why Usagi is so keen on saving him, the man literally drugged you for his obsessive schemes?? Overall Usagi felt really weak this season, my girl was such a badass and did not self-commiserate and look at her now,,,

The new characters were... fine. Some were more interesting than others but we had too little time to get to know them well so I didn't really get super attached to anyone, but they were okay. I loved Nobu, Tetsu was also interesting, I really liked Kazuya and the Nee-san-Natsu pair but alas...

the games were also meh. Obviously they had to be different because they didn't have a specific suit/type/card anymore but /shrugs/ the first with the fortune and the flaming arrows was cool, the zombie card game was boring, the last game with the doors was soooo long and random. the whole storyline of Usagi being pregnant and the baby being another participant in the game was kinda cringe, just a weird excuse for them to have more points to get through the rooms.
the scariest "game" was actually how they had to walk 20km every time to reach a new game arena...

Season 2 had such a perfect ending with the storylines all wrapped up and the characters returning home and somehow living happily ever after, there was literally no need for another season if not for Netflix's greed. let's hope they don't really make an American version because I will NOT be watching it.

It was nice to see all the characters back for a final cameo though! That really warmed my heart <3

In conclusion: worth a watch? Yes, but then forget about it and rewatch just the first 2 seasons.

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best show ever

I will probably never get over this show.

Every season was 10/10, I would rate them higher if that was possible. The waits in between seasons was longggg but defo worth it because not a single minute was disappointing.

This is defo my current favourite show. Which is hard for me to say because I have seen so many great dramas and series, but I think this is the rare type of show where every season gets even better than the last. I can and will recommend this to literally anyone, it's too good. Honestly just watch it if you haven't, you're missing out.

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Love the show, however; the plot armor is just ridiculous in my opinion. There was a lot of plot armor last season as well but I thought it made a lot of sense as to why given that the games are supposed to represent their will to live. But Arisu was literally supposed to die and was just able to get away with losing a game when if it was anyone else, they would have died. Also, there was one thing in particular that wasn't answered and that was: how were they getting people to go back to the games? (Also, the reason my rewatch value is so low is because I don't really rewatch things so don't mind that.)

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AIB never disappoints

I mean this might be unpopular opinion but I liked season 3 idk why people don't like it I mean I get it does not have too many mind games like s1 and s2 but it was still great we got arisu and usagi character development usagi dad's story came to an we got cameos from the og's the new character weren't that bad I mean it's good if you don't constantly compare it with s1 and s2 like the manga was already finished with s2 this is from another sequel so people need to understand it will be a bit different from the first two seasons but this was good and we got happy ending everyone minus the unnecessary American aib rip off that nobody asked for this was still great I mean I wouldn't say this is as good as s1 and s2 but this season is still solid with good games and new characters

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Why Does this Exist?

I'm sure I'm not the only one questioning the existence of this. Even more so, I'd go as far as to say that the conclusion of the second season was so spot on, it was masterful, even the last Joker card shot had an eerie but on theme feel to it, it would have worked better as an open-ended conclusion, but alas, we are here.

The pacing at least was good, it didn't really drag, however, the first two episodes really felt like aggressively pulling you back again into it again, too bad the plot went ways it was never hinted at before, I liked it better when the show felt more like sci-fi than fantasy, if that makes any sense, now it's all over the place.

The conflict felt unnatural, forced to be, just for the Arisu to go on yet another adventure, that's my biggest gripe, the motivation wasn't as strong even though clearly, they have tried hard to justify it.

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Not as bad as everyone says it is

I binged this season over the course of 5 hours. Here's what I loved about this new season:

The mood, acting and games - I love this series for the vibe and the music and the third season delivered. While the games were more drawn out, I liked the fact they were more team oriented and showed side stories of the minor characters playing the games. It made me care more about them. The games were also more interesting this time. I also liked seeing cameos of the characters from Season 2 (in the last episode).

What I disliked: **SPOILERS AHEAD**

First, I disliked how Usagi just goes off with a virtual stranger (Ryuji) and leaves Arisu behind. It felt like she was cheating on Arisu (and clearly Arisu felt the same). If it wasn't for the fact that she was already pregnant and Ryuji died, I think their marriage would have been on the rocks... They could have tweaked this premise easily by having her think her dad WAS in the Borderland all along and that she went back because she wanted to rescue him! I also wanted to see her turn against Ryuji when she realized he'd lied to her. It would have made for interesting game dynamics esp. in the last game. Instead she never knew he pulled a gun on her and that his intent was to kill her.

Now for Episode 6: Banda's death, the flood, the Watchman instead of the Joker??? After the buildup of Banda vs Arisu, the Watchman just lasers Banda? So anticlimactic. And after all the hype about the Joker, there was NO final boss game against the Joker or the Joker blimp crashing in flames. I felt ripped off.

The final, flood scene dragged on forever when it could have been cut down to 5 min (the final episode was 90 minutes long and this last scene took up at least 20 minutes).

I really did not like the fact that Netflix clearly is trying to move the series to America and continue it with teasers for a season 4 of Alice in Borderland (this time with a waitress in California, named "Alice").

Up until Episode 6, I would still rate the season 3 highly, an 8.5 out of 10.

The last episode was more of a 6 and draggy, especially the last 30 minutes. (It was the only time I considered dropping an episode in this otherwise wonderful series!)

Overall, season 3 is still not bad, it's mostly episode 6 that feels off.

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Might Be Opening a New Page Journey

A sequel of Alice in Borderland. Following Usagi that came back to Borderland for the sake of missing his father and getting to know is he really on there? So she start to get back on playing games, with the man who named Ryuji. Sadly, Usagi didn't told her husband, Arisu that she got back to Borderland. Arisu knows it and start following her to Borderland, and looking for her.

It's mad right? Honestly, for me, the open ending of season 2 was the best as the very ending. But they just serving this for what. I don't even know the existance of this season if they're not making it good enough like the two previous seasons.

I love the performance of Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya, their acting in here were top tier. Especially, Tao, her anger, sorrow, depressed were well-portrayed. She could manage her subtle act, and her overact with precisely fit every scene. Love her performance in here. Go grab that Emmy, gurl!

Also, the third wheel topic that ridiculous. What do you mean by Ryuji's character development, bruh. In a whole season just being a dumb and wife snatcher. Biggest redflag ever. Also his fetish with Baka's world was insane. Be real, please.

The first season that perfectly showing about technically 'Borderland', second season that dept development of character and human theme, but the third season was lack of everything, the screenplay which is weak, also the character development was meh.

Eventho the screenplay was weakest, compare to the previous seasons. But, I'm not gonna lie, I still enjoying this season more enough. The games that keep exciting and thrilling. I love every single game in here. With their talkative dialogue and manipulative skills. Every game was indeed a cliff-hanger. Just best of the best game ever. Also the survival that fit perfectly as the main theme.

The world building that still masterpiece. Totalistic and detail. I love the dystopian set and every single spot of the set. Natural and eye-pleasing. The cinematography at its finest. So pretty and aesthetic. The camera work that still insane move. The precise angle that makes it more beauty.

Not only the visual design, the sound design keep bops. I love whenever they serving good scoring. Those scoring were success of enhancing the story. Especially the dramatic scoring of the first game, the game in the temple one.

Overall, this series is a decent one compare to the previous season, the two previous season still set the bar really high. But for me, this season wasn't a bad. Yes, the screenplay ain't solid and heavy enough, but at least, the games still entertaining. I love this one too.

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Did we really need this season? No.
Was it interesting? To some extent.
Was I on edge the entire time? Absolutely.

They left Borderland behind, but Borderland didn’t leave them.

Some time has passed since the last deadly games — the ones that left scars, even if invisible. Few survived. But no one remembers. Or at least that’s how it seems. Except for a few… who feel something. Fragments. Not memories, but echoes. Shadows of a reality that shouldn’t exist.

In the very first minutes, aside from the familiar faces of Arisu and Usagi, you immediately feel the absence of the other characters. And I found myself wondering: where are they? What happened to them? But the questions don’t stop there.

In the first episode, we see something even stranger: one of the players who chose to stay in Borderland suddenly appears in the real world and hands out a joker card to selected people, inviting them back to Borderland. And — even more confusing — a game begins. A game just like the ones in the borderland.

And I was like: Wait a second… what is happening? Are we even in the real world? Or is this some distorted version of it? I was a geyser of questions.

I understand why Arisu joins the deadly games again — he wants to save Usagi — but I don’t understand why anyone else would willingly go back. Usagi is still suffering because of her father, okay, but how would returning to a place she barely survived help her? And that professor? Besides being obsessed with the afterlife, his motives were unclear the entire time, which only added more tension.

Now, about the games themselves. Oh… the moment Arisu returned to Borderland and the first game started, I felt like he was about to stand up and say, “I’ve played these games before.” (If you know, you know.)😂
This time the games were more psychological — less action, none of the brutal, visually striking challenges from previous seasons, and more moral dilemmas. They don’t just make you wonder how to survive; they force you to confront what you’re willing to sacrifice to do so. And the choices the players made seemed to shape their own futures. It was interesting, but they didn’t show anything new that I hadn’t already seen in earlier seasons.

And then we get to the finale. I’m watching — everything seems to be falling into place. I’m watching — there are still 15 minutes left. And I start panicking that there won’t be a happy ending, thinking, please don’t ruin this. Thank God — there was a happy ending.
The problem is, the feeling that nothing is truly over still lingers. We finally saw the old characters I was so annoyed about — the ones who had completely vanished. They appeared… but only in the last minutes of the final episode. It seems each of them found their own path and didn’t need more drama — and this season was focused on Arisu anyway. Still, I wanted more from them. Even so, the introduction of the new characters was pleasant and brought some freshness.

Overall, I was left confused by how it ended. They hinted at something even bigger coming, but I’m not sure the series has anything new left to offer.

And this connection to the US… no. Just no. Not everything needs to be blended with an American style. No, thank you.

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not much as s1 & s2 make

first of all, i've lost count on how many times usagi called arisu and almost lost her voice. Anyways, the story didn't give much justice to the cast—yes, they made it to the borderline again, because?? not enough reason or flashback. they didn't even put enough screen time for the characters to have any emotions or reactions for that. no flashback for them just a quick recap of what their future will be at the screen. I wanted to know why did they choose to go back to the bordeline. I have a theory but a theory is just a null basis if there's no proof or proven in the series. AND THERE'S NO KISSING SCENE!! LACK OF INTIMACY ON BOTH CHARACTERS! YOU'RE MARRIED WHY AREN'T YOU KISSING?! (kentao just came back and it made me hungry for their romance) JSISHSISUS I LOVE THE OG CAST APPEARED FOR CONSULTATION. YES! I'M GONNA MISS Y'ALL!!!

PS. WHY DO THEY NEED TO WESTERNISED EVERYTHING?!?!?!? be making everything about them....

PPS. lmao such a main character syndrome.

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The Season I Never Expected To Have

Alice in Borderland season 3 is a continuation of the adventure of Arisu and Usagi in the world of life and death. It is the season where the Joker card plays the role as the game master.

This season shows that living in the world is much more meaningful than death. Living may equal pain and sadness, but it also gives us life and happiness you can't experience in death. It also shows new opportunities and hope that death can't give you. That's why living is much better than death. Everyone does not have a chance to live a life because of circumstances that they have, and we people are lucky enough to live, so cherish your life and be kind to yourself.

Sacrifice is also shown in this drama. It may seem like a painful act, but it highlights the strength of human connection, how people are willing to give up something precious for the sake of others. This season reminds us that survival is not just about winning games, but about the choices we make and the values we hold onto.

I'm really not fond of this season. Too many unanswered questions and loopholes, but it's a good drama, just not as great as how season 1 and 2 were executed. But this season tells us what it truly means to live. Just like how Arisu was willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of his wife and child, it shows how deeply he loves them and how much meaning life gains when it is lived for others.

Death may seem like the easier choice, but living fills the void of darkness that death never can.

MY RATING | ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
Acting & Cast: 9
Storyline & Writing: 6
Directing & Pacing: 8
Cinematography & Visuals: 10
Music/OST & Sound Design: 9
Overall: 8.4

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SPOILER
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NETFLIX WHY???!!

The ending of Season 2 was good.
Sure, in the books there’s a “spin-off” with the Joker.
But I don’t think it was necessary.

Here, we find them a few months/years after the end of Season 2. They’re living their lives together, and then suddenly she starts thinking about her father and his suicide again. She was already thinking about it in Season 1 and 2, but now she meets this other crazy guy in a wheelchair, who manages to convince her to commit suicide so quickly, even though she’s living with Arisu. From that point on, I found it weird. How can one person mess with your head that fast after just one meeting?!
Plus, her following him into the games yes, he manipulates her, but if you look at the story from another perspective, it’s both logical and illogical at the same time.

On Arisu’s side, he learns he’s going to be a father and then commits suicide with Ann’s help (I KNEW SHE WASN’T DEAD AHAHAHAHA). Anyway… Then we get some really good games, I can’t lie I loved the games, the new characters we discover, and the really sad deaths. There are a lot of them in a row. In that aspect, it’s just like Season 1 and 2!

Then comes the first reunion, which is really touching but too short. Then the accident happens (I really thought he was going to die), but then I remembered that no series would kill off a main character in the middle of the season lol.

Then we get the real reunion, which is genuinely very emotional. They see their “future,” realize they’re not holograms, and then comes the famous scene where he punches her really hard I loved it. HE PLAYS HIS CHARACTER SO WELL THAT I HATE HIM. Then comes the scene I call “Squid Game”: the extra player, the baby. Yeah… we all saw that coming!
And then more sad deaths, and even sadder ones!
Then the ending where Arisu “sacrifices” himself even though the guy knows he’s going to be a dad. I didn’t understand that choice at all. How can you make that decision? I mean, there were older players at the end who could have taken his place logically, but no nobody moves. They just watch a young guy “commit suicide” even though he’s about to become a father. Totally incomprehensible!
Then comes the scene where he pulls out a gun but can’t kill her, so when they fall into the water, he decides to hold her so they die together. Honestly, this guy is a massive piece of shit, let’s just say it. He had no balls!
Then the final ending where she’s alive, he’s alive too, they lived happily ever after and had lots of children.

In short: the games are perfect! But the story is incomprehensible!

The acting is very good, and the visual effects are great too.

You can very well stop at Season 2 for a logical ending! But if you want to see an alternative ending, go ahead and watch Season 3.

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