Alice in Borderland Season 3

Good in my brain but average in my heart

It was great seeing these characters again, and in general, I do feel like S3 stayed true to the characters and to the heart of what the Borderlands have meant up till now, but ultimately this season was sort of missing that spark that S1 had in particular, and while I did hope for a S3 because I am an amnesia trope hater, this one ultimately still feels a bit tacked on.

One part of that is the side characters. We always have a little cast of B characters, and while S3's weren't annoying of out-of-place necessarily, I definitely found them the least memorable, aside from the professor/doctor. It doesn't help that Arisu and Usagi spend 95% of the season apart, so we really have no pre-established relationships to rely on for those deep, yet comfortable scenes that gave the show a lot of heart. Arisu/Usagi scenes were probably the strongest in the entire season.

The games ARE fun though, and as usual I enjoyed the stunts a lot. The climax delivers in terms of cinematography and stakes, and the cameos we get at the end are fun and really do provide closure. I'm glad we got this season, but I do think I never quite felt the gut punch I wanted.

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Entertaining but characters’ motives were unclear

Let me start by saying that seasons 1 and 2 were 10/10 and the ending of season 2 gave a lot of opportunities for this season to be just as awesome.

However, the story fell flat. The motives of the characters were maybe the biggest issue for me. Like why would Usagi, a happily married woman, suddenly leave without saying anything to her husband? And were she trying to find her father or what? And why would the ”citizens” want Arisu there?? Etc.

Also I didn’t like at all the theme of ”saving Usagi” as a starter for the season. It would have been better if they were both forced to go and then separated for some reason.

The feeling of mystery was also gone in this season since we already knew that they had to play until they win the last game and get to go back to real world. And that they were in between life and death and that there were people running the games.

The games were okay but not nearly as intriguing as in previous seasons. The last game focused too much on the videos which the gamers believed to be true too easily.

Overall it was still entertaining but there was so much lost potential.

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Season 2 already did what Season 3 tried to do, better

This is one of my favorite series ever, following this closely ever since its release in 2020. I rated the first 2 seasons high, with Season 2 scoring a perfect 10/10 from me.

Season 3 though....WTF. The theme is still there, but S2 already delivered the message way better than S3 ever could.

My problem lies not in the new characters, because frankly, I loved this new cast and appreciate how much we got to know about them despite only 6 episodes. I wasn't super attached, but still liked them---I liked Rei, Nobu, Ryuji, pretty much everyone. My problem is the redundancy. The more you learn about the borderlands, the less it is about the games and more about humanity. I liked the idea they had going in the last 2 episodes, but it wasn't anything groundbreaking that I thought it NEEDED 2 whole episodes.

They ran out of ideas to make it emotional and so deeply psychological. What is the meaning of life, why are they fighting for their lives again sure, but S2 still moves me as the best ending. As much as I liked certain aspects of S3, it should've ended at the Queen of Hearts.

Arisu still got it in him, I liked the games and his ability to think under pressure is my favorite thing about him, ever. I also love that the focus was on Usagi a lot this time, but I critically question whatever was going on between her and Ryuji. They didn't need to write her to be so empathetic and protective towards him, when he brought her back to the borderlands against her own will. As a standalone character though, I enjoyed Ryuji's addition to the storyline.

I will pretend I didn't see the teaser ending. I'm gonna miss AIB though, thanks for the memories :'(

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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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