Reviews

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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Mind-blowing Games, Need more games

To be honest, I expected more from this season. I wanted to give it a 10/10 before, but I was a little disappointed. Still, it’s great to watch and fantastic overall.

Episode 1
There’s a new character named Ryuuji who is obsessed with Borderland stuff. I didn’t really like him at first. Then he plays the game to enter the Borderland, and they show the first game, Old Maid (ババ抜き / Babanuki). It’s a short and simple game, not bad for the beginning.
The pacing is a bit slow, maybe a little boring, but still okay to watch because it takes time for Arisu to get to the Borderland. You have to be patient.

Episode 2
Sacred Fortunes (御神籤 / Omikuji) is a brilliant game. Players draw fortune slips with questions. Answer correctly = safe. Wrong answer = fire arrows fall, the number depending on how far your answer is from the correct one. Some slips hide clues like directions or safe spots.
The scene was terrifying, 100 million arrows raining down felt like a meteor shower. I wish this game lasted longer; it was over too fast.

Then the game Zombie Hunt (ゾンビハント) starts. There are three types of cards: Zombie, Shotgun, and Vaccine. It turns a simple chase into a brutal mind game of trust and betrayal. It was complicated to understand at first, but really good, with an unexpected twist from Arisu.

Episode 3
The episode starts with zombies again, then a short game scene called レーザー迷宮 (Rēzā Meikyū). Honestly, I was a little disappointed, it was too short. It had potential to be the best game with its colorful lasers.
After that, Runaway Train (暴走列車 / Bōsō Ressha) is wild. Eight train cars, half with poison gas, and only five chances to save yourself. Watching them gamble with the canisters had me stressed, one wrong choice and you’re done. The game is simple but I expected scarier moments because it’s on a train.

Episode 4
The episode continues Runaway Train briefly at the start. I still don’t like the flashbacks about Ryuuji, they make the pacing slow. Then comes Tokyo Bingo Tower (東京ビンゴタワー / Tōkyō Bingo Tawā) and Kick Can (缶蹴り / Kan-Keri), alternating between each other.

Tokyo Bingo Tower is insane and scary. People who fear heights, like me, will feel goosebumps. Who can even do that? It’s a hard game requiring strength to reach the top, and after pushing the bingo button, you must avoid falling iron balls.

Kick Can is intense too. Players must return the can to the base within 60 seconds or it explodes. Every time someone picks it up, the timer resets but shortens by 5 seconds. There are only 10 cans, so only 10 people can clear the game. If the can hits the ground or walls too hard, it explodes instantly. I loved this game, when it exploded, I was shaking because I couldn’t watch directly. It looked cool in the end, especially with the exotic Yakuza tattoos.

Episode 5
Possible Futures (可能性の未来 / Kanōsei no Mirai) has 10 players. Each starts with 15 points and moves through a 5×5 grid of rooms (A1–E5). Entering a room shows a vision of the future (good or bad), but subtracts a random number of points. When a player hits 0 points, they’re out.

I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad game. It’s mostly a psychological trap. I was hoping for something more dangerous, like getting shocked or hit to enter another room, similar to the first game in Season 1, Episode 1. Not bad though.

Episode 6
The previous game ends, and they survive, but I was disappointed again, no more games appear. I thought the 10 players would battle the Joker in a final game, but they didn’t. Instead, a disaster hits, flooding covers Tokyo, Usagi is swept away, and Ryuuji tries to save her. Arisu also tries to save her. Honestly, this weird moment didn’t sit well with me.

Then a mysterious figure appears, I don’t know if it’s the Joker or a Grim Reaper. I expected another game, but it didn’t happen. Arisu succeeds in saving Usagi, and that’s the end.

At the end of the episode, there’s an interview with Arisu’s team from the previous season, which was unexpected. The last scene shows a girl named ALICE in America. Hopefully, they don’t continue in America.

What I Like

The games are smart, complicated, and require both brain and strength to complete.

Fresh, mind-blowing games.

Teamwork is emphasized, they work together, unlike in previous seasons.

Punishments effect for breaking rules or losing make the games dangerous and exciting (fire arrows, exploding cans, etc.).


What I Don’t Like

I expected more terrifying games and more episodes.

Ryuuji’s character is annoying, obsessed with Borderland and Usagi. Even though he saves them sometimes, he’s still unpleasant and unstable.

No character has the iconic or memorable presence like previous seasons (like Chishiya).

The talking and flashbacks make the pacing a bit slow

The last episode has no game.


Is it worth watching?
If you enjoy game dramas, yes, but lower your expectations. There’s a little talking and flashbacks, and fewer games than expected.

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Alice in Borderland: A Too Vague Ending for a Remarkable Series

I was really curious to see this season 3, especially after the memorable ending of season 2. The series could have very well ended there, but Netflix decided to make a sequel… and unfortunately, this season mostly feels like an unnecessary extension.

Right from the start, you can tell the tone has changed. The action gives way to a slower, more introspective, almost sad atmosphere. That’s fine the idea of exploring the return to “real” life, memory, and a blurry reality is interesting. But it clearly lacks strength, tension, and especially strong characters to carry this more psychological side.

The new characters, in particular, are a real weakness. Ryuji, who was supposed to be an important part of the mystery, is underused. Others like Mika or Sora just seem to be there to fill the story, without much development or emotional impact. None manage to reach the intensity or charisma of characters from previous seasons like Chishiya, Niragi, or Kuina.

And about the games: this is probably the biggest disappointment. There are very few of them, they are quite short, and really lack originality. While seasons 1 and 2 stood out with challenges mixing logic, strategy, violence, and psychological tension, here the games feel recycled or rushed. None really stick in your memory. Even the much-anticipated “Joker trial” lacks clarity and impact.

As for the main characters, Arisu remains consistent and well-written, but Usagi is clearly sidelined. She is at the center of the story, yet almost becomes secondary in her own plot. She deserved more presence and development.

Finally, the ending. It clearly plays on ambiguity with a metaphysical twist about the reality of the Borderland and the nature of existence. But instead of a “wow” effect, it mostly feels like the series leaves too many things unclear, as if it didn’t quite know how to finish. Many questions remain unanswered, and that frustrates more than it satisfies. It feels more like “we don’t know how to conclude” than a well-managed open ending.

Thank you *Alice in Borderland* for these 5 years...

Goodbye 👋🏻

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"I didn't expect him to trick me again" and again, and again...

The Whistleblower was a thriller set across three continents highlighting the dangers of capitalism and greed. Lei Jia Yin and Tang Wei starred as two people caught up in corporate corruption that could lead to the deaths of over a million people.

Mark/Ma Ke has been living in Australia with his family for over ten years. His company has developed a way to turn coal into a form of natural gas. A Chinese company wants to use the technique under a highly populated area that sits above a large coal reserve. The CEO sends his wife, Zhou Si Liang, to handle the less than savory financial elements. She and Mark had been lovers years ago before she broke things off to marry a rich man. They meet at a party and share a night of passion. Passion turns to fear when Si Liang’s life is endangered and a terrible problem with Mark’s company is revealed to him.

The Whistleblower had good elements to it that were buried under plot inconsistencies, plot incoherencies, and two characters who weren’t always likeable. Starting the film with infidelity didn’t put the characters on firm moral footing. Frustratingly, both Mark and Si Liang had moments of brilliance and then utter stupidity. If there was a theme to this film it was that money is bad and makes people bad. Even if that was the case, and there are plenty of corrupt, heartless corporations in the world, the basic business model of GPEC was astonishingly, unbelievably short-sighted and would result in the utter destruction of the company and all involved. If the CEO of GPEC had been a Bond villain then it would have made more sense.

Lei Jia Yin and Tang Wei did the best they could with the material. Tang Wei has a beautiful charisma that is too often underused in Chinese films. The Whistleblower did try to distract from its messy storytelling with action scenes. There were plenty of car chases, and foot chases along and in buildings, and characters falling off and out of buildings. The White Truck of Doom even made a guest appearance! The most fascinating thing to me is that apparently there aren’t whistleblowers in China as there were three screens of explanation about the terminology.

The Whistleblower was an okay thriller that was overly long and stumbled over itself on occasion trying to do too much and not keeping track of its own plot. It’s worth a try for fans of Lei and/or Tang and if you can go into the movie with low expectations.

25 September 2025
Triggers: Black face, not so subtle racism . Infidelity-the wife was the most sympathetic character as well as the son.

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Not Nearly As Bad As Some Say

After watching the drama and carefully evaluating what I had watched I came to the conclusion that My Love Patzzi was not in fact terrible bad like some had described. I don't share my reviews often online but came on here to clear up some misinformation. I hope the average person who doesn't mind unserious themes of rivalry and jealousy finds this drama entertaining. If you watch this drama expecting something spectacular like straight out of a novel, this drama isn't for you.

But what I really enjoyed about it was that the story was refreshing and something I haven't seen before. And if you're still not sure what the drama is about I will quickly sum it up for you. My Love Patzzi is about a not so 'perfect nice girl' Yang Song Yi, who become the center of attention at her workplace for being bold, outspoken lead who isn't afraid to be herself. This doesn't go well with the people there so she gets into trouble quite a bit, with her is her rival/friend Eun Hee Won who appears sweet and perfect in the outside but is actually manipulative. While fighting with Hee Won, Song Yi gets into some trouble where she causes a machine/float to malfunction. While she walking she catches the machine malfunctions and some inside. Here we meet Kang Seung Joon the son of the amusement park owner where they all work. She saves him and after that interaction, he vows to find her and thank her while getting to know her. After the incident Song Yi seeks out her old childhood friend she had reconnected with, Kim Hyun Sung. He is a playful, mischievous, and slightly arrogant guy who eventually" fights" Seung Joon for Song Yi's love. What I love about these leads is that at time they are so unserious about fighting for Song Yi's love, while this happens they develop a bromance which is described creates lighthearted tension between them.

This drama is full of lighthearted humor and the vibe of nostalgic early k-drama days. Plus the drama is full of funny, and relatable characters, and the love triangle keeps things entertaining. It's an easy and enjoyable watch if you can find a way to watch it.

By displays themes of authenticity and love that sees beyond the surface, the female lead learns the great lesson of staying true to oneself over pretending to be some you're not for sake of love and attention.

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The Actors Slayed

I am not really a fan of the vertical drama format, but I have to give respect to this production team- they knew the format and told a really well-executed story in it. As a former film teacher, I recognize the talent and technical know-how to pull off as tightly crafted a story as this in this format. I truly respect the craft that is evident here, even if this mode of storytelling isn't my cup of tea.

But what truly shines here is the acting. it's natural, understated, and despite a script that missed important story beats, the actors' performances somehow provided those beats. There were scenes and arcs that seemed alluded to and not explored, and yet the actors' tight performances made me feel like I had witnessed those scenes.

Overall, it had the warmth and naturalness of Thamepo with a slightly more mature couple. Highly recommend.

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Arisu & Usagi is the luckiest character i've ever seen

Banyak banget yg harus dibahas, ending game ngga clear kayak season sebelumnya. Tapi yang lebih aku sorot di sini chemistrynya Arisu Usagi as couple married tuh kurang banget, sama plot armor mereka yg lumayan tebel pas scene pusaran air itu, beruntung bgt bisa selamat tanpa tertimpa, tertusuk, dan terseret puing-puing bangunan tinggi di sekitar mereka.

Disamping itu aku suka banget banyak karakter ga penting langsung mati gitu, I feel so satisfied.

Dan Usagi aku hampir kesel sama aku waktu kamu bilang "Kita bisa bertemu di sini berkat dia" Instead of kamu nanya kenapa arisu dateng juga NYAMPERIN KAMU KE BORDERLAND.

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Secret Lover: Blink and They’re Already Making Out

I was so excited waiting for this one to finish airing. A best friends-to-lovers trope from a Taiwan BL? That’s supposed to be my Roman Empire. I was ready for slow burn, tension, yearning — the kind of emotional suffering we live for. But instead of a slow burn, I got a speed run. The series jumped straight into Freakytown before I even had time to finish my popcorn. Episode 1? They’re making out. By episode 4? They’re already in bed. Like… can we breathe first? Can you yearn a little before we start undressing? BLs without a build-up feel so off, especially when these two were supposed to be best friends with zero preexisting feelings. Realistically, if your best friend suddenly confesses, you’d at least need a few days or even longer to emotionally spiral before kissing them. But nope — these two skipped the spiral and went straight to “we’re in love now.” Jun Xi said Han Tuo was moving too fast, and honestly for the audience that was even faster. The audience needed a seatbelt. The pacing was just insane — there was no room for character or relationship development, which sucks because the plot idea was actually good. It could’ve been a gem, but they rushed it like there was a prize for moving like the speed of light. Now, I’ll give credit where it’s due: the chemistry was good! Like, they looked great together. But chemistry can’t fix a broken plot. And I swear, the side characters were eating them up. I was way more invested in the two girls than the main couple because they actually felt real. The parents? Adorable. The brother? Supportive king. The funny moments? Lifesavers. Those are honestly the only reasons the rating isn’t lower. Also, Han Tuo being jealous of a literal child was wild behavior. Sir, be serious. You can tell that man wasn't ready for a relationship and honestly, probably neither was Jun Xi. I think if anything Han Tao needed therapy. Anyway, safe to say I’m disappointed once again. Taiwan BL used to have that magic — what’s going on lately? Someone bring back the yearning, please.

Rating: 7.5/10 (for the acting, the side characters, and the comedy that unintentionally saved the show).

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Hilarious and kissing moments

First half of the drama was focused on introduction to characters and e-sports which I like.
My favourite part is the second half of the series when the ML played by Xu Kai has made his relationship with FL public. There were plenty of lovey-dovey moments which show great chemistry between ML and FL. They had to face strong reactions from the fans who were jealous of such relationship, which is normal in real life but still unpleasant. I feel anxious for the couple.
There were plenty of funny banters amongst the teams which I also love, especially when they started to be suspicious of the relationship between their captain and their female team member. The incident in their gym was so funny that I was laughing out loud until I had tears in my eyes.
Xu Kai is my favourite actor. He is so dreamy! His kissing scenes were super delicious ☺️ he played this role very well, and I suppose that’s a credit to the screenwriters as well.
The FL is super cute. She was not clingy which is a great bonus and has made it easier to watch. She showed strong character despite her young age. She was actually the strength and super glue for the team that held the team together in challenging times.
The ending seemed a bit rush. I was hoping to see the ML and FL tying up the knot, but am still quite happy of where they got to in their relationship and career.
Overall, this drama is quite entertaining from beginning to end. With 31 episodes, I managed to finish watching it in 3 days, it would have been sooner if I didn’t have to work during the day 🙂Unlike some dramas where I had to stop watching because of bad storyline or acting, I highly recommend you watch Falling into your smile.

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A very much needed (and greatly appreciated) surprise.

I went into this drama with low expactations. KBLs were once my favorites, but this year was somehow disappointing, so I just started it with this in mind. But oh damn, was I wrong. This one surprised me in so many different ways - and I am not complaining about it.

Korea feeds us well with this drama, as well as with My Secret Vampire. Both dramas have this typical korean charm and magic feeling and i love them both.

MBiS was entertaining, funny, charming and had sooo many moments I kept rewinding over and over and over again, because it was so much fun to watch them. It made me giggle, it made me kick my feet, it made me swoon and it made me feel connected to the characters. I can totally relate to Ae Jun!

The story feels like a breeze of fresh air. We don't get hit too hard with the stereotypical tropes & it has a nice little twist, which I haven't seen like this before (and I watched a bunch of dramas :') )

I loved the acting - I always think Idols have a nice base for acting since they have to do all the fanservice and stuff. :D

I agree when it comes to the soundtrack..for an Idol drama, we have very little songs. The only thing that reminds us of Si Yeol being an Idol is the fact that Ae Jun doesnt let us forget that he's a big fan. But that wasnt something that bothers me, because I usually dont watch idol-dramas. Not a big fan of those plot bc of several tropes that get usually used there.

The side couple was amazing, too. They could have been a little more fleshed out, but I also dont deduct any points for the way they are now. I have a bad crush on Lee Byung Hun now. T_T

Pacing is an important factor for me and I was able to binge episode 3-8 without any issues. It kept me engaged, happy and entertained. c: It doesn't feel dragged or noticeably rushed in a way that it would hurt the story.

Overall, its a comfy, funny, adorable show with nice actors, a good soundtrack and a ton of relatable moments if you are a fan of something yourself. It's been a while since a drama had me this obsessed, happy, giggling and excited about it, so I am truly relieved that i didnt skip this gem. :D

I highly recommend it for the ones that miss the typical k-feeling in the recents KBLs. (And go watch My Secret Vampire!!!)

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Iconic martial arts scenes

Contrary to what most have said abt the pace gg slow, I think I do not have issues abt it. The title is literally 'The Journey of Legend', so of course the pace will be laid out such that we get to go on a journey. Everybody expected the MC to be strong from the beginning, but if that was the case, there would not exist a character development, and watching it up to this point is worth it because of the growth in the MC. Cheng Yi embodies it so well that he literally shut haters up so fast that all they find fault with now is his hairstyle, which i think looks fabulous anyway. He plays dual characters effortlessly, and the clear distinction he plays each nvr fails to impress me.

This is a drama that has high rewatch value because of its values of righteousness, loyalty and family ties. And of course, again the fight scenes are truly what makes it a wuxia.

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