Reviews

Unnecessary addition, but still intriguing

Although an unnecessary addition and maybe Netflix's cash grabbing opportunity, this original material got me excited nonetheless, although I didn't kept much expectation.

Season 3 starts with an obsessed professor to have a near life-or-death experience. He lures Usagi to the game again, ultimately causing Arisu to join the game.

As we saw in the earlier seasons, this piece continues to give us high stakes game that are thrilling, although a bit sluggish at times. The new characters doesn't create much impact, except Rei. This season has less episodes compared to S1 and S2, however the slow pacing (especially in Eps 5 and 6) makes it less intriguing.

From games perspective, some were fresh while some were seen in earlier seasons which automatically diminished my excitement a little. The emotional aspect was given more weightage towards the final episodes.

Coming to the finale, I would say it gave us little answers and more questions. Although we got to take a look into Borderland's existence, we didn't get much insight though. Viewers maybe divided with the season finale in my opinion.

Overall, Season 3 of Alice In Borderland is an unnecessary addition, that still manages to engage it's viewers with high stake contests and the lead characters. An enjoyable season, if not fulfilling or relevant.

My Rating : 7.5/10

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Average because Seasons 1 & 2 set the Bar High

For me, Alice in Borderland Season 3 was average compared to the first two seasons. It had its moments, but it didn’t live up to the high standards set before. Here’s why:

🔹 Versatility

The first two seasons gave us real versatility — diverse strengths of characters, different ages and personalities, backstories that made even villains compelling, and the clever parallels to Alice in Wonderland. Every main character had their own strength: some excelled in mind games, some in physical battles, some in leading, and some in simply playing an unforgettable villain.

Season 3, however, felt like it revolved almost entirely around Arisu and Usagi. Yes, Rei and Ryuji were interesting additions, but they weren’t enough to match the level of depth and charisma from earlier seasons. Season 1 & 2 set a standard of rich ensemble characters, but this season fell short of that balance.

🔹Game Strategies

At first, I honestly thought Arisu had lost his brain. Later, his spark came back, but it was never quite enough. In previous seasons, Arisu impressed us with both physical and psychological tactics — his strategies were sharp, creative, and thrilling to watch. Fans loved the way he thought through problems. But this season felt different. His planning seemed weaker, and the other players just followed him blindly without offering their own ideas. That took away some of the excitement and teamwork that made earlier seasons so engaging.

🔹 The Games

The games in Season 3 were decent but not as fascinating as the ones in Seasons 1 & 2. The psychological games lacked the depth that made earlier ones iconic. For example, the “thinking game” felt too easy — if Chishiya had been there, it would’ve been solved in no time. The physical games also seemed less intense compared to previous seasons, which lowered the tension.

🔹 Ryuji

Ryuji was one of the most disappointing parts of the season. His character had huge potential, but the writing let him down. He often came across as confused, sometimes wanting to save Usagi, other times wanting to kill her. This inconsistency made his arc frustrating. With stronger writing, Ryuji could’ve been as powerful and memorable as Ann, but instead, he felt wasted.

🔹 Netflix’s Influence

I really blame Netflix here. The first two seasons were written with passion, but this season felt more like a money grab. The ending was especially frustrating — recycling elements from Squid Game like sacrifice, children, and even hints at an American spin-off. Sure, both Alice in Borderland and Squid Game are different stories, but Netflix made them feel similar in a way that invites unnecessary comparisons. Instead of finishing strong, it felt like they were trying to stretch the franchise for profit.

🔹 The Real Mission

We all expected Season 3 to finally give us answers — the ultimate mystery behind the Borderland. But instead, it added more questions while solving almost nothing. The story pulled us deeper into another version of “Alice,” leaving the mysteries of reality still unresolved.

What I Did Like

It wasn’t all bad. In fact, some aspects were brilliant:

-First of all, it has some great CGI scenes. Oh my goodness, the CGI was so on point and looked really suitable for the new era. And the beauty of the cinematography — I noticed they used the black-and-white theme really well. The flood scene and the time-stopping in that scene are two of my favorites.

The concepts of the games really matched well with the Joker card. The Joker card usually means chaos, unpredictability, and potential. In the zombie game, most people thought it was best if players stayed human. But in the end, we could see that being a zombie was actually a good idea. If everyone became a zombie, they wouldn’t have needed shotguns or vaccines, and just by playing a random card game, they could have passed. (Correct me if I’m wrong.) Also, in the last game, Arisu was the real winner. This shows the unpredictable side of our life and the game of cards. The Joker might not be useful or powerful in some games, but it can change the possible future unpredictably. But again, “Joker is just a card,” just like the hat man said. It only distinguishes between death and life, but this very card holds the unpredictability of future actions. At first, we thought Banda might be the Joker, but the truth is the Joker is nothing and everything at the same time.

Lessons: S3 played a big role in giving lessons. In Season 3, we can see many lessons that really connect with the real world. Even though everything is in the hands of someone greater, you can always choose to be who you want. The hat guy, who might seem like the Joker, I think, is more like the Grim Reaper — dressed in all black, standing between life and death. Even though Arisu’s life depended on his choice, he somehow managed to win because of his own will. It also shows that helping others never goes to waste — everyone paid back their kindness to Arisu. I also loved when they showed them their future. Even though some of them believed it, real fate is in their own hands. That’s why Arisu did not pick the doors just because they showed him a possible future — but built his own way.
A big thanks for bringing Ken Watanabe, the legend who played major roles in Inception, The Last Samurai, Batman Begins, and Pokémon Detective Pikachu.
Chishiya’s Cameo: A small moment but deeply satisfying. Just as Chishiya and Arisu had challenged each other in games, their brief exchange in this season carried emotional weight.

Final Thoughts

Overall, Season 3 left me with a bittersweet feeling. The acting was top-notch, and the production quality was amazing, but the storytelling lacked the same fire as the first two seasons. It failed to give the closure we wanted, introduced underdeveloped characters, and leaned too heavily on familiar tropes.

Yes, it delivered powerful visuals, meaningful lessons, and a few standout moments — but considering the brilliance of Seasons 1 & 2, this finale felt like a letdown. It wasn’t terrible, but it wasn’t the great conclusion we hoped for either.

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Didn't expect that Drama to blow me away

I have to say - i didn't expect much at first because my go-to Genre isn't normally this one BUT! The Story was really good, and the acting!!! Oh what a rollercoaster!
Everyone did such a great job - the twist and turns in the story were really nerve wrecking and kept me at the edge of my seat.
Wei Ming and his parents- i'm at a loss for words...the actors did such an amazing job, because i reaaaaally hated those characters, they were so hard to bear (Wei Mings Mother...i can't pff). Buuuut- Wei Ming got what he deserved in the end., while even then he wasn't able to admit he was in the wrong - no conscience whatsoever.
Lin Shuang had to deal with so much and she still fought through and did her best to be there for Guo Guo while building up her life again- and without the help of her parents and good friends a lot of that wouldn't have been possible - and Gu Xu played a big part in all of that to find herself again. She could be herself with him and they made each other stronger, while Wei Ming took everything from her, always put the blame on her and even after the divorce still tried to tear her down.
Jiang Xi had a really hard life and then encountered so many situations that were hard for her (the one with Wei Ming was on her), but she grew so much as a person from that and we see until the end that she fights with herself because until Lin Shuang came along that she had no one stand behind and protect her. So even when i first wasn't that amused about their connection and growing friendship - with every episode i grew fonder of the bond between Lin Shuang and Jang Xi.
Alliance shows a perfect example of people who can't and won't take accountability for their actions and those who see that they have been in the wrong to correct their path and grow and that even when enduring hardships - a good and clear heart is the way to go.

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So good and entertaining

I won’t give away any spoilers, but I can say for sure that this drama is truly worth watching. What makes it stand out is how refreshing and fun it feels from the very beginning — it doesn’t try too hard to be dramatic or heavy, instead it embraces a lighthearted and engaging atmosphere. The characters Hiraku and Haruka are absolutely delightful; their personalities balance each other so well, and their interactions bring a genuine warmth to the story. You can really see their relationship grow in small, subtle ways that make the whole experience more enjoyable.

The storyline itself is simple, but that’s part of its charm — it’s cute, easy to follow, and never drags. It’s the kind of drama you can relax with, where you don’t need to worry about complicated twists or overly intense emotions. Instead, it gives you those little moments of joy that leave you smiling. If you’re in the mood for something light, comforting, and full of heart, this drama is definitely the one to watch.

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A Masterpiece - Captivating from the start!

I can't believe I finished this series in 2025. It had long been on my list of the best Chinese historical dramas, but I kept postponing it due to its daunting 70-episode length and after reading viewers’ critical comments about the ending. Lately, I've only had the patience for dramas that are around 24 episodes. Despite this, after struggling to get through several full-length 40-episode series starring some of today's most popular actors, I decided to give this one a try, telling myself I could drop it if it didn't capture my interest.

To my surprise, this series grabbed my attention straight from episode 1 and maintained it all the way through episode 55. I never felt the need to fast-forward or skip an episode, which is something I've often done with other recent dramas. This speaks to the show's quality—it's a true masterpiece that deserves all the acclaim and awards it has received.

While the entire cast delivered great performances, it was Chen Kun and Ni Ni who truly made the series unforgettable. Their characters Ning Yi and Feng Zhi Wei were made for each other. I can't imagine any other actors taking on their roles. Only actors of Chen Kun and Ni Ni's caliber can express intense passion and longing while barely touching. Their performances demonstrate how physical proximity is not always necessary to convey powerful emotions. Through subtle gestures, lingering glances and restrained movements, they captivate audiences, making the connection between their characters palpable. Equally impressive is their ability to communicate without words. As two soul mates who simply know each other, Ning Yi and Feng Zhi Wei use silence, glances, and body language to create a profound sense of understanding. This wordless exchange is a testament to their skill as actors, allowing viewers to feel the depth of their bond without explicit dialogue. Chen Kun's portrayal of Ning Yi was exceptionally brilliant—he brought depth to a complex character with many layers, from intelligence and moral ambiguity to ruthlessness, vengefulness, all under a facade of carefreeness. Yet, Ning Yi was also deeply loyal and loving toward his mother and FZW. The chemistry between him and FZW was palpable, visible in the playful glint in his eyes and the tenderness he showed her. Their relationship, evolving from intellectual rivals to allies and eventually lovers, formed the heart of the drama. However, the environment around them was filled with deception, manipulation, treachery, and a longstanding feud between their families. Still, the storytelling, character development, and superb acting made the series compelling. Everything about this show was epic, from the cinematography to the music and costumes—some of the songs were heartbreaking to hear.

For me, the series began to lose its momentum after episode 55, when the story shifted to Jinshi. I understand the series had to be rewritten and underwent two rounds of reshoots to pass censorship, which likely contributed to the rushed storylines and some characters acting out of character.

It's unfortunate that we no longer see experienced, great actors like Chen Kun and Ni Ni in many dramas today. Instead, the industry tends to cast the same young "idol" actors repeatedly, selected more for their popularity than their skills. Many of these actors film multiple dramas in a single year, leaving little time to hone their craft, which often results in repetitive and uninspired performances. I wish more dramas were made like this one, focusing on strong storytelling, rich character development, and exceptional acting.

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Happy ending but...

A lot of people seem to have issues with this season because of nostalgia, and lack of references to earlier seasons. My only real complaint is the hint at a U.S. spin-off in the last scene. I'm going to pretend as it doesn't exist. Overall, they did a great job introducing new characters and handling the storytelling. The baby plot annoyed me a bit, but considering Japan’s low birthrate, I have a feeling this trope is here to stay. In addition, it wasn't nearly as annoying it was in a Squid Game. The standout newcomers for me were the actors who played Rei, Yuna, and Tetsu. I also really appreciated how they included the old characters with special cameos that felt natural. All in all, I'm glad that they managed to conclude the series on a happy note. Writers need to normalize happy endings.

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Forget the actual plot and watch it for the fluffy "plot"!

7.75/10 (That awkward in-between score where you kind of love it but also know this isn't life changing )

The cheat code to enjoy this drama is not to expect much. It isn't trying to reinvent the wheel, and you get the idea early on. It sticks to its lane..light, a bit fluffy and breezy to watch. It's easy on the eyes, with good chemistry between the leads, comedy that isn't cringey, although it had slightly uneven pacing and not enough angst.

The premise is simple yet fun. Na Aejoon, a fanboy, suddenly finds himself working alongside his idol, the charming Choi Si Yeol. The twist is that Na Aejoon keeps his fanboy status a secret, while Si Yeol has his own mysterious agenda for getting close to him.
Their chemistry is not smooth or effortlessly romantic. It is awkward and adorable. The height difference is just the cherry on the cake. Sometimes they did act like cringey clichés, but it kind of makes you smile rather than suffer. The visuals, their silly banter overall maintain that feel good vibe.

Now, coming to the biggest issue I had with this drama was Si Yeol’s character. It felt like a wasted potential. For most of the drama, he is playing the long game with his little revenge mission, which means his actual feelings don’t come into play until way too late. By the time the truth comes out, there is barely any space left for him to properly redeem himself.
I would have rather liked it if they had given him a lot more inner conflict earlier on. It would have given the drama enough and much-needed angst. The guilt, the hesitation, the tiny moments of self-doubt...we didn't get to see this.

As for the second couple, they were sweet but very underdeveloped. I know they had a tragic past, but I feel we didn't see them enough to believe it or have any kind of connection. The last-minute conflict resolution magic wand does its trick, and voilà... a happy ending.

Another thing that I feel they could have milked better is the whole idol fan relationship. They just brush past it pretty quickly.

Acting-wise, it was decent. Kevin, as Na Aejoon carried the role nicely. I felt the clumsiness, the second-hand embarrassment and the emotional scenes were spot on, especially when he was cooped up in his room. Kim Kang Min as Choi Si Yeol was charming too, but some of the heavier emotions didn't quite land. It wasn't terrible by any means, but when Aejoon cried, I felt something; however when Si Yeol cried (the classroom scene) lacked that impact.

Overall, this isn't a gourmet meal, but it will satiate your cravings. It has flaws but it's charming enough to forgive.
I would recommend it if you are looking for a short, fun, feel-good BL that's easy to binge. But don't expect clever writing or too much depth. It's a guilty pleasure kind of recommendation.

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Dark & Mysterious

This wasn't what I expected when I began watching, but it does turn out to be a very in-depth story to follow with a lot of twists & turns. It becomes so bizarre at times, but you can't stop watching it.
The main character, Hong Rang, appears to be antagonist at the beginning, but this is the type of story where nothing appears to be what it is. There were so many times I forgot who was actually good and who was bad in this series. It changes so much, you get mixed up on who to root for.
Bo Ah is great, as always. She never disappoints in bringing out every emotion possible on screen. Her, paired up with Jae Wook make a great team, although you wouldn't think so early on. These two evolve into a very believable couple.
Another character that really fools you into showing his true colors was Mu Jin. This character was tough to figure out, and Ga Ram shows us both sides of his talents at being liked and being disliked.
I think though, without a doubt, the most disturbing and evil character was Prince Han Pyeong. What an excellent job Kim Jae Wook does at bring out this wicked madman on camera. He's the perfect antagonist giving us such a disturbing performance. His death scene at the very end is brilliant and so well deserved.
Overall, it's a dark toned thriller & love story rolled into one. It makes for a great watch, becoming extremely entertaining, especially the later episodes.

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No… Did I need this season? No. Did I enjoy it? Unfortunately, also no.

Season 1 and 2 rank among my favorite seasons in all of television. Sadly, Season 3 didn’t live up to that standard — in fact, I was just waiting for it to finally end.

At first, I thought the weakest point was the games, but it turned out the whole season was simply… underwhelming. The plot felt bare-bones, predictable, and too linear, with each development lacking impact. It was mostly boring, poorly written, and since I know it’s not based on the manga, it really felt different (and not in a good way). Characters were shallow, nothing was properly explained (likely to avoid plot holes), and the story ultimately led to an ending that felt meaningless.

The biggest issue for me, however, was the characters. Aside from Arisu and Usagi, I couldn’t connect with anyone. The rest were flat and given so little depth that it was hard to care about them.

At one point, I considered giving it 6 stars just to be generous — but then I thought of other 6-star series I truly enjoyed, and it wouldn’t have been fair to them.

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It was good serie

I enjoyed this drama alot, from ep 1 to ep 7 it was so perfect and consistent, ep 8 didnt meet the level of previous episodes, i didnt like how it went
What i like about this serie :acting, storyline, music, cinematography
What i didnt like: ep 8. The final, miltrary issue solved so quickly, the evil dhivra!?!? The explanation of victor telling tanwa to not let trin come meanwhile we didn't need that, tanwa is not responsible for victor death even without that part and victor was so happy and proud that trin saw his speech so there is disconnection imo

Krailet and naran storyline was so captivating, the tension was crasy, we witnessed their love light up like fire and burn into aches. I expected sad ending for them since begenning but how they went with their seperation was underwhelming for such build up.

I liked Trin and tanwa, they were the opposite yet they completed eo, and glad they had happy endings, mileapo outstanding acting performance deserve to be mentioned.

Victor, the one who wished to see sky elsewhere but ended up being part of it, such lovely endearing and irritating sometimes character but i couldn't help but get attached to him, he was written so well, represented the voice of youth, the hope of freedom and young love, he become a centric character at some point and his death changed the dynamics of all relationships in the serie, definitely a character ill remember for long and love it the most.
Anyway this is definitely a serie worth the watch.

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An afterthought - I mean the season feels like an afterthought

The announcement of a third season itself felt like a capitalisation effort if I'm being honest - on the back of it's own popularity because the finale of season 2 of Alice in Borderland, except for a tiny bit, didn't really leave much to interpretation. I liked that about it. I was confused sure, had a ton of questions but I was satisfied with the ending. So when it was announced that it's coming back for another season, I thought 'yeah.. alright.. maybe we get some answers'
But now I'm just disappointed that I didn't anticipate my disappointment.

Firstly, and again, it's not like there was room for much interpretation except for that very last scene in the previous season finale. But I do appreciate a show that can end satisfactorily and still leave a bit to the imagination. Revisiting that plot over and over again kind of takes away the shock factor because you know what's coming.

I was going to watch it anyway though, and surprisingly, it held up so well! The story picked up perfectly from where it left off, the premise was quite exciting because all the characters, old and new, were now back in Borderland playing against the Joker, in a seemingly no structure, no rules situation - which I loved. It is the perfect embodiment of the joker card condensed into a plot.

The new characters were surprisingly very immediately likeable (which I've found is quite rare in sequels), the games once again had me on the edge of my seat, sometimes even made me cry (because we all know what goes down in them) and just watching Arisu on screen again was nice because I love Alice in Borderland. With each episode, the story just kept clicking into place and I was so happy. Finally! A sequel that felt fresh and innovative.

That thought lasted four episodes. Longer than I thought it would but not long enough. Because with every other scene, this season was starting to look more and more like another show I know. One that Netflix released just a while ago, one that I would rather not talk about. Not a huge deal in the massive scheme of things, but unfortunately, this is also where I started losing interest. They did manage to reel me back in with the final game, but wow. That finale..

I did not like that finale. Because I did not sit through five good episodes to end it with a debate on the crisis of existence. It left me with so many questions, and not any that I could answer myself. By the time it was over, I repeatedly asked myself 'that's it?'
Because all that happened, felt like it needn't have happened. The way they concluded it just felt so unsatisfactory and that's when I realized that right from the beginning, all the returning characters were behaving very uncharacteristically and at the end, I had recieved no answers to my questions from season 2.

This finale was not it, but even worse was the very last scene. For the love of all things good, let's not make this a habit. I'll once again mention the show I will not mention because they pulled the same thing months ago. LET'S STOP MILKING THE COW.
We do not need a remake. We do not need another sequel. Let's just not. This season itself felt like an afterthought, we do not need more.

This was a strange experience - I enjoyed it, but I'm still not satisfied. I loved seeing more, but I don't think the story needs to be developed any more! While it was nice to see all the characters from the first couple of seasons again, I hope they don't revamp this plot.

For six episodes, this was mostly enjoyable. If you enjoyed the prequels, chances are you will enjoy this season as well. You might also be just that bit disappointed, but it's fair.

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My Favorite ?

I really liked this story, so I'm leaving a comment.I really like the story and the acting.What I like most is ParkJin-woo Smile. He really Cute And Very Lovely 🥰His acting was so good that I almost cried.He's so alive, both when he's laughing and when he's crying, you can't even tell he's acting.I really love his smile.He's a really good actor.

For Kim Gang Min
He's a really good actor.I really like the acting scenes in the early episodes where he really falls in love at first sight.Then, finding out he was lying was a real breakthrough for me.He really acts so well, like my ex-boyfriend, acting like he loves me and not like me.(Sorry for the personal comments, haha)I really like how the story progresses gradually. It's not too big, but it's not too heavy, either.It doesn't feel like you're actually watching a movie, it feels like you're watching real life right next to them.Both of them acted very well.You acted so well that you were happy when they were happy and cried when they were crying.I only regret one thing, the episodes are too few. Can you please make about twenty episodes? I really can't watch enough of them.I'm rooting for both of them. May they be very happy and successful. I love them both (I love Park Jin-woo
with his sweet smile more).
#parkjinwoo #kimgangmin
@parkjinwoo @Kimgangmin

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the most TOXIC Cdrama, FL is EXPERT in Gaslight, deceiving lying and victim mood

the most toxic drama I've ever seen.

Rich people who wear the same pair of shoes from the first to the last episode, FL & ML had the same clothing and accessories throughout the whole drama. hahahahah it's hilarious

FL with serious mental problems, victim consciousness. I'm starting to doubt myself and see the dark side of Chinese culture, dramas and that people are not at all emotional and mental intelligence.

It's mind-boggling how this drama has such a high rating and people give it such high ratings.

Yes, interesting, many kisses per square meter. Sensual but aggressive, with REPE tendencies, and that's it.

How can he like ML stay with such a woman... a healthy love will never have this value.

She's emotionally intelligent. And all those who praise her will be people in future generations... it makes me shudder at what relationships in movies have come to... so-called inspirational relationships...

the producers focused on making the success about sex, kissing, fantasies... that there was nothing else...

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Has the visuals, but hope they can show us better story pacing

As expected for a Korean BL, the visuals are serving! All four of them are considered to be handsome. However, my favorite among them is the cousin of the MC, manager Ji Kyu Sung, also known as Hong Jun in real life. He can be manly and cute at the same time. I also love his character here. I just wish the second couple had more screen time and story, because their story and chemistry are equal to or greater than the main couple.

The story of a fanboy and a fan being together at the end sounds like a cliché. But in this show, I was invested in the plot twist that also became a double-edged sword for the main couple. I enjoyed the early days of flirting and slowly falling in love with the revelation that the idol star has its own motive for approaching Ae Jun.

Which also leads me to be disappointed in how they resolved this issue. It seems so fast, and the scenes were not convincing enough. I liked that they let Si Yeol hurt a little longer for what he deserved for betraying Ae Jun. But his character was just total trash when he tried to reconcile with the teacher without apologizing first. Also, Ae Jun forgiving him immediately after showing his room full of posters of his face seems unexciting and not well-written.

It is pretty enjoyable BL with a light story and an eye-candy set of cast. However, we can just disregard the lack of creative writing of the storyline, especially since the plot has the potential to be presented more entertainingly and reasonably. Nevertheless, I still had a great time watching this show.

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