Alice in Borderland (Netflix; 2020 and 2024)
Season 1: Enter the Borderlands
Ryohei Arisu, a jobless gamer, spends his days playing video games, feeling alienated in the bustling world of Tokyo. While wandering the city with his two best friends, Chota (a meek office worker) and Karube (a bartender with a tough exterior), they are suddenly transported to an eerie, deserted version of Tokyo after a mysterious blackout. Welcome to the “Borderlands,” a world where survival depends on playing deadly games.
Arisu and his friends quickly discover the rules: participants must play life-threatening games to extend their “visa.” If a visa expires, a laser from the sky kills them instantly. Each game has a difficulty level indicated by a playing card. The suit determines the type of game:
Clubs: Teamwork
Diamonds: Intelligence
Spades: Physical strength
Hearts: Betrayal and trust
Their first game is “Dead or Alive,” where they narrowly survive by choosing the correct exits in a building rigged with traps. From there, the trio forms alliances with others trapped in this world, including Saori Shibuki, a cunning office worker, and Yuzuha Usagi, a skilled mountaineer who becomes Arisu’s closest ally.
As the games intensify, the group faces heartbreaking losses. In a cruel “Hearts” game, Arisu is forced to make impossible decisions, culminating in the deaths of Chota and Karube, who sacrifice themselves to ensure his survival. Devastated and guilt-ridden, Arisu continues playing, now fueled by a desire to uncover the truth behind the Borderlands.
He and Usagi team up to survive increasingly difficult games, including a deadly hide-and-seek challenge in which they confront the sadistic player group known as “The Beach.” The Beach is a cult-like community ruled by the charismatic but brutal Hatter, whose obsession is to collect all the playing cards in hopes of leaving the Borderlands. However, power struggles within The Beach lead to chaos when Hatter is killed and the violent Aguni takes over.
In the climactic “Witch Hunt” game at The Beach, players must find and burn the “witch” responsible for a murder. This high-stakes game exposes the players' cruelty and desperation. Arisu and Usagi uncover the truth: the victim sacrificed herself to test the players’ humanity. Despite the carnage, Arisu solves the game, and all the collected playing cards are handed over to mysterious “dealers.”
The season ends with a shocking twist: Mira, a seemingly kind psychiatrist, is revealed to be the mastermind behind the games. She promises that the “real game” is about to begin, leaving Arisu and Usagi to brace for what’s next.
Season 2: The Face Cards and the Fight for Freedom
Season 2 raises the stakes as Arisu, Usagi, and their allies face the next stage of the Borderlands: the Face Card games. Each game pits players against deadly “citizens,” the Borderlands’ permanent residents who embody the face cards.
The season opens with an explosive battle in the “King of Spades” game, a relentless deathmatch across the city. The King of Spades, a highly skilled sniper and combatant, hunts players ruthlessly, forcing Arisu and Usagi to flee. They regroup with new allies, including Heiya, a sharpshooting archer, and Bandou, a cunning yet unpredictable strategist.
Meanwhile, other face card games push the group to their limits. In a tense “King of Clubs” challenge, Arisu and his team must cooperate with their opponents to win a grueling team-based game, ultimately leading to mutual respect between the players and the King of Clubs.
The “Queen of Spades” game involves a high-stakes version of tag, where Usagi showcases her athletic prowess while grappling with her emotional trauma. Her bond with Arisu deepens, as they rely on each other for both survival and hope.
The most emotionally devastating challenge is the “Jack of Hearts” game, set in a prison where deception and mistrust reign supreme. Players wear collars that explode if they fail to identify the correct symbol on the back of their collars, leading to paranoia and betrayal. Chishiya, a calculating and aloof player, shines in this game, outwitting others through his intellect and manipulation.
As the games progress, Arisu and Usagi confront the psychological toll of the Borderlands. Flashbacks reveal their struggles: Arisu grapples with his guilt over his friends’ deaths, while Usagi mourns the loss of her father. Their shared vulnerability strengthens their resolve to fight for survival and find meaning in their ordeal. The season’s climax centers on the final two face card games: the “Queen of Hearts” and the “King of Spades.”
In the Queen of Hearts game, Mira challenges Arisu and Usagi to a series of mind games designed to break their spirits. Mira manipulates them with claims that the Borderlands are a hallucination created by Arisu’s grief over his friends’ deaths. Despite her efforts, Arisu and Usagi reaffirm their will to survive and their connection to each other, ultimately defeating Mira in a battle of wits.
Simultaneously, the group confronts the King of Spades in an all-out war. After suffering heavy casualties, Arisu and his allies manage to take him down, symbolizing their defiance against the oppressive system of the Borderlands.
The Truth behind the Borderlands
With all the face cards defeated, the survivors have a choice: remain in the Borderlands as citizens or return to the real world. Arisu and Usagi choose to leave, along with most of their allies.
In the final moments, the truth about the Borderlands is revealed: it’s a liminal space between life and death, where participants are those who have suffered near-fatal incidents in the real world. The games are a test of their will to live. Arisu wakes up in a hospital, learning he was caught in a meteorite explosion in Tokyo. Usagi and the other survivors were also victims of the same disaster. Though they retain no memory of the Borderlands, Arisu and Usagi feel a deep connection and meet again, hinting at a hopeful future together. The series concludes with a lingering shot of a Joker card, teasing that the story may not end.
Themes and impact
Alice in Borderland explores themes of survival, humanity, and the value of life. The games serve as metaphors for societal struggles, pushing characters to confront their deepest fears and desires. With gripping action, complex characters, and thought-provoking questions about morality, the series captivates viewers while leaving room for interpretation and speculation.
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