Alice in Borderland Season 2 Finale: Unraveling the Mysteries and the Joker Card’s Hidden Meaning

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The second season finale of Alice in Borderland left viewers spellbound with an exhilarating cliffhanger, mirroring the original comic book series’ grandeur on Netflix.

For more than 100 years, Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland has been serving as a source of inspiration for various forms of media. Characters like Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz or Trinity from The Matrix can be seen as modern interpretations of Alice-like figures who venture into surreal and sometimes foreboding worlds by following white rabbits.

The Netflix series “Alice in Borderland,” derived from the manga by Haro Aso, stands out among other adaptations (except for direct interpretations of Carroll’s novel) as one of the most obvious reinterpretations of the Alice theme thus far.

Main character Arisu stumbles into a surreal adaptation of Tokyo, where he battles to stay alive in lethal contests, accompanied by characters such as the feline-named Chishiya and the eccentric Hatter, who seems unhinged. To add to the intrigue, there’s a villainous Queen of Hearts adding complexity to the storyline.

The second season premiered in December 2022, and we’re anticipating season 3 this year. A sneak peek suggests that a Joker card game will be featured, hinting at the possibility of the series expanding beyond its original content.

What happened in the Alice in Borderland season 2 finale?

Near the end of season 2’s second-to-last episode, hope seemed scant for our main characters.

In a heated confrontation, Niragi triggers a shootout with both Arisu and Chishiya. Tragically, Chishiya takes a fatal wound while bravely shielding Usagi. Moments later, the King of Spades emerges onto the street for a climactic, momentous battle. It seems that all characters except Arisu and Usagi suffer what appears to be lethal injuries during this conflict.

Arisu and Usagi make their way towards the decisive match – the Queen of Hearts game – with the intention of resolving matters, uncovering the truth, and ideally returning to their real world. This is where the season finale commences – our main characters closing in on the Queen of Hearts, perched atop a towering Tokyo skyscraper.

In my perspective, the concluding contest is subtly reminiscent of a classic croquet game, much like the one penned by Lewis Carroll, yet its apparent simplicity belies its complexity. The regulations appear straightforward: engage in three rounds without surrendering. However, it’s far from straightforward.

During an enforced tea interval following the initial round, the Queen of Hearts subtly employs psychological tactics to sway Arisu, aiming to persuade him to abandon the contest.

As a movie buff immersed in the intrigue of alternate realities, I’d like to share my perspective on this world: It seems this place is shrouded in mystery. In truth, we’re not just living in the present; we’re dwelling a millennium into the future. Future humans, having mastered immortality and alleviated suffering, have constructed this realm as a virtual playground. Ironically, they yearn for the raw emotion of fearing death, and their fascination lies with an era long past, when mortality was an undeniable reality.

Arisu disregards Usagi’s advice to ignore further involvement and instead finishes the game. However, this doesn’t happen as The Queen of Hearts continues to manipulate him by reminding him of his deceased friends and suggesting that she engineered the game where they perished (Seven of Hearts). This triggers an emotional response in Arisu, making him susceptible to believing more of The Queen of Hearts’ theories.

In this fictional universe, everything we witness is a manifestation of Arisu’s creative mind. The simplicity of the games, such as ‘tag’ and ‘hide and seek’, supports this notion, suggesting they are products of an unrefined imagination. These games, in essence, are simple children’s pastimes, born from Arisu’s immature thought processes.

In the first episode, we find Arisu awakening in what appears to be a psychiatrist’s office or an institution. The Queen of Hearts is seated before him, wearing a white coat. This initial scene, where the three friends observe fireworks before entering Borderland, marks the start of Arisu’s self-delusion.

At a bustling Tokyo intersection, his two companions met an unfortunate fate – they were struck by a vehicle and perished instantly. This tragic event left Arisu wracked with guilt, leading him to unconsciously create Borderland and its related games as a way to cope. In order to help him escape this delusional state, the Queen of Hearts proposed that he take medication. With a heavy heart, he conceded to this new circumstance, beginning to follow her advice.

As a fellow inhabitant within these walls, I stepped forward when I saw trouble brewing. To make myself known, I made a bold move – I sliced my wrist before his eyes. However, it was his past promise that resonated most with me – a pledge to shield me at all costs. Inspired by this vow, Arisu managed to break free from the Queen of Hearts’ enchantment and returned to Borderland, determined to complete our shared mission.

At last, Arisu concludes the croquet match, marking the definitive end to the games. With fireworks bursting overhead in Borderland, the remaining participants are offered a decision: they can stay or go back to reality.

In this viewing, we revisit the initial scene set at a bustling Tokyo intersection where Arisu walks with his trio of companions. However, on closer observation, it’s clear that other key characters have joined them in this particular instance – Usagi, Chishiya, Ann, Kuina, Tatta, Niragi, Aguni, Hatter, and Heiya are all present as well.

The fireworks we witnessed were actually fragments of a massive meteor that struck Tokyo at that location. Borderland, a place straddling life and death, was where those who perished in the games were fatally hit by the real-life impact of the meteor. Arisu and his fellow survivors from the season finale, including Ann who was revived in the hospital, have miraculously made it through the ordeal.

Despite not recalling their past in Borderland, Arisu and Usagi initiate a conversation and stroll off together. Their connection deepens (or persists) as they navigate the bustling hospital environment. As the episode concludes, the camera focuses on a Joker card situated within the hospital’s garden.

So what really happened, and what was with that Joker Card?

Considering the Queen of Hearts’ assortment of misleading tales involving future societies, extraterrestrials, asylums, and the final Joker card – it may leave one questioning the truth behind her meteor tale.

In the comic book, The Joker is indeed a character that plays an integral role in the narrative. He serves as a psychopomp, or guide, navigating the boundary between our world and the afterlife (often referred to as the “borderland”). Remarkably, he transports Arisu back to reality at the conclusion of the story.

It seems that the initial glance at season 3 hints towards the arrival of another lethal game, centered around the Joker card.

Buckle in!

Check out Alice in Borderland, currently streaming on Netflix! Subscribe to Netflix starting at just £6.99 per month or watch it on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream!

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2025-02-12 20:36