Alice in Borderland season 3 is close to perfect – but still offers more questions than answers

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A star rating of 4 out of 5.

Netflix’s “Alice in Borderland” made a splash as its first major Japanese series, based on Haro Aso’s popular manga. It was a compelling blend of bizarre mystery and intense, deadly games – and it arrived just before similar shows like “Squid Game” captured the world’s attention.

Season 2 concluded the story by finally bringing Arisu and Usagi together in the real world. Throughout the season, we saw Arisu grow from a rebellious teen obsessed with games into a determined man who values his relationships.

Some time has passed, and Usagi and Arisu are now married and building a life together. However, Usagi continues to struggle with the pain of her father’s death. Meanwhile, Arisu keeps encountering people who seem connected to her father and the mysterious meteorite that hit Shibuya.

Arisu is a counselor who’s approached by a researcher named Ryuji about a trip and some strange games. Arisu claims he doesn’t remember anything about it, but it’s obvious he’s not being truthful.

After Usagi vanishes, Arisu experiences a strange vision of a man pressuring him to participate in more games – similar to a scenario from the movie *Saw*. The man is insistent, and Arisu receives a Joker card. This card unlocks a forgotten memory: his previous experiences in a mysterious place called Borderland, and the games he previously won there.

Ryuji Matsuyama is a new and intriguing character who’s been hinted at in trailers. Driven by a past trauma, he’s determined to uncover the secrets of Borderland and the games others have spoken about. However, he’s not very approachable, and it’s currently unclear whether he’s genuinely assisting Usagi or simply exploiting her to satisfy his own fixation.

Ryuji is the unpredictable element this season, and that’s no accident! We don’t know much about him yet, other than his fascination with risky, life-threatening situations. He also uses a wheelchair, which creates some unique challenges and opportunities in the game.

Previously, the characters in Borderlands were all physically capable. Ryuji’s addition challenges the game developers to be more creative, especially in how they design challenges for the Spades.

Borderland remains strikingly beautiful yet unsettling. The deserted, almost autumnal version of Tokyo feels reminiscent of the atmosphere in ’28 Days Later,’ creating a sense of being in a transitional space – a quieter, more old-fashioned echo of reality, existing outside of normal time.

The show keeps up its distinctive style, blending impressive sets, creative camera angles, and visual effects to create a truly alien feel for Borderlands – from its famous laser lights to the broken-down technology and empty streets.

The combination of technology and gaming is delightfully disorienting, and it’s so clever that viewers might even rewatch key moments – like Mira’s clues – in the season 2 finale.

Is Borderland a virtual reality game? Or could it be a collective near-death experience? It’s unclear if the character was deliberately deceiving Arisu, or simply playing mind games. The world’s design intentionally avoids clear answers, focusing instead on the desperate fight for survival and the harsh consequences – deadly laser beams – that await those who fail or break the rules.

The games remain the most exciting part of the season, and Arisu’s talent for strategy is particularly noticeable, reminding us of the very first game in season one when he and his friends hadn’t yet realized how deadly Borderland could be. There are no second chances, no appeals, and no way to ask for help – it’s simply a matter of life and death through the games.

This season establishes some of the core principles of the Borderland world, though it doesn’t always stick to them. Many of these rules seem to come from the manga sequels, Retry and Alice on Border Road. But you don’t need to read those to follow along. If you enjoyed the first two seasons, you can jump right back into Arisu and Usagi’s fight for survival.

The games remain intense and surprisingly creative, delivering powerful emotional moments when you’re least prepared. It’s easy to overlook how impactful games can be when they challenge your expectations, but this season perfectly demonstrates that power.

Some of the most interesting parts of the show are brief glimpses into what others are experiencing. The series often points out that many people are living their own separate lives within Borderlands, playing out individual stories, even when it doesn’t seem like everyone is involved in the same major event, like the meteor strike.

This season really shines when it comes to locations, featuring everything from unusual and creative settings to instantly recognizable ones. The visual effects and set designs are also noticeably improved, with a slightly surreal quality that keeps viewers engaged and questioning the world around them.

The six-episode delay didn’t hinder the show at all. Like previous seasons, it’s a fast-paced, thrilling experience that keeps you hooked from beginning to end.

As a movie and TV fanatic, I’d say most of the episodes really dig into the characters – who they are, what they’ve been through, and how they’re trying to survive. Plus, the actual ‘games’ within the show are a big focus. If you’re like me and love a good mystery with a few more questions thrown in, you’ll definitely enjoy how things unfold. Just know that all the big lore reveals really come together in the final episode – that’s where you’ll find everything tying up (and maybe opening up even *more* questions!).

Alice in Borderland remains a hit on Netflix. While this season wraps up the stories of Arisu and Usagi, and includes callbacks to previous episodes, there’s potential for future storylines if Netflix chooses to continue the series.

This season features a lot of new content, drawing inspiration from the manga spin-off, Retry. Because the author of the main series also created this spin-off, it could potentially be adapted into its own anime if this season performs well.

Here’s hoping we’ll be returning to Borderland again soon.

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2025-09-18 18:05