Netflix’s Alice In Borderland Ended Up Being Way Better Than Squid Game (Dare Me to Prove It)

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Netflix keeps producing TV shows that become hits around the world. While many series have come and gone recently, Squid Game is clearly the streaming service’s most successful K-drama. The show focuses on people facing financial hardship and fighting for survival, presenting them with a chance to improve their lives by competing in rounds of classic Korean children’s games. As players are eliminated, the prize money increases. However, losing isn’t just about being out of the game-it means death. Through these games, the first season offers everything you’d expect from a compelling story, most notably highlighting the desperation of those struggling financially and hoping to win a life-changing amount of money.

However, that’s where the unique aspects of Squid Game stop, and it’s evident the first season would have been a better ending. Meanwhile, Alice in Borderland, another comparable series-a Japanese live-action adaptation of the manga-has maintained its quality through its subsequent two seasons. It appears the decision to create a second season of Squid Game was mainly due to the massive success of the first, suggesting the show wasn’t originally planned as an ongoing series and should have concluded after season one. Conversely, season 2 of Alice in Borderland logically expands upon the groundwork laid by its first season, flowing smoothly into the next chapter-something Squid Game struggles with as it tries to find its footing narratively.

Alice in Borderland Has Better Last Two Seasons Than Squid Game

Squid Game season 1 concludes with Seong Gi-hun winning the games and planning to visit his daughter in the U.S. He appears to come to terms with the horrific events. But when he sees the game recruiter again, it’s obvious the story isn’t over. Gi-hun sets out to find who started the games, and Hwang Jun-ho, the Front Man’s brother, is on the same path. However, the plot loses momentum. Gi-hun gets pulled back into the games, initially as a leader and a hopeful figure, but that role quickly falls apart. At the same time, Jun-ho’s search for the island becomes difficult to follow.

At the close of season 2, the groundwork laid for season 3 hints that Gi-hun will once again be unwillingly drawn into the deadly games, even to the point of taking another life – a shocking turn of events. The season ends with virtually no advancement in either Gi-hun’s or Jun-ho’s efforts to dismantle the games. While the story attempts to convey a message about the wealthy maintaining control, the storyline developed over the past two seasons feels unfulfilling, especially concerning Jun-ho’s character development.

However, the second season of Alice in Borderland keeps you hooked, pulling Arisu and his friends into even more challenging games while revealing the mystery behind the Borderland: it’s a place between life and death where people end up when they’re close to dying, and the only way to escape is to win. These interesting ideas allow season 2 to keep bringing new and creative games. Though some are quite extreme, they’re still captivating and compare well to the games in Squid Game, particularly because of the strong emotional stakes.

The constantly changing difficulties make the show more captivating, drawing viewers in just as much as the characters. While Arisu and Usagi’s return in season 3 isn’t quite as impactful as their first appearance, it still makes sense and smoothly sets up a new season without feeling disjointed. In the end, Alice in Borderland is the more compelling show, particularly when compared to seasons 2 and 3 of Squid Game, which feel like they don’t add much to the story and aren’t well-balanced. Because it maintains a consistent quality throughout all three seasons, Alice in Borderland is the stronger series overall. Additionally, although both shows introduce new storylines in their third seasons, the expansion in Alice in Borderland feels more logical than what’s planned for Squid Game.

Alice in Borderland‘s Expansion Will Be Better Than Squid Game‘s

A key factor in the success of Squid Game was how real it felt, achieved by having adults play children’s games. The show’s use of classic Korean games gave it a special cultural resonance and made it stand out. However, the potential for an American version, as suggested in the last season, threatens to weaken this core idea. Death games based on Korean childhood games wouldn’t fit well in America, and switching to American games would diminish the unique appeal that made the series so memorable. Unlike Squid Game, Alice in Borderland isn’t tied to a specific culture, which makes the idea of an American spinoff more logically sound.

Actually, the ending of Alice in Borderland suggests the main character of a possible spin-off might be called “Alice,” which would make more sense given the English title. While Squid Game was arguably more popular, its final two seasons weren’t as strong, and a US spin-off based solely on that popularity seems ill-conceived. In contrast, Alice in Borderland stays consistent throughout and offers a premise where an American spin-off could realistically be a good fit.

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2025-10-01 23:13