Netflix’s Alice in Borderland Season 3 Review: A Satisfying Finale

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It’s always difficult to end a successful TV show, and that was particularly true for the popular Netflix series *Alice in Borderland*. The show stood out from others like *Squid Game* with its unique take on deadly games. It made history as the first Japanese series on Netflix to be renewed for a third season, and impressively, it’s telling a completely new story – one that wasn’t part of the original manga it was based on. That created a lot of pressure for the creators.

The second season of *Alice in Borderland* concluded its story by explaining the true nature of the Borderland and allowing its characters to escape the deadly games. This also marked the end of the storyline from Haro Aso’s original manga, leaving viewers with many questions as the games begin again in the third and final season. Despite these uncertainties, *Alice in Borderland* Season 3 confidently explores new ground and delivers a remarkably satisfying conclusion.

Rating: 4 out of 5

PROS CONS
Brings It All to a Great Ending Only a Few Returning Characters
New Death Games are Well Made
Interesting New Characters You Care For

Alice in Borderland Season 3 Kicks Off a New Story

Season 3 of *Alice in Borderland* picks up several years after Arisu and Usagi escaped the deadly games. They’ve married, but have only fragmented, dreamlike memories of their time in Borderland. The story kicks off when Usagi is pulled back into the games by a researcher named Ryuji, and Arisu soon follows, drawn back in by a man called Banda who gives him a Joker card.

The latest season of the death games brings us back to the Borderland, but it had to carefully explain why Arisu and Usagi were drawn back into the competition after seemingly finding happiness. The show delivers a convincing reason for their return, forcing them to fight for survival once more. Adding to the intrigue, the reappearance of Banda from the previous season, alongside the introduction of a new ‘Joker’ card, creates a compelling mystery surrounding these new games.

The games in this final season are cleverly designed, starting with a simple, high-stakes card game and gradually becoming more complex. Unlike the second season, which felt rushed and disorganized with its many players, these games have clear, well-explained rules. This season improves things by not only limiting the number of players who can advance, but also by carefully structuring how they compete against each other.

The third season of the show demonstrates a lot of thoughtful design. A new core idea sets the Joker’s games apart from previous seasons – acknowledging that Arisu and Usagi are experienced players – making the season more captivating. The creators have skillfully balanced cooperative and competitive games, which increases the suspense and makes the outcomes feel less predictable, especially with the introduction of new characters.

Alice in Borderland Season 3 Introduces a Ton of New Characters

This new season of the games features only Arisu and Usagi returning, meaning viewers won’t see familiar faces from past seasons. Instead, a fresh group of players joins the competition, and they’re all compelling additions to the story. A key element of any survival game is making the audience connect with the participants, and that’s especially challenging when screen time is limited. Since viewers will likely expect Arisu and Usagi to survive, the new characters need to offer more unpredictable outcomes to keep things interesting.

Season 3 of *Alice in Borderland* continues to be unpredictable, introducing a new group of characters who face the same dangers as Arisu and Usagi. Despite not knowing who will survive, you quickly become invested in their stories. This is thanks to strong writing that gives each new character enough depth in a short amount of time, as well as a talented cast who bring a lot of energy and personality to their roles. This is especially welcome because the final season feels somewhat separate from the earlier ones.

Season 3 of *Alice in Borderland* feels like both a satisfying epilogue and a definitive conclusion to Arisu and Usagi’s story. It’s grander in scope than previous seasons, with a more focused narrative and streamlined games. While some familiar faces are missing, the new characters add a fresh dynamic. The season is meticulously crafted, from the writing to the final execution, resulting in one of the best finales for a Netflix original series in recent years – it’s a complete success.

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2025-09-17 18:16