When Alice in Borderland was released back in 2020, it got everyone talking about it. It is one of the shows that made the pandemic a bit more bearable. Now, with the release of season 3, fans are going wild about it. The return of their favorite characters and the exciting journey with each episode is finally here. Season two’s ending left many baffled when they saw their favorite characters nearly dead. The previous seasons were a complete blood bath. As the new season dropped, fans have been wondering whether this season will also be equally dramatic as the last two. Let’s leave the benign talk and dive right into the discussion of Season and what exactly it is all about.
A Recap of Season 1 and 2
In both seasons, Arisu was seen mourning the death of his best friends. The guilt followed him throughout the episodes. It took him a long time to come to terms with their death and, later, finally accept it. After he did, there was a newfound reason for him to live.
Right after this, the introduction of Usagi took place. Along with Usagi Takeru Danma, Hatter was also seen. There was a lot of drama around these characters, and eventually, Hatter was found dead. The face card game turned out to be more challenging than the earlier ones. Not to mention, the Queen of Hearts session was a huge psychological thrill. Later, when all was done, Arisu’s waking up in the hospital scene revealed many secrets relating to the game. While season 1 ended with a lighter tone, season 2 ended on a darker note. The hinting of the Joker card pushed the direction of the show towards a season 3.
Does season 3 follow the Book?
Not entirely, this season takes bits from Alice in Borderland: Retry by Haro Aso. The manga had a total of 13 chapters, which, in an adapted live-action, will be divided into 6 total episodes. The story is a direct continuation of the main storyline. The plot now has Arisu and Usagi married and living a happy life together, but an unfortunate incident happens, which will bring one of them back to the situation that almost took their lives. The main focus of the plot is on the Nine of Hearts game. Unlike the previous season, this season is going to focus more on other themes while still maintaining the integrity of the original story.
What Happens in Season 3
The story in season 3 is going to move a step ahead of the manga. This gave the director a chance to dive deeper into the less explored themes in the story. There is going to be more emotional depth in the characters, and this fresh new series brought a lot of twists. Both the loved characters, Usagi and Arisu, will be facing more grave situations. The game this time revolves around the Joker Card. There is more intensity and tension on the screen, after so many obstacles, when finally it was a calm window in the lives of people who participated in the game earlier. This time, there is no rest for the participants; instead, there are more difficulties.
Will The Cast Remain Same Or ?
To much of the relief of many loyal fans of the show, some of the favourite characters remain the same. Although there are some new faces this time, some of the familiar faces remain intact. The character of RyĹŤhei Arisu will still be played by Kento Yamazaki. Tao Tsuchiya, too, will be playing the role of Usagi. Some of the new faces include Kento Kaku as Ryuji and Koji Ohkura as Tetsu. Regardless of new angles and faces, we can still expect an action-packed thriller from each of the roles. It is a bummer when the roles that resonate hard do not reappear, such as NijirĹŤ Murakami will not be returning, according to the sources.
Plot, Themes, and More
As the story takes off with Arisu’s return to the borderland, there will be much more than just survival. The main characters try to lead their life in a meaningful way, and they are again thrown back into the unwanted situation. Based on that, there is a theme of life and death. The trauma they have endured throughout the previous seasons will also resurface. The sacrifices that we saw in season one and some in season two will also play a part in this one. There will also be a theme of introspection, where Arisu has to decide whether he wants to fight for the people he cares for or live a life like an ordinary man. In the earlier seasons, the theme of love was explored, but not with the intensity that you will see in this season.
Also Read: One Battle After Another; Everything We Know So Far (No Spoilers)
Will there be Season 4?
It is disheartening to say that there is no concrete confirmation regarding the production of season 4 of Alice in Borderland. However, director Shinsuke Sato has shown interest in the idea of having a next season. Whether there is a next season or not, what we have now is the recent release of season 3, which has been buzzing among the fans. Maybe, based on how the audience receives this season, there will be discussion about the next.
Final Thoughts
To wrap up, Alice in Borderland Season 3 came at the right time. It made the fans wait for almost 3 years. Now that it’s finally out, all the curiosity and questions have finally gotten their answer. The favorite characters have returned to play their role, and some new faces have also been added. Just as the other 2 seasons had impressed the audience, this season also did not disappoint. The series is available on Netflix with all its 6 episodes. Don’t wait any longer and just stream this epic thriller now.Â
Written by Kenbi Riba