Alice in Borderland Season 3 makes its way back for a third round, dragging us once again into that twisted, dreamlike Tokyo where every game feels like a matter of life and death. It’s a feast for the eyes, no doubt about that — sleek visuals, bold action, and a pulse that doesn’t quit. But beneath all the fireworks, something’s missing. The story starts strong, only to lose its footing as it tries too hard to outdo itself. What you end up with is a show that’s thrilling one moment and downright confusing the next.
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A Strong Start That Falters in the Final Lap
The new season kicks off in familiar yet intriguing territory. Arisu and Usagi, now married and trying to rebuild their lives after the chaos, find themselves sucked right back into the Borderland. Early on, things look promising — smaller games, sharper tension, that good old edge-of-your-seat energy. For a while, it feels like the show’s back to its clever best.
Then, somewhere around the halfway mark, it starts slipping. The rules get murky, the logic bends, and by the time the final game rolls around, the whole thing feels like a puzzle that’s been overworked. The climax aims for emotional grandeur, but instead of landing smoothly, it stumbles. There’s plenty of spectacle, sure, but the heart and clarity that once held it all together start to fray. To be fair, it’s entertaining, but the sense of control that made the earlier seasons so gripping just isn’t there anymore.
The Joker’s Wild: Spectacle Over Substance
The infamous Joker card — teased at the end of Season 2 — finally takes centre stage here, and it’s a mixed bag. The idea itself has great potential: chaos embodied, a symbol of pure unpredictability. But instead of adding depth, it ends up giving the writers an excuse to twist logic whenever convenient.
The early magic of Alice in Borderland was in the mental chess — figuring out the games alongside the characters. This time, that’s gone. You’re left watching an avalanche of visual noise: big explosions, laser beams, CGI everywhere. Beautiful to look at, sure, but it feels hollow. The deserted Tokyo backdrop still steals the show — haunting, lonely, cinematic — but after a while, it’s like staring at a glossy postcard from a place you no longer recognize.
Underdeveloped Characters and a Weak New Cast
Here’s where the cracks really show. Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) still bring emotional depth, but their storyline this season feels recycled — the kind of “love conquers all” arc we’ve seen before. The new characters, meanwhile, barely get time to breathe. Ryuji, a brilliant researcher in a wheelchair, starts off interesting but is quickly sidelined. Others come and go before we even learn their names.
One of the things that made Alice in Borderland great early on was how every player, even the minor ones, felt real and flawed. Now, most of them feel like extras — props to move the plot along. And Arisu being painted as a “Chosen One”? That’s where it loses me. He was compelling because he was ordinary, just clever and desperate enough to survive. Turning him into a messianic figure undercuts that charm completely.
The “Game of Thrones” Curse: Beyond the Source Material
You can tell the writers have gone beyond the manga — and not in a good way. It’s that same “Game of Thrones” problem: once the original story runs out, the cracks start to show. The lore gets bigger, louder, and somehow less interesting.
This season tries to explain how the Borderland actually works, throwing in ideas about shared near-death experiences and shadowy figures running the show. But instead of clearing things up, it just tangles them further. The mystery used to be part of the fun — not knowing was what made it unsettling. Now, it’s like someone switched the lights on in a haunted house. You can see everything clearly, but the fear’s gone.
Verdict: A Flawed but Watchable Descent
Let’s be honest — Alice in Borderland Season 3 isn’t a total flop. It’s slick, loud, and at times, genuinely exciting. The lead performances are solid, and the visuals still slap. But the writing? Bit of a mess, mate. The story stretches itself thin, the finale fizzles out, and too many characters get lost in the noise.
It’s the kind of show you’ll finish because you’ve come this far, but you might not feel the same spark you did before. Visually, it’s a knockout; emotionally, it’s running on fumes. In the end, Alice in Borderland plays its most dangerous game yet — trying to top its own legend — and this time, the house wins.
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