In Season 1 of Netflix’s Japanese battle royale series, Alice in Borderland, two key elements stood out: director Shinsuke Sato’s use of frames and blocking to create a live-action anime feel, and the intriguing games that invited viewers to speculate about their outcomes and place themselves in the protagonists’ shoes. These qualities set a high standard for Season 2, and if you enjoyed these aspects, you’ll be pleased to know that the bar is raised even higher this time around. However, the uncertain future of the series may have caused some elements of the story to fall flat.
True to its manga roots (based on Haro Aso’s series), Season 2 of Alice in Borderland raises the stakes of the deadly games and introduces a lineup of bosses (or “citizens”) who actively participate in the competitions they design. This means that Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), Chishiya (Nijiro Murakami), and other players can only progress by defeating and killing more experienced participants who know more about Borderland than they do. This was hinted at the end of Season 1, and Season 2 quickly follows up by establishing the new hierarchy of Borderland. In Season 2 of Alice in Borderland, the stakes are raised with the introduction of powerful new antagonists known as “citizens.”
The greatest strength of Alice in Borderland Season 2 is its structure; the debut episode picks up right where Season 1 left off and starts the new season with intense action, featuring a ruthless boss that challenges everything Arisu and Usagi thought they knew about the games. The episodes then separate characters into different groups, forcing the story to jump between arcs, keeping it from becoming boring. This approach allows for a mix of understated, cerebral games and adrenaline-fueled ones, creating a perfect balance. Additionally, new characters are introduced, and while some don’t get the screen time they deserve, their presence adds to the excitement.
The decision to use separate narratives is crucial in making Chishiya the MVP of the season. In Season 1, his intelligence and wit were mostly taken at face value, but now we get to see him in his element. The games he participates in are the most interesting of the season and provide much-needed information about who’s behind the deadly games. Watching Chishiya overcome each challenge, you can’t help but admire his quick-thinking skills and feel a closer connection to him, especially during one of the season’s best cliffhangers.
Season 2 also emphasizes the harsh reality the characters are living in. While the games are entertaining to watch, the series never romanticizes them, often displaying their cruel nature in graphic ways. However, there are moments when the series forgets the high stakes it initially set. The first game is established as the deadliest, but its execution numbs viewers, requiring a high suspension of disbelief to maintain concern for the characters’ fates.
This brings us to the biggest issue with Alice in Borderland. Aware that it needs to provide answers eventually, the series initially reveals the truth about the “citizens” but hesitates to dig deeper into its own mysteries. The scripts by Shinsuke and Yasuko Kiramitsu keep delaying revelations, suggesting that key characters have learned important information without actually disclosing it. Before the final episode, the closest we get to understanding Borderland is when some characters find revealing footage, but the conclusion of that scene feels like a cop-out.
Alice in Borderland Season 2 : A Cliffhanger Ending That Leaves Much to Be Desired
By the final episode, you might expect an 80-minute runtime to provide a thorough explanation, but that’s not the case. Some answers are given, but the episode leaves the sense that Alice in Borderland shied away from exploring its core. Perhaps fearing cancellation without a proper ending, Shinsuke opts for the safest route to explain major questions. The good news is that the final tease in the last scene could be developed in a potential Season 3, making the ending forgivable. However, if this turns out to be the actual ending, it’s truly disappointing. Despite some shortcomings in providing conclusive answers, Alice in Borderland continues to captivate audiences with its high-stakes challenges and complex storylines.
With higher stakes and more intriguing games and characters, Season 2 of Alice in Borderland is a thrilling ride that never gets boring. The games are thought-provoking and immerse you in the players’ positions, keeping you engaged until the end. The new episodes also delve into the pasts of key characters, making them more interesting to follow and helping us speculate about their journeys in Borderland. Despite getting carried away with its deadly games and neglecting its themes, the critique of savage capitalism is still present in most episodes. Unfortunately, the final episode fails to satisfyingly expand on the show’s mythology.