Alice in Borderland: Show Review

Hello dear reader!

How long has it been since I did a series review? Welcome back then, I guess!

Before diving in, don’t forget — Save time on your calendar on Jan 21st for the live event I’ll be hosting to help launch the 90s horror anthology, Ahh! That’s What I Call Horror! There will be live readings and giveaways! Don’t miss out!

Reserve your spot! The Show

First released in 2020, Alice in Borderland (今際の国のアリス) is a Japanese science fiction thriller based on a manga series by Haro Aso. Directed by Shinsuke Sato, it stars Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Yūki Morinaga, Keita Machida, Ayame Misaki, Nijirō Murakami, and Aya Asahina. Currently, there are two seasons (and hopefully another one coming soon.)

The story follows Ryōhei Arisu, a young man living in Tokyo, who gets trapped in an alternate abandoned Tokyo where people are forced to compete in dangerous games. These games are dictated in style and difficulty based on the playing card assigned to them. Avoid playing in these games and your ‘visa’ runs out then a sky laser zaps you in the brain, killing you. Ryōhei, and his band of survivors, desperately fight to survive these games while trying to make sense of the world they live in now and how they might get out.

The Review

I was originally drawn to this show because I am a bit of a fan of survival films/shows like Battle Royale and Hunger Games — Alice in Borderland has a very similar vibe and did not disappoint! The concept is super interesting — a large population is drawn into a mirror version of the city they live in and then forced to play in games to survive. Weird, brutal, and fast-paced — Alice in Borderland doesn’t pull any punches.

The characters are slowly but effectively developed in the midst of the gore and tension and horror — as well as being expertly acted by their respective actors/actresses. Each episode whirls by, keeping you gripped by the throat. It was binge-worthy and unforgettable. A lot of the episodes end on cliff hangers which, of course, make me unable to not watch another right after (damn you, tantalizing show!)

I think the only complaint I had is that the main characters can be a bit too “perfect”, if that makes sense — particularly the characters of Arisu and Usagi are a bit goody-goody. It’s not enough to drive me away from the show though. Still Chishiya and Kuina are the characters I love and I root for the most. They aren’t as “one flavour” (does that make sense?) and have back stories/behaviours that really grab my interest.

Anyway, this is definitely a show I would recommend! Check it out and let me know what you think!

8/10

x PLM