KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 13 — Alice in Borderland, the hit series that took the world by storm in 2020, is set to release Season 3 worldwide on Netflix in two weeks.
For a quick refresher, Alice in Borderland is a Japanese science fiction thriller series based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso.
It follows the character Ryohei Arisu, a bored gamer who finds himself transported to a deadly parallel version of Tokyo.
To survive, he must take part in dangerous games, each linked to a playing card suit and designed to test skills such as agility, intelligence, psychological endurance and teamwork.
The season 3 trailer has already surpassed 2.4 million views on YouTube, and fans have likely spotted the return of familiar faces, new game challenges, the mysterious Joker card, and a major reveal showcasing lead characters Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Yuzuha Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya), who are now shown as a married couple.
The mysterious Joker card in Alice in Borderland season 3. — Picture courtesy of Netflix
Season 3 deepens Arisu and Usagi’s emotional journey
Ahead of its premiere, during a virtual press interview, the two main leads shared insights into how their characters will evolve in the upcoming season, with Yamazaki revealing that Arisu is now working as a psychologist.
“The character has gone through and cleared many games in past seasons, which has led to him gaining fortitude and strength,” said Yamazaki, who plays Arisu.
“He has also experienced many tragedies, and that’s probably why he is currently working as a psychological counsellor — it’s his way of saving people.
“You will see that quality in how he is able to embrace others,” he added.
Tsuchiya said of her character, “At a glance, you might feel that Usagi seems a bit more vulnerable in Season 3 compared to the previous seasons.
“But that’s not my interpretation, because she’s made a resolution to build a family with Arisu. To do that, she knows she must face her weaknesses and trauma,” she added.
“She believes that by confronting and overcoming those parts of herself, she’ll be able to protect her family,” she concluded.
Director Shinsuke Sato says Season 3 of ‘Alice in Borderland’ marks the beginning of a brand-new chapter, moving beyond the original manga’s storyline. — Picture via Instagram/shin_sato_angle
What makes the Alice in Borderland series unique
Season 3 of the thriller masterpiece marks the beginning of an all-new chapter, venturing beyond the original manga’s plot, with director Shinsuke Sato consulting closely with author Aso to expand the universe.
With so many survival game-themed series and films out there — from Hollywood to various Asian film industries — it takes something truly unique to stand out, which is exactly what Alice in Borderland has achieved: not just by raising the stakes, but by redefining what the genre can be.
During the virtual interview, director Shinsuke Sato spoke about what sets the series apart by stating, “the meticulously constructed games that the players have to play, turn into a process of, for example, resolving traumas or any problems that each character has within him or her.
“So, in that sense, the storytelling and the gameplay are kind of combined into one, which I think is something distinctive about Alice in Borderland, the series,” he said.
“You also have various flavours of games. For example, there are brutal, very violent games — very, very close-quarters — leading into intellectual mind games and futuristic ones, which remind you of classic games kids used to play in the olden days.
“Then there are also unexpected games that unfold in surprising ways — often with intellectual challenges that get the viewers themselves thinking, trying to play along as well,” he added.
Get ready to re-enter the world of Borderland
Season 3 will span multiple episodes, and after three years, viewers finally have the chance to re-enter the world of Borderland.
As Japan’s most-watched Netflix title of all time, the series has earned recognition, including nods from the Asian Academy Creative Awards and the Asia Contents Awards.
Alice in Borderland is poised to take the world by storm once again, and with its third season set to premiere on September 25, the series promises to deepen its psychological edge, expand its universe, and raise the stakes for both long-time fans and new viewers alike.
