While the notion of Netflix producing yet another dystopian series sounds cliche, the Japanese thriller “Alice in Borderland” manages to establish a distinctness that sets it apart from Netflix’s other regurgitated themes. Directed by Shinsuke Sato, Alice in Borderland revitalizes the rhetoric of friendship, dedication, and perseverance in a gripping manner that many viewers can't seem to look away from.
The sequence of the show is one that can be most appropriately described as a series of unfortunate events. Its main protagonist, Ryohei Arisu, is a “deadbeat”. With an inability to follow the social norms of going to college or pursuing a profession, Arisu spends most of his days playing video games or drinking with his friends. He is a stark contrast to his brother, who is perfection personified within the perspective of their father; tired of his second son’s inability to advance in life, Arisu’s father kicks him out, leaving him homeless.
Arisu’s initial fallback plan is to go to the bar and drink his hardships away with his friend Karaube, who, conveniently enough, got fired from his bartending job that exact day. The pair’s third friend, Chota, is also not without tribulations of his own, as his religious mother’s frequent need for money threatens the strength of their relationship. Via the establishment of each of these characters in regards to their shared inability to climb the social hierarchy, the audience is able to reasonably understand that they stand in contrast to the traditions of modern society. Nonetheless, with the companionship of one another, they ignore the immobility of their respective lives.
The trio finds themselves meeting near a busy intersection, where they engage in the usual rambunctious play. Unfortunately, these activities cause a car accident to occur due to their negligence. The three run away from the impending law enforcement that results from their actions, and into a train station’s bathroom where they hide, giggling from the high of their delinquency. They stay there for what seems like less than five minutes, and when the clatter of law enforcement appears to quell, they leave to scope the surrounding area only to find that the streets of Tokyo are empty. From the cars and pedestrians to the silence of the traffic signals, bustling Japan has gone silent.
Arisu, the general recluse of the group, is pleased with this alteration and the prospective destruction of social expectations that can come from it. While the others are slightly concerned, they have yet to become afraid due to an inability to grasp the gravitas of the situation. The trio cracks jokes and laughs while sitting in the previously busy street until a giant screen illuminates before them, indicating the way to the so-called “game arena”. With nothing else to do, the trio follow the sign until they appear in front of the only well-lit building. It is here where they are forced into a game of life or death with no escape.
Arisu’s initial fallback plan is to go to the bar and drink his hardships away with his friend Karaube, who, conveniently enough, got fired from his bartending job that exact day. The pair’s third friend, Chota, is also not without tribulations of his own, as his religious mother’s frequent need for money threatens the strength of their relationship. Via the establishment of each of these characters in regards to their shared inability to climb the social hierarchy, the audience is able to reasonably understand that they stand in contrast to the traditions of modern society. Nonetheless, with the companionship of one another, they ignore the immobility of their respective lives.
The trio finds themselves meeting near a busy intersection, where they engage in the usual rambunctious play. Unfortunately, these activities cause a car accident to occur due to their negligence. The three run away from the impending law enforcement that results from their actions, and into a train station’s bathroom where they hide, giggling from the high of their delinquency. They stay there for what seems like less than five minutes, and when the clatter of law enforcement appears to quell, they leave to scope the surrounding area only to find that the streets of Tokyo are empty. From the cars and pedestrians to the silence of the traffic signals, bustling Japan has gone silent.
Arisu, the general recluse of the group, is pleased with this alteration and the prospective destruction of social expectations that can come from it. While the others are slightly concerned, they have yet to become afraid due to an inability to grasp the gravitas of the situation. The trio cracks jokes and laughs while sitting in the previously busy street until a giant screen illuminates before them, indicating the way to the so-called “game arena”. With nothing else to do, the trio follow the sign until they appear in front of the only well-lit building. It is here where they are forced into a game of life or death with no escape.
Alice in Borderland vs. Squid Games
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Some readers may have now come to the realization that there appear to be parallels between this series and the widely popular Netflix original “Squid Games”. While this was my initial thinking, it was not until I watched Alice in Borderland in its entirety that I was able to see the stark contrast between the pair. While their concepts are similar, the uniqueness of Alice in Borderland is incomparable to its counterpart; the heart-wrenching acting, the unconventionality of the survivalist games, and the indirect antagonism of the unknown force at hand acted as the catalyst for the show’s greatness. So do not fear a sense of repetition between both series, as both of their respective opposing qualities created more than enough distinction.
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My Review
Overall, I would give this show a solid 9.5/10 due to its ability to hold my interest and the complexities of the characters presented. For the first time in a long time, a series was able to invoke genuine emotions from me while not being severely grim at every turn. My only critique was the lack of Alice in Wonderland imagery and themes, two things that I would have liked to see more of given the title. While this didn’t take much away from the overall enjoyability of the series, as a fan of the Alice in Wonderland franchise, I would have liked more outright references to it that went beyond underlying homage (e.g. Arisu → Alice). Nonetheless, I would highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys remaining thoroughly entertained via suspenseful and action-packed stories that will make you laugh, cry, and more.
NYLA sanders
