After a new season that fans have been eagerly waiting for since 2022, Alice in Borderland returns with its third installment, featuring shocking twists in every episode. This season introduces a new cast, including the original characters Arisu and Usagi, while also giving longtime fans a chance to see the old cast in the final 10 minutes.

The central premise of the show revolves around different people in various stages of life, all of whom face a near-death experience, transporting them to the Borderlands. Here, they are forced to participate in deadly games to survive. 

The season focuses on Arisu returning to the borderlands to find his wife, Usagi, who was manipulated into returning despite her dreams about her father’s tragic past. As he returns, Arisu must take on another series of games; however, this time, there’s not only a new cast but also fresh challenges that will test the group’s knowledge and trust.

While watching, there were many moments when the show felt empowering: Usagi plays a fantastic role in highlighting women’s capabilities, while Ryuji demonstrates that even someone with unusable limbs can still overcome complex challenges. 

Unfortunately, certain aspects of the plot fell short, and some scenes failed to engage the viewers. The season itself felt like a spin-off or a separate series rather than a continuation of the previous season. Generally, the writers strayed away from their source material.

Additionally, nearly everything seemed rushed or unclear; instead of its usual 10-12 episodes, season three only contained six, ultimately condensing too much into too little time. This often resulted in the story containing critical transitions, leading to immense confusion about what was happening.

The characters were introduced rapidly, which made it difficult for audiences to build an emotional connection with them. Along with high-stakes games and final revelations that appeared too quickly, it seemed as if the storyline ended abruptly. With the immense pressure of creating a perfect season after its last two successful seasons, Alice in Borderland did what it had to do. Despite some flaws, the first two episodes showed great promise, featuring creative games and a beautiful ending for people who know and cherish the show deeply.