Recently, Netflix has brought its streamers a brilliant set of TV series that are intense and leave the viewer shocked and wanting more. Squid Game and Money Heist were at the top of this list. However, there is one TV series that is starting to gain the popularity it deserves. Released in 2020, Alice in Borderland is a Japanese sci-fi thriller that is set in a dystopian world. It is one complex TV show that is definitely binge-worthy and might even find itself at the top, alongside Squid Game.
Recently, Netflix released the second season of this show and there is a probability that the series will be continued as the finale of season two left the viewers with a cliffhanger. There are many reasons as to why Alice in Borderland is a must-watch. Perhaps, by the end of this article, you might find yourself rushing to Netflix to watch this show because it is that intriguing.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
A Manga-Converted Series
Netflix
For anime lovers, it is not a huge surprise to find many mangas being converted to animes. However, converting a manga into a TV series is no easy task. Why Shinsuke Sato decided to adapt Haro Aso’s manga into a TV series instead of an anime might be hard to answer but during an interview with Screenanarchy, Sato talks about how the Manga was pitched to him by Netflix Japan, and his interest in it following that allowed him to convert it into this brilliant project. As Sato explains, Aso’s Alice in Borderland was a difficult source material given its violence, different worlds and the games. Bringing all this to the screen was no easy task. Given that, unlike an anime, one has to put a lot of effort into picking the right cast, creating the right setting and selecting what needs to be dramatized and what needs to be ignored properly when converting a Manga into a TV series, Sato and his team has clearly taken up one complicated challenge. Fortunately, the end result is phenomenal.
Superb Visuals
One thing that Sato has not backed away from is capturing the Manga’s visuals. Alice in Borderland requires a much more complex set of visuals. Unlike Squid Game, which takes place on a tiny island, this particular series takes place in the Shibuya district of Tokyo. So, from the very complex games to the jungle-covered city, there are many dynamics in terms of the setting the creators have to capture. Fortunately, the visuals of Alice in Borderland are top-notch that it ensures that the viewer is captivated from beginning till the end. Of course, it can be quite gruesome at certain points, but this only allows the violence of the show to be captured perfectly.
With the help of CGI, some build-up sets and VFX, the creators were able to produce an epic setting for the series. In fact, for those who have watched Life of Pi, the black panther that attacks Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) and their new-found team member, might seem like deja vu. Richard Parker in Life of Pi was a blend of VFX and actual Bengali tigers. However, the black panther in Alice in Borderland was entirely made up of VFX. However, the realistic nature of this panther illustrates how perfectly these visual effects were incorporated.
The Character Arcs
One thing that makes Alice in Borderland quite impactful on its viewer is its characters. Almost all the main and recurring characters we come across have so much to say about their lives and personalities, in turn, illustrating how unique individuals are. As the show points out, equality is a key theme in Alice in Borderland. Thus, even if the characters come from different financial backgrounds, one they enter the borderland, they become equals. However, almost all the characters that have been introduced end up leaving Borderland, either alive or dead, as a better persona.
For example, our protagonist, Arisu, enters Borderland as someone who does not care about life but ends up learning how he has taken it for granted. Similarly, even if Karube (Keita Machida) starts playing the game hide-and-seek with the aim of winning even if it means he should be selfish, he ends up being one of the most selfless characters ever and sacrificing his own life for his friend’s. Even the villains like Mira end up winning the viewers’ hearts. Therefore, it is definitely fascinating to see characters that you hate at the beginning of the show end up being characters you sympathize with by the end.
Additionally, seeing the pains of these characters’ past allows the viewer to relate to them. It is applaudable how Alice in Borderland has incorporated a diverse main cast. For example, Hikari Kuina (Aya Asahina) illustrates the pain of being a transgender in a conservative household. Her father’s disapproval ends up haunting her and her story is one that might be shared by many members of the audience. Moreover, most of the female characters, like Ann and Usagi, are portrayed as powerful leads who don’t fall short when compared to the male characters. In fact, Arisu’s strength is portrayed as weaker when compared to that of Usagi and Kuina. This is made obvious when he takes in a few points because he is a slow runner in the King of Clubs game, osmosis.
Obviously, all these changes of hearts of the viewers and the emotional impact on the audience is created due to the cast’s brilliant performance. When compared to the looks of the characters to the ones mentioned in the Manga, it is clear that the creators have perfectly replicated the characters. Alice in Borderland is one show where the casting is perfect and the actors’ performance is phenomenal.
The Intense Games
Squid Game became popular partly because of its complex plot line, and its intense games that leave a set of players dead. Alice in Borderland might have an even more complex plot line and even more brutal games. Similar to the former, the latter does have children’s games like tag and hide-and-seek, but there are also more advanced games like crochet, chess and blackjack. These games are brutal and end up killing the losing set of players. Additionally, there are multiple ways in which the losers might die. Some die in the middle of the games, while playing, and others die after losing. Either way, they definitely keep the viewers on their toes.
In Alice in Borderland, the games are organized, and even if the players or the audience don’t know what games they will be playing until they enter the arena, they are given a hint as to the level of complexity. All this is based on a set of playing cards. That is, spades are physical games; diamonds test intelligence of the players; hearts play with the minds of the players, and clubs focus on teamwork. The winners of the games can get their “visas” extended, so they don’t die. Thus, the players are playing to stay alive. Given that the Manga is based on the shonen genre, it is no surprise that our protagonist will survive. However, there are many instances where Arisu almost gets killed. Even if Arisu survives, the series does sacrifice some important figures like Arisu’s best friends and Tatta (Yutaro Watanabe). Since these characters win our hearts from the very beginning, the series takes the viewers on an emotional rollercoaster ride.
Another important element of these games is that they do not just “test” the players’ abilities, but they also end up teaching the players some important lessons. This is seen through Chishiya’s character (Nijirō Murakami). Chishiya starts the series being quite selfish as he was willing to sacrifice anyone else for his survival. Yet again, following his participation in the King of Diamonds game, alongside Kuzuryū (Tsuyoshi Abe), his character changes completely.
Important Messages
Similar to the players, Alice in Borderland ends up having an impact on its viewer as it sends out some powerful messages. One key message is the importance of life. The players at Borderland, regardless of their many differences, have one thing in common; their perspective on life. Almost all of these players have given up on their lives and are regarded as social outcasts. However, the Borderland becomes a reminder of how valuable our lives are and how one should not take it for granted.
The series also focuses on the value of friendship. Even though these players enter Borderland willing to sacrifice others for their survival, they end up changing this view. Some even sacrifice their own selves for the others’ survival. However, these sacrifices give these players more relief and freedom as they are able to finally achieve their ideals.
As Samantha Low points out, even if the show seems to be nihilistic, when analyzed closely, it is a celebration of life. It acts as a wake-up call for those who seem to be existing rather than living. On the other hand, it brings hope for the hopeless. It also reminds us to reach out to our loved ones and appreciate the bonds we have while urging us to continue creating bonds.
