Alice In Borderland Review: Scary Games, Conniving Characters, And An Unlikely Hero Make This Thriller A Memorable Experience

A thriller set in a dystopian universe with an unlikely hero, stuck in a web of games, trying to survive and make others survive with him. That’s the gist of the Japanese show ‘Alice in Borderland’ (AIB). It is not the kind of drama I usually watch (light-hearted, fluffy romances is my go-to for dramas) but it had YamaKen and Tao Tsuchiya together in a different story setting so I didn’t mind giving it a try.

Before I get into the drama details, I want to request you that always take Netflix’s notification about the show containing nudity, violence, etc. seriously. I huffed at the notification flashed at the start of AIB thinking what can this show have and was in for an unpleasant surprise.

Alice In Borderland (Imawa no Kuni no Alice) (2020) (8 Episodes)

Ryohei Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) is a young boy with no aspirations in life and also no job. He spends his days either locked up in his room playing video games or out whiling away the hours with his friends, Daikichi Karube (Keita Machida) and Chota Segawa (Yuki Moringa). One day as the three friends get together, they suddenly find themselves transported to a Tokyo-like city but with absolutely no one around them.

The three friends then learn that they are now part of a game that they have no choice but to play or may get killed for defying. These are not normal video games but live games with real people risking their lives to survive yet another day in this unknown world.

While playing one of the games, Arisu meets Yuzuha Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) with whom he forms an alliance to get to the creator of this brutal game and end it forever.

I enjoyed watching ‘Alice In Borderland’ because…

…of its suspenseful games. Arisu and his two friends unknowingly land up in a strange city that looks like Tokyo but with empty streets and no technology. As they set out to discover what caused the disappearance of an entire city, they are led to a building where they find mobile phones kept in a tray.

The moment the phone scans their face, it notifies them that they are now a part of a psychological game in which they have to pick the right door that will lead to the next level. They are given a specific time period within which they have to complete the game or else they will die. Similarly, picking the wrong door will also lead them to their death.

Winner or winners of the game win a card from a pack of cards and also a visa specifying the time period they can live until they play their next game and win more lifetime for themselves. Every game has a different difficulty level. The game of hearts, signified by a card of hearts, is a game in which the player’s emotions are tested. The higher the number the more is the level of difficulty.

The games are harsh and brutal with people dying for minor slip-ups. The time limit in each game puts pressure on the players stressing them out and they end up making avoidable mistakes.

The games are complicated but the solutions are sometimes so simple that it makes you feel stupid. But nothing is easy in this world and the players go into every game knowing that it could be their last game ever.

The games are so intriguing it keeps you hooked throughout. Since there are new players in every game, we get a glimpse into their backstory which makes us connect with them and we feel more involved in the game.    

Coming to the main characters, in the real world, our male lead Arisu is a jobless chap addicted to video games. But in this parallel universe, his years of experience as a gamer and sharp observation skills help him crack game after game successfully. He may be a loser for his family but he is a nice guy with a good heart. He cares deeply for his friends and does not fear losing his life to protect them.

In every game that Arisu plays, we see how much he cares for others and helps other players even when they are his competitors and complete strangers. He has a keen eye and deep understanding of game settings, which help him decode even the most baffling puzzles.

There is a reason why actor Kento Yamazaki aka YamaKen is so popular in Japan and that is his impeccable acting skills. The variety of expressions he shows makes him a show-stealer. Arisu experiences stressful and traumatic situations that can break a person. Arisu’s helplessness and exhaustion are evident on YamaKen’s face.

Things change when Arisu forms a sort of an alliance with the fearless Usagi. He is filled with new motivation to go on into the game but is still the boy who suffers mentally, which we see through the troubled expression on his face.

Usagi is a lone player who we get to know is the daughter of a mountain trekker and has plenty of experience surviving in the wild. She is a jumper which means she can easily jump across floors of a building like a cat. She is brave and strong. She plays for herself and no one else. But when she meets Arisu in a game and sees him help other players she feels moved by his gesture.

Usagi meets Arisu when he hits his absolute low in the game and agrees to play as a team with him. Being the caring guy that he is, Arisu starts feeling protective of her and helps her whenever he can.

Actress Tao Tsuchiya does a good job as the agile Usagi. She effectively exhibits the desperation of a warrior losing a battle during testing times and the grave look when threatened by a formidable enemy. Nothing scares this valiant girl and I loved her character the most after Arisu.

Apart from Arisu and Usagi, I also liked the characters of Shuntaro Chishiya and Hikari Kuina. They both have short but impactful roles in the show. I hope they have a longer role in the sequel of this show. Do watch out for them as they are a complete surprise package.

I did NOT LIKE ‘Alice In Borderland’ because…

…of its overly sexualized and violent theme. Years ago, I had watched the Hollywood movie ‘The Condemned’ in which, convicts on death row are made to participate in a reality game show, which has them live on a secluded island. To survive, these convicts have to kill each other and the last man standing gets to walk free. I was left so disturbed by the movie that I didn’t want to try any more movies in this genre. Then ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘The Divergent Series’ happened and this genre started to appeal to me.

But after watching AIB, the discomfort I felt during ‘The Condemned’ returned and heightened a manifold. There is a lot of stuff in the show that had me literally cover my eyes to avoid seeing something that could be disturbing. People are shot, stabbed, mauled, and whatnot. But Netflix clearly warned at the beginning so I shouldn’t be complaining.

But it is not just the goriness that disturbed me. It is the sexual content that dampened my experience of the show. Starting with a contestant sleeping with one of Arisu’s friends. I didn’t understand the need for the scene as it does not contribute to the show or even the character’s development.

Then there is a very disturbing sexual assault scene in which Usagi is pinned down by 4-5 people as the villain Niragi licks her body. The scene grossed me out so much that I had to remind myself that Niragi is actor Dori Sakurada from Coffee and Vanilla to stop me from hating him. But I’m glad Usagi doesn’t look scared one bit and fights with all her might. She even bites Niragi making him bleed when he tries to kiss her.

If you (like me) are sensitive to such stuff then please avoid this show or be prepared to jump through scenes you feel you may not be able to take.

Women are treated badly in the show starting with the fact that they had to be dressed in a swimming costume at all times.

In the story, Arisu finds out that there is a place called ‘The Beach’ where most of the contestants live when not playing the survival games. At The Beach, the owner Hatter does not want anyone to hide any weapons in their clothes so they are allowed to wear only bare minimum clothing.

I personally did not like watching women running around in bikinis all the time. One important female character is shown to be in a skimpy bikini throughout the show. Poor girl even has an elaborate fight scene in that stale blue two-piece.

…the director’s obsession with women’s derriere. Throughout the show, there are many wide-angle and low-angle shots with women’s backside right in your face. A guy might probably enjoy such shots but being a woman, these butt shots made me queasy.

I understand this is a weird world and the director wants to show what happens when power and authority falls into wrong hands but there was no need for close-ups of women’s backside. Eewwkss.

‘Alice In Borderland’ is a suspenseful show showing the dark side of an unknown world. A thriller to the core it will grip you right from the very first game. Its fascinating plot, interesting characters, and riveting games keep you engrossed in the drama.  

I give ‘Alice In Borderland’ a 3.5 out of 5 rating. I deducted 0.5 for all the extra (read sexual) elements that ruined my viewing experience. The rest of the show is engaging as the central characters do their best to have you invested in their individual and collective stories. Watch it but with caution.

 

Image Courtesy: Netflix

 

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