CineTV contest 129: Alice in Borderland || Thrilled to the end

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Some years ago, when the movie Alice in Borderland was released, I didn’t find it interesting, especially with the title and the poster, because they appeared very ordinary. I saw a lot of hype on Facebook, but I kept skipping it, not feeling urged to watch because I couldn’t imagine wasting my time or watching a movie by ‘forwarding’ through scenes. I survived the heat of season 1 without watching it, and not long after, the buzz around season 2 started again. I even saw people discussing it in one of the movie communities here, but I still wasn’t interested.

Funny enough, it was only later, when Squid Game came out, that I finally decided to check it out. After watching Squid Game, I saw a lot of comparisons between the two, with some people even rating Alice in Borderland as the better show. That was when I decided to give it a shot.

Oh boy! The first episode of this series—I can vividly remember how my pot of soup was burning on the fire while I was inside, glued to the screen. My sense of smell got completely overridden by the thrills and suspense of the show. The endless "hows?" made it even more interesting because I went in completely blind, without reading anything about the plot. All I knew before watching was that it was a survival-themed story.

The first game sent chills down my spine because it seemed like child's play at first, but before I knew it, one of them—the schoolgirl—was locked inside a room and burned alive. Arisu, who was always getting queried at home because of his addiction to gaming and his unserious approach to life, managed to escape the “Death or Alive” challenge with his friends, using tricks he had picked up from gaming.

The lingering questions—how did they get there? What’s happening?—kept me glued to the screen as I watched them engage in those terrifying games, each with its own rules and stakes. Some of them were purely psychological, while others required brutal survival instincts. The most heartbreaking scene for me was when Arisu’s friends sacrificed themselves so he could live. That moment hit hard.

One thing I’m glad about is that I didn’t follow the trend and watch this series when it was first released. I don’t know how I would have handled the wait for season two.

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Come on, I finished both seasons in just two days! I was so eager to see how it all played out, especially with the intense, mind-bending challenges. I even had a sleepless night because of this series.

I remember making a post on my WhatsApp status about how Alice in Borderland is so underrated. A friend commented, and for the first time, I found myself joining the comparison with Squid Game. I told my friend that once he starts watching, the ‘responsible’ part of his senses will leave him and only return when he’s done. He will be so deep into the story that he’ll forget his own world while watching.

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Maybe I’m hyping it too much, but I honestly think this is better than that ‘Pink and green’ series. You know exactly what I’m referring to. Lol

This is a Japanese masterpiece—a truly classic and intellectually stimulating series. The brains behind the plot and the games deserve serious applause. The mystery of why everything was happening kept us hooked until the very end. You can’t beat that; you just have to watch till the last scene.

I’d give it a 9/10 rating. If the final season wraps it up perfectly, then it’s a full 10/10 from me.

Anyway, season 3 is coming this September, as announced by Netflix. I hope it takes us on the same thrilling ride as seasons 1 and 2 did!

Trailer from Netflix's account on YouTube:

Thanks for reading.

This is my entry to CINETV contest #130