Imawa no Kuni no Alice (2020)

Hit and Miss

Jumping into this show, I had no idea how it would turn out to be. I only started watching it after getting many suggestions to do so. I first thought that it was some fantasy series where the protagonist gets teleported to another realm to fight monsters and stuff, but to my surprise, it was quite the opposite. Here, you don't get to see a lighthearted magical story but a dark and twisted one. One that doesn't shy away from showing the true colours of human nature. one that is so gruesome and unforgiving of the fact that a person would go to any lengths in order to survive. While that doesn't apply to everyone, of course, some may not be interested in throwing others down for their own survival, but a large number of people surely won't be eager to sacrifice their own lives in order to save others. And that is exactly what is depicted in this series. How almost all the people want to survive because they have dreams, ambitions, loved ones waiting for them, unfulfilled promises, or just because they value their lives. 
 
Throughout the show, it stays true to its initial concept. I really liked some of the game levels because I got to learn from them, especially "four of diamonds." Once you get comfortable with the characters, you realize how unpredictable the show actually is. Arisu's character development was impressive. His wit and analysis were extraordinary and would amaze me. I also liked Ann's and Kuina's characters. Kuina's background story was touching and excellently put together. 
 
But these are about the only good things I can say about the series. I did not find the show exceptionally good or extraordinary. It was kind of frustrating at a few places for me. People's obsession with surviving at any cost was kind of stupid for me because of my beliefs. And it gets overwhelming at times. There is no benefit to living longer if it's going to be full of regrets or traumas from killing innocent people, as is also potrayed in the series.
So, I couldn't really get attached to this series because the whole concept strikes against my principles. Regardless of that, the show just couldn't get my attention as well as some others have. There weren't any moments where I was thrilled or kept wondering what was going to happen next. It is a highly rated show, and I do not question its ratings. It's nice that people got to enjoy it, but I guess it just wasn't my cup of tea.
 
 
 
 

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This is was "Squid Game" was trying to be to be honest. I know both shows are different in terms of story and motivation, but I just enoyed this so much more than SG. This was dark and depressing yet entertaining and exciting. The games are completely unhinged and scary and I think I wouln't survive a day in Borderland because wow. I really liked the actors and their characters. Fan favorites such as Usagi and Kuina were just amazing queens, but I also think that Arisu deserves some credit. I feel like he is a little underrated in his own show. Chishiya was an unhinged 5-minutes craft king and Niragi may look hot but he really isn't. It's crazy how some characters just aren't redeemable, but that is what makes him interesting in the first place. An overall super entertaing, scary show that I very much enjoyed and I deffo would rewatch because the cinametography alone was stunning.

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At the time when I really wanted to watch Alice in Borderland, something happened before

Episode 1-2 spoilers (Read carefully):

The times when I saw it on my Netflix feed on Netflix, I wondered if I was going to watch it or not because I wasn't interested in watching Alice in Borderland, because I was thinking that I might see a bad ending but the 2 years ago has passed, presents days. I didn't hesitate to watch him to see what would actually happen in his story. After I watched episode 1-2, I wanted to give a spoiler but just a taste so as not to tell others too much. A player (villain) chases him or calls him like a pig or buffalo, because I don't know. When I saw Chishiya doing nothing but staring at the players who ran and hid. Then they also asked Usagi, who is really good at parkour, to climb the (I don't know what it's called). Then they meet Arisu (Kento Yamazaki) and Chishiya (Nijirō Murakami) who correctly guessed the real exit door. When the enemy (villain) shot, Arisu shouted that the real exit door was on the 2nd floor and sent the others to escape. Until then, Arisu, Usagi and Chishiya survive the game.

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...

the production was good, I can't complain .
I also say that the performance was incredible, it would be a sin if I complained.

I love the actors, I loved the characters.

Of course, not everything is perfect, I can't lie, but what a drama that doesn't have a single flaw.

So in conclusion, I recommend...

I say it's worth watching, maybe it's bad for some, but for me it was good.

This is just my opinion, you better watch it and have your own opinion.

I don't know what to say, because I think everyone has their own opinion.

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The most game drama ever!!

Love the games in Alice in Borderland. This is way better than the "mickey mouse" games shown in Squid Games.

Each episodes the games are quite unique. The cast is incredible young and it a superb job in their role.

In the carefree, pre-pandemic Before Times, escape rooms were all the rage as fun group activities, where people had to solve a puzzle or mystery, or complete a series of tasks, in order to escape. Alice in Borderland, a hugely entertaining new Netflix series from Japan, takes that concept to a whole new level, transforming Tokyo into an alternate dimension called "Borderland."

The Netflix adaptation follows the same basic premise, with a few minor tweaks—most notably, the central characters are young adults rather than high schoolers.

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Give me more!!!

Story: Great and Brilliant, got me hook on the 1st episode. The games and plot are what really suck me in, I cannot stop being amaze how the author create the concept of 'borderland' and using cards to show the level of difficulty and the types of game they will be playing...

Arisu is the main character, it is obvious we didn't expect him to die in the games but the execution of how he survive the games is AWESOME!! Though some people may say it does not make sense how smart he is as well as the plot is inconsistent but not for me since I like clever MC and the plot, at least for me it was consistent enough

However, it kinda gets draggy when they gets to the beach but it was fine after the game begin...we also get to know more the world and the game master. The mystery just keeps me wanting moreee...

Characters: Loved Arisu and Usagi, their dynamic and chemistry is the best. Even though others characters doesn't really do/show much until the last few episodes, we get to see others characters doing their part and know what they are capable of...
Hoping to see more of them in the upcoming season!!!

Music: Perfect for every scenes, add to the eerieness of the situation they're in.

The bad: Half nude scenes, attempted rape, some anime-like acting, (extra: only 8 episodes)

Overall: The bad part was practically cancelled out for me because after finishing the show, all I remember is the games. Also, since it is an adaptation, the anime-like acting was fine, I'll say this is by far the best adaptation I've seen...
The director really know how to end the season... Really reallyyy EXCITED for Season 2 and can't wait to watch it.
If you're okay with it and have similar preferences like me, I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED it, GO WATCH NOW!!!

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gorgeous hell

i dont rate rewatch value - neutral 5

first jp drama!
first non korean one actually!

that i completed, word to the gf for picking.

if you've at all been alive and into media for the past like decade or two you should be able to pick out all kinds of influences here clear as day. from genre movies, to other shows, video games, what have you. it's pretty much what id do if i got to make a tight blockbuster show with a decent budget. its straight candy when it registers.

now.. while connecting all those influences is where the show stumbles on occasion, dragging down the entire writing with it to unnecessarily dumb down what would otherwise remain up to par to previous eps, it rebounds strong enough for the close to make up for it. disbelief has to be suspended a lil bit, it turns anime at times or whatever. (wouldnt know)

ill have to wait to season 2 to flesh out my deeper reading of the social commentary, but by the end it basically goes full anti japanese imperialism. not even lowkey. what was that in-passing line about an unnecessary massacre?

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Interesting survival game

Arisu (the pronunciation of Alice in Japanese), the oldest son from a rich family, a NEET who spends his daily life playing games and hanging out with his two friends. The first episode got me hooked as we were shown the very crowded Shibuya suddenly turns into a dead city with no one but three people left. The thought of being left in such circumstances with no transportation and electricity kinda made me anxious, also the unsettling feeling of the silence from an empty town is so creepy for me. Finished the whole episodes in a day because it was very interesting and I would like to see what's going to happen and why are they in that game, but of course 8 episodes are not enough to answer all of that. The problem from a manga adaptation series is always the lack of character development, they couldn't fit every detail in such a short duration so there is no deep attachment to the characters. AIB did great in telling us about each character's backstory through these flashback but that's it, it doesn't make us feel connected with them so when they die later we are just "oh". Looking forward to season 2 since the actual villain finally appears, and curious to see what kind of games and the difficulty level they are going to play to get the face card.

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Predictable and lost me at the pro-LGBT flashback

3 dudes "isekai" into The Cube... which was a cheap Canadian film from around 20 years ago.

Oh no, wait, it's not, The Cube, it's kind of like a cross between Squid Game and that manga where they "isekai" onto rooftops and have to survive.
Okay, so that manga for this was before Squid Game... but many will call it, "Japanese Squid Game" anyway, I'm sure.

So yeah, the 3 dudes take part in games or they'll die, but being in the games means they're most likely to die regardless - it's all kind of pointless but mildly entertaining until it becomes the eventual, Lord of the Flies, that all these kind of things morph into (I mean: COME ON! The Beach was a CRAP BOOK and even worse film, and a total rip off of Lord of the Flies, but then this crap even has a resort everyone stays in that's called, The Beach?!).
And then I dumped it because it offended the Hell out of me that I'm supposed to believe the hottest girl in the whole programme is a "trap" (lady-boy/gender-bender/she-male/faggobot - whatever you want to call them)?

Men in dresses are NOT cool! They certainly don't look like XXX (I won't spoil it by revealing the actress) and Netflix seriously needs to lose its LGBT agenda, which - along with the Cuties fiasco - is the reason they lost almost 50% of their US customers in the first place!

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