Imawa no Kuni no Alice (2020)

The game will commence in 3... 2... 1...

The story itself is interesting. I can't help but find myself wanting to see the next episode to see what happens next. I rarely watch Japanese drama but I'm glad that whenever I watch one I am satisfied with the story overall. It's obvious that there's a second season and I'll definitely watch it to see what will happen to the characters.

This series very well reminded me of Squid Game where you lose means you die. And I honestly don't like graphic deaths and blood so I usually skip those part but if you like bloody scenes, this one's definitely for you.

Overall, I enjoyed watching this series and I think you will too. There were pretty good twists here and there that will keep you on the edge of your seats so look forward to it.

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A imperfect but enjoyable surprise !

Alice in Borderlands was a bit of a surprise to all of us because it was such a new concept. When you look at the comment section you will easily spot words like “odd” “strange” “different” and most of us, especially if we are drunk in asian contents, are drowned to that kinda of stuff.

This original series is even more likable as we get a beautiful scenery, intriguing story, mostly great performances and there is no time for boredom. If you watched similar “themes” (suspensful atmosphere, games, life or death games, new world fictionnary or made by some entity…) like Squid Game or 19th floor… they take time to set the plot even tho they leave you a part of mystery to it. Alice in Borderlands doesn’t. It goes fast and right to this “imaginary or made by someone” setting.

All of this is a good recipe to keep things addicting and interesting. At least for most of us.

S1 is more about the games. We get full episodes on some games. To me I prefered this one as I found it entertaining and new and not boring. But there is a little place for characters’ development. So we don’t get much emotionally engaged when something bad happens to them. not just the male lead but to anyone.

S2 focuses more on characters’ development and we get almost zero games fully played on screen. Maybe one and a half in the last episodes. On S2 we get attached to a lot of people. Maybe everyone in a way. The second season also tries to be a satire of our society but not really about humans’ behaviors but what people go through in their minds. It is different directing approach but likable too. But is it for the same audience ?

The cons now. Personally, I regret that season 2 didn’t develop the ending of season 1 which I think was very interesting. If you have watched a ton of dramas you might have seen the end of season 2 coming which was a bit disappointing even tho we can also have another idea of how it will develop again as season 3 seem to be on its way. If season 3 catches up with season 1 ending which is still possible it can be amazing. The last episode on season 2 is a no to me in the directing process. To be fair once the games were sort of done and they were trying to convey the “main story” there were a lot of flaws in the directing process. Maybe were they pressured or not creatively free enough from netflix ? Who knows ! I regret also on season 2 the lack of depth in all games. To me people were confusing the characters’s charisma and the actual games that were not even closed to the development they had in season 1. In season 1 you can have things to say about performances about pretty much everyone even the male lead at some points. When we get to this environment with a lot of folks it shows even more and is a bit off.

Last con to me is the main vilain or the character they pictured as the vilain is not innovative nor funny nor interesting, it is seen over and over, this character lacks a lot of originality and is as irritating as most vilains we see. The lack of depth about this person is also disturbing as in season 2 they develope everyone but that person. And it is to me a flaw cause even for “basic vilain” we have a motive which can be very simple. It is lacking here.

On the question should you watch it ? Of course it is one of the most innovative drama we have ever seen and beautifully shot from japanese industry which has their signature and which is very enjoyable. That being said I think the audience from S1 can be different from S2 and also some characterizations can be a drawback to the full engagement of the viewer.

People like to compare squid game and alice in borderlands especially since they came out at the same time. Besides that squid game is set in a reality while we question the reality of alice in borderlands and that, the latter is bloodier I have a hinch of why alice is rated higher, it’s the rewatchable value. A very good drama nowadays is rewatchable and still enjoyable. Alice is more rewatchable than Squid game. It is my personal opinion but if you look at people’s reviews you will find out that tthe majority thinks the same.

I am sorry I haven’t check the series background like if it was made out of some specific inspirations (book, video game) so I only reviewed the series.

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lost its charm at some point but still enjoyable

when I first started this drama I was SO HOOKED, I couldn't wait to watch the next episode. Survival shows are really my thing and aib's concept is very intriguing and gets you on board immediately, also all the characters I'd seen so far (up until ep3-4) were likeable and had something to offer to the story and to their team.
The thing that made me lose my initial excitement though was *SPOILERS* the death of 3/4 of our main characters in only the THIRD EPISODE. Those 4 were the characters we've been following from the beginning as we were still only getting introduced to others ( like usagi & chishiya) so , naturally, I was shocked to see almost all of them get killed off so early and all at the same time.
Despite my disappointment I kept watching and even though I never truly got my initial excitement back, I was able to enjoy the drama for what it was. The games are really fun to watch and I think they should be the focus of the show instead of all the beach drama.(which was still okay because of some new interesting characters)
Overall I would recommend this show to action/dystopia lovers because it's still entertaining and it's universe and concept are extremely intriguing. If they had went a different direction after ep3 this would have been easily in my top 5. Will be tuning in for season 2!!

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Well worth the watch

I didn't see this when it first came out even though i was planning on it, and then the time went by and it just got down prioritized. Until season 2 came out where i got interested again. Then i got sick, so i thought i light as well watch it.

And i am happy with my choice. It did not dissapoint. It really keeps you on the edge of your seat for the first episodes making you watch more. And then after a few episodes the story takes a bit of a turn, but by them you already very invested. That's not to say it takes a bad turn, i just think it slows down slightly.

By the end it does feel like quite a different show from when it started, but a show i enjoyed none the less. It has the typical japanese drama that you either enjoy or don't. (If you don't, i'm not sure why you are on this app)

If you heard about this maybe because someone called it similair to squidgame, and you liked squidgame, i would watch it. It's not exactly the same, but there are certainly similarities.

The rewatchability is low because i don!t have much desire to rewatch it, but i could see getting something out of doing so.

Basically i would recommend it.

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interesting but i didnt feel attached to the characters

first i want to mention that the games were really cool and smart idea as well but i was only interested in the first until middle eps, i did lost interest in the last eps. how to explain this? it started really good but it become a mess in my opinion, so i didnt like were the show is going, another thing is that im really not into unrealistic things too.
another thing is that, for me to really love a show it usually happens when i love the characters but i really didnt feel attached to them at all, so i was just watching for the games thats it. it lacks that aspect of getting the viewer attached to the characters. the friends who died in ep 3? they died too much early in the show and its such a waste because they could have showed more about their characters or it could bring more plotwist. so i was not attached to them that much to feel sad.

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one of the best shows i've ever watched

i have rewatched this jdrama so many times and i will DEFINITELY do it more. this show had me at the edge of my seat all the time. the plot was amazing and something i have never seen before, with a flawless delivery from the OUTSTANDING cast. the plot twists at so many points through the show were jaw-dropping and something i still think about to this day, months after finishing the show.
this show may not be for everyone; it contains a lot of gore and nsfw. but if you're fine with that kind of stuff, i highly recommend watching it. the overall concept of the show is addicting and will get you attached to it so fast!
i HIGHLY recommend watching this with friends, i personally did and it was so fun sharing theories about the show together!

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Not for the faint heart

First, the show might be gore for the faint hearted. Shooting, dead people, slashing and exploding bodies...

However the plot and games are nice to watch. It is similar to Japanese dramas like Liar Game, Kaiji - the protagonist has no choice but to join in a cruel game to fight the way out using brains and guts...

What is different for this are the friendship elements. Where participants learnt to trust and battle together in this twisted game.

Worth watching! Pacing was good and games are well thought of. One should also note that this series will have a second series, so the ending was not really an ending.

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How far are you willing to go in order to stay alive?

Tension packed 8 episode netflix drama featuring Kento Yamazaki and his friends trying to survive in deadly games in an alternate abandoned Tokyo. Each survival game will test the characters...how far are you willing to go to stay alive?

Man...there were so many moments where I forgot to breathe. Every episode is intense, bloody and brutal. It was shot well. The acting was good. It was nice to see Kento and Tao paired up yet again in their what...maybe 3rd or 4th time? The editing for the most part was fast paced and kept the tension throughout. The format sometimes reminded me of the Walking Dead where we see flashbacks and glimpses of the character's previous life before the change.

Overall this series was really good. However, you will be left with quite a few questions which makes me think there will be a S2. At least I'm really hoping for one. I watched this for Kento, but came out liking the series as a whole. Would def recommend!

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WOW

I did not expect what I just saw. Totally worth the watch, I can't hype this enough! IF YOU ARE SENSITIVE TO BLOOD DO NOT WATCH. But otherwise, it's just so great, listen this idea is the most original thing I've seen so far, and it's the coolest shit ever. The characters are really interesting some have interesting backgrounds and some are just totally mysterious and I love it. It's very post-apocalyptic vibes meets jigsaw but less gruesome and cruel. The ending was just the biggest cliffhanger I've seen, like how can they NOT make a season 2?!

Aside from that SPOILER I just wanted to express the IMMENSE SADNESS, I felt when I watched episode 3 and saw my boys Karube and Chota died like that, I felt emptiness and legit looked like I just lost someone I actually knew lmao. I just couldn't handle it, it was straight-up PAIN. But anyways I can't recommend it enough to people just to watch them bawled their eyes out when they watch the episode, it's somehow entertaining.

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