Episode 8

This was quite a shock to me. None of the episodes before this could prepare you for what happened here. There was a lot hanging in the balance and I could tell that if they didn't do this right, then this entire show would have went down the drain. Thankfully, I was proved wrong.

A phenomenal episode that really brings the best out of this series. A big part as to why most of these episodes were good was because of how they were able to establish the foundations for this last episode to succeed. Every obstacle these characters were challenged with were meant with a moral dilemma and it caused them to question not just their beliefs but their purpose in life.

This was an ending that really left me satisfied and I think that if this was the last episode in the show, it surely made it's mark.

This show has surprised me. I was expecting something about survival with engaging games, nothing more. But much more than that.

It really takes itself seriously, it deepens its characters, humanizes them and the clever and poetic way it connects the revelation about what this alternate world is, a limbo between life and death, is brilliant, only those with the greatest will, keep going, quite unique and to my taste, that adds to it. Season 2 focuses more on developing its message and its characters than the games and it is successful. It moves forward and does not stagnate.

We cannot assume if it is an adequate ending or not up to there, with the appearance of the Joker, and how they will cover that, season 3 is in production, we will see what happens with what follows.

Honestly, when I heard that there would be a second season for alice in borderland, I had mixed feelings. I hate Netflix for giving up on so many series after one season, so I was quite surprised and glad that they would keep going for a second season. But at the same time, having read the manga, I knew that just one season to pack everything that happens in the manga wouldn't be enough.

So, years later (they really took their time....), here we are with the finale season.... It is not bad, especially for people who haven't read the manga.

BUT, if you've read and liked the manga, you'll be disappointed with such a short season. It'd been so much better with twice the episodes.

There's plenty of new characters introduced in the manga, and their arc are quite interesting. Here in the TV series, some are introduced but they don't play the same parts at all and that's quite disappointing... Also, they have drastically changed some parts to fit all in 8 episodes, but in doing so, they've changed the tone and the atmosphere of the manga. The end felt really rushed.

Please, read the manga, it's way, way, way better.

Also, if you like this genre, you can try Gantz and As the Gods will.

The plot of the last episode was very interesting and I really enjoyed it. The storyline was kinda well-written, because we finally had the chance to know what really happened. Of course, the plot twists were definitely unexpected and really shocking. However, they were kinda difficult to understand, because they were MIND-BLOWING. Gladly, the last episode was epic and I really enjoyed it. The characters were very well-developed on the last episode and I think everyone's fate was well-deserved. It was a really emotional episode, even though I didn't cried. Overall, the ending scene was definitely unexpected. In my opinion, season 1 was kinda better than season 2, because it had better games. However, I really enjoyed season 2, too!

I largely enjoyed the first season of "Alice In Borderland" though perhaps more in the earlier "games" section that the later beach aspects. I enjoyed this season also, if perhaps a little underwhelmed by the reveals in the conclusion. I'm going to review this as a season conclusion, rather than a series one as, even though it reaches a perfectly decent resolution, I know from supplementary reading that the show might continue.

Having gathered all the number cards from the games, the picture cards make their presence felt with giant airships identifying the locations of their games. That is except for the King of Spades, who patrols the whole city mercilessly slaughtering anyone he comes across. Arisu (Kento Yamazaki), Usagi (Tao Tsuchiya) and their group flee from the King of Spades, before regrouping and deciding on the King of Clubs (Tomohisa Yamashita) as their next target. During this game though, Arisu makes a realisation about the top players that concerns him greatly.

Lots of interesting decisions made in this season. Rather than seeing every game that the main characters play, we're instead focusing on a few key ones, and they can and do span over several episodes. Arisu and Usagi actually only play three games, with Chishiya, played by Nijiro Murakami, participating in another two. The games were again, probably the highlight of the series for me with the forest diversions less interesting. Performances and visual effects remain strong, with perhaps the visuals even improving on the first run.

I try not to write reviews with spoilers, so I'll keep this vague. Having not been familiar with where the series was going, I was maybe a bit disappointed with the resolution that was forthcoming. To be fair to them, I'm not sure than any explanation was going to make me entirely happy, but of the ones proposed this was my least favourite.

I'd like to see more, but they don't decide to, despite some occasional pacing issues, I've enjoyed "Alice In Borderlands".