Disappointing
Being very honest, as a manga reader, I didn't enjoy this drama that much.They failed in a lot o aspects in compariso to the source material.
I couldn't bring myself to care for any of the characters. On episode 3 (which in the manga is the part that absolutly destroyed me) the only feling I had towords the characters was desapointmant, it wasn't nearly as emotional as it should have been.
Not to mention the rest of the games and how they changed them, making them simpler and less interesting. Also putting the main characters in games they didn't participate in the manga, basically ignoring Arisu's traumatic experience in the hide and seek game and the ways it affected him psychologically.
Though I liked some especific changes, like the addition of celphones and the aged up main character(witch are teenagers in the manga).
But in the end it wasn't enough to make me enjoy the story.
I will give it someo extra credits for the production, which was quit impressive for a J-drama.
In conclusion: Wouldn't waste my time re-watching and don't know if I would watch a second season.
*Just want to end apologising for any gramatical mistakes*
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This review may contain spoilers
This is me mostly talking about s2 lolThis goes in the same category as squid game for me. It really is well done and i enjoyed every episode that aired. I cant help but think there will be another season even if the show was technically concluded but also that joker card at the end... if it actually ended then why would they show that and leave the ending so open? Its not a solid ending, even though i actually love the plot that this was all just borderland between life and death, its so clever and i loved that so much. People fighting for their lives for 1 minute...while it felt like an enternity for them. Wow. Jaw dropping.
Hope there will be another season just to solidfy everything again!
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Gritty & Violent AIW Retelling
While I have never been an Alice in Wonderland fan (not of the book or any of the retellings), I decided to give this show a shot because it reminded me of The Hunger Games and Battle Royal. The gritty setting and horror elements were truly the best part of the series. The further Arisu descended into the rabbit hole, the more explicit the violence become. I never felt the violence was gratuitous for shock value, but served as an immersive experience for both the characters and audience alike. While the show certainly put its characters into interesting survival and moral quandaries, I felt rather ambivalent about the character's fates. I'm not sure if my detachment stemmed from the genre itself (don't get too connected to the characters because they could all die at any moment) or if it was from a storytelling perspective. I'm not sure I would rewatch this series, but I certainly will give the second season a try.Was this review helpful to you?
Worth Watching
Alice in Borderland is the best thing that Netflix had ever made. Everyone has done so well. The whole cast is outstanding. This show is really a Masterpiece.It really keeps the heart of audience beating fast. The Games are on another level. These are the most deadly games and the deaths are very unexpected. These games of survival are the best which are so hard to play. The players had to win the games to survive. The Theme of the series is fantastic. Each Game is based upon the deck of cards & difficulty level increases from Ace to 10th Card & Face Cards are the real deal that we will see in 2nd Season.
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Hollow plot premise with hope of redemption in Season 2 *fingers crossed*
Compared to Squid Game, this drama comes across as just a senseless survival game drama. The players appear to be merely transported to the games arena and forced to participate in bizarre games to survive. Weakening the already hollow plot premise (for gamers to play and survive) is the beach utopia. There appears suggestion of inner desire of the players (esp for the FL) to escape the current world that they live in. I hope Season 2 provides a compelling motive for the players, or a premise for the existence of the games arena. The games played in Alice are comparatively smarter and need not result in casualties. And perhaps, the simpler sadistic games in Squid Game provides a wake up call to the brutal and blatant reality of life at extreme ends of society, that is sorely missing in Alice in Wonderland. It is otherwise an entertaining watch.Was this review helpful to you?
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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A Good One time Watch
It has all the elements Except maybe Comedy, a good entertaining option if you want to watch a good thriller Series the characters are well developed throughout the Series and you can connect with them while the series is ongoing the only downside is that you can easily guess who are going to survive and win the ordeal it has a good ending as well so u dont have to worry about another season , overall if you are interested in a thriller or suspense stories this one is for you highly Recommended .Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
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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This review may contain spoilers
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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