I just finished the last two episodes and I must say, I thought season 2 was even better than season 1.
I had watched season 1 last December while a friend of mine hadn't seen the show yet and binged both seasons in 3-4 days. He thought it started well, then dipped in quality (the beach), but was also disappointed by season 2.
As for me, I agree about the beach, but I also thought the show picked up again towards the end of season 1 and I can't really find any fault with season 2, except that it might feel a little rushed in times (mainly because we don't get to see ALL games), but I totally understand why and it's ok with me.
I am confused by all the bad reviews of episode 7 and also those for this one.
It seems to be a similar issue that I noticed with the people who watched Squid Game, but mostly enjoyed it as some kind of gore fest or torture porn.
And although season 2 might have had one of the cruelest ways to die (acid), I think it was actually far more humane. My friend complained that the games didn't feel dangerous, but I think season 2 was almost only about psychology. Except for the King of Spades and I think he needs to be seen as something "special" and maybe not quite literally.
So the show is called "Alice in BORDERland", right?
Alice is Arisu (Japanese pronounciation of Alice). Usagi is Japanese for bunny (one can argue that she made him go deeper into the rabbit hole). Mira of course is the "evil" queen (although I honestly liked her, not only because she's super pretty. But she seemed happy and touched when she actually lost her game and seemed to be sincerely happy that she could play croquet with someone).
The whole borderland of course is the border between death and life. It's not just an imaginary place either, it does exist as some kind of limbo. And if you die there, you usually die in the real world too (except for Ann, but maybe that's because Kuina got to choose for her?).
So we can then glean from context that all the Kings and Queens might be dead or at least in permanent limbo (more likely). This might explain why all but one of them seem rather happy to die and why all of them seem quite lonely and bored.
So all the "unrealistic" things in episode 7 make a lot more sense under that context, because we're not in a real world. Some characters that would be certainly dead like the girl with the bow or Aguni seem to survive because of their will power (in real life). I mean, didn't the King of Spades super human reflexes seem odd as well?
I am sure even the plant life has some deeper meaning when we can see how quickly Shibuya is covered in plants and how there are skeletons with no meat or skin (it would take weeks or months usually to be so clean) on them.
Mira actually mentions this in a way. She said the truth really doesn't matter and if they never ever felt that this world is a bit...off? It is! Because it's not our "normal" world.
In a way, her trick (that's what makes her game one of the deadliest, although one has to wonder if it would work with 50+ participants?) that Arisu was in an accident isn't that far from the truth. He and Usagi were in an accident and so was everybody else (except for the Kings and Queens).
The message of Alice in Borderland is clear: The purpose of life is relative and what You make of it. Just as long as you live your life to the fullest and work together and treat others kindly.
I don't know if the Joker means that there will be another season, but I actually can't imagine it. Although I would have loved to see and know more about this world, I can't imagine a better ending for the show. A perfect 10 from me :).
I had watched season 1 last December while a friend of mine hadn't seen the show yet and binged both seasons in 3-4 days. He thought it started well, then dipped in quality (the beach), but was also disappointed by season 2.
As for me, I agree about the beach, but I also thought the show picked up again towards the end of season 1 and I can't really find any fault with season 2, except that it might feel a little rushed in times (mainly because we don't get to see ALL games), but I totally understand why and it's ok with me.
I am confused by all the bad reviews of episode 7 and also those for this one.
It seems to be a similar issue that I noticed with the people who watched Squid Game, but mostly enjoyed it as some kind of gore fest or torture porn.
And although season 2 might have had one of the cruelest ways to die (acid), I think it was actually far more humane. My friend complained that the games didn't feel dangerous, but I think season 2 was almost only about psychology. Except for the King of Spades and I think he needs to be seen as something "special" and maybe not quite literally.
So the show is called "Alice in BORDERland", right?
Alice is Arisu (Japanese pronounciation of Alice). Usagi is Japanese for bunny (one can argue that she made him go deeper into the rabbit hole). Mira of course is the "evil" queen (although I honestly liked her, not only because she's super pretty. But she seemed happy and touched when she actually lost her game and seemed to be sincerely happy that she could play croquet with someone).
The whole borderland of course is the border between death and life. It's not just an imaginary place either, it does exist as some kind of limbo. And if you die there, you usually die in the real world too (except for Ann, but maybe that's because Kuina got to choose for her?).
So we can then glean from context that all the Kings and Queens might be dead or at least in permanent limbo (more likely). This might explain why all but one of them seem rather happy to die and why all of them seem quite lonely and bored.
So all the "unrealistic" things in episode 7 make a lot more sense under that context, because we're not in a real world. Some characters that would be certainly dead like the girl with the bow or Aguni seem to survive because of their will power (in real life). I mean, didn't the King of Spades super human reflexes seem odd as well?
I am sure even the plant life has some deeper meaning when we can see how quickly Shibuya is covered in plants and how there are skeletons with no meat or skin (it would take weeks or months usually to be so clean) on them.
Mira actually mentions this in a way. She said the truth really doesn't matter and if they never ever felt that this world is a bit...off? It is! Because it's not our "normal" world.
In a way, her trick (that's what makes her game one of the deadliest, although one has to wonder if it would work with 50+ participants?) that Arisu was in an accident isn't that far from the truth. He and Usagi were in an accident and so was everybody else (except for the Kings and Queens).
The message of Alice in Borderland is clear: The purpose of life is relative and what You make of it. Just as long as you live your life to the fullest and work together and treat others kindly.
I don't know if the Joker means that there will be another season, but I actually can't imagine it. Although I would have loved to see and know more about this world, I can't imagine a better ending for the show. A perfect 10 from me :).