The hit Netflix series, Alice in Borderland, has captivated audiences worldwide with its intense survival games and complex characters. With Season 2 concluding the main storyline from the original manga, fans are eagerly anticipating the arrival of Season 3, now officially confirmed for a 2025 release. But where will the story go from here? This article explores the possibilities, drawing on clues from the manga, the show’s deviations, and fan theories.
The End of Season 2 and the Manga: A Recap
Season 2 of Alice in Borderland saw Arisu, Usagi, and their fellow survivors confront the final face card players, culminating in a showdown with the Queen of Hearts, Mira Kano. After enduring countless deadly games, they were given a choice: stay in the Borderland as citizens or return to their world. Arisu, Usagi, and most of their companions chose to return.
The show’s ending closely mirrors that of the manga: the characters wake up in a hospital, recovering from a near-death experience following a meteor strike in Tokyo. They have no memory of the Borderland, yet they feel a sense of connection, particularly Arisu and Usagi, who share a feeling that they have met before. This ending aligns with the manga’s conclusion where Arisu and Usagi, though without memories of their time in the Borderland, find each other in the real world.
The Joker Card: A Major Deviation
Despite the close adaptation, the show introduced a significant deviation from the manga: the appearance of the Joker card at the very end. In the manga, the Joker is portrayed as a mysterious figure, a “ferryman” between life and death, not directly involved in the games. The show’s Joker card, however, suggests a continuation of the games, leaving a major cliffhanger.
This change has led to considerable speculation about the direction of Season 3. Will the Joker be a new game master? Will the protagonists be forced back into the Borderland? The introduction of the Joker card has opened up a plethora of possibilities not explicitly present in the manga.
Potential Storylines for Season 3
With the series now exceeding the source material, the writers have a chance to explore new narrative paths. Here are some potential directions:
Original Story Based on the Joker Card
The most obvious route is to create an entirely original storyline centered around the Joker. This could involve:
- New games: The Joker could introduce a fresh set of deadly games, possibly even more complex and dangerous than before, pushing the returning characters to their absolute limits.
- A new game master: Season 3 could introduce a character, represented by the Joker card, who is orchestrating the games, perhaps with a different motivation than the face card players.
- A game in the real world: Some theories propose that the Joker’s games may not be confined to the Borderland but might spill over into the real world, forcing the characters to confront their past experiences in a new setting.
Adapting the Manga Sequel: Alice in Borderland Retry
Another option is to adapt the manga sequel, Alice in Borderland Retry. This two-volume series depicts Arisu and Usagi married and expecting a child, living normal lives without memories of the Borderland. However, they are thrust back into the game. This could be used as a source of inspiration or directly adapted to extend the narrative.
- Return to the Borderland: Retry could provide a framework for how the characters are pulled back into the games, perhaps triggered by the Joker or some other unseen force.
- Focus on Arisu and Usagi: Retry focuses primarily on Arisu and Usagi, their relationship, and their struggles. Season 3 could continue this focus while incorporating other characters from the original series.
The Borderland as a Near-Death Experience
The show’s finale reveals that the Borderland is a manifestation of the characters’ near-death experiences. This concept opens up the possibility of exploring:
- Characters’ internal struggles: Season 3 might delve deeper into the psychological impacts of the games, exploring how the characters grapple with their trauma, both within and outside the Borderland.
- The true nature of the Borderland: The series might explore the origin and purpose of the Borderland. Who created it? What’s its ultimate goal? Could the Joker be the creator?
- The possibility that they never left: Some theories suggest that the characters might still be trapped in the Borderland and that their “return” to the real world was just another game. Season 3 could reveal that they are still in an altered reality.
Character-Driven Narrative
Another direction could be to focus on character development and relationships that were not fully explored within the original narrative.
- Expanding existing character backstories: The show could delve deeper into the backstories of fan-favorite characters like Chishiya or Kuina, giving greater context for their actions and decisions in the Borderland. The manga portrayed a less likeable Chishiya than the show did, so this could be an opportunity to explore his character further.
- Exploring relationships: The series could delve further into the relationships between the characters. How did the Borderland experiences impact their relationships with one another.
- New characters: Season 3 might introduce new players into the fold, potentially characters from the spin-off manga, Alice on Border Road, or entirely original creations.
Differences from the Manga: What Could They Mean for Season 3?
The Netflix adaptation of Alice in Borderland made several changes to the original manga. These changes might indicate where the story is headed in Season 3.
- Character ages: The show’s characters are older than in the manga, which impacts the themes of the show and their character arcs.
- Arisu’s personality: In the manga, Arisu is a highly observant character, not a gamer like he is in the series. This makes his skill set and how he faces the games different.
- Omitted storylines: Certain storylines and character arcs from the manga were omitted in the show. Some of these omitted elements, like the Hatter’s descent into madness, might be revisited in Season 3, giving the show the chance to deepen its narrative.
Release Window and Fan Speculations
While an exact release date has not yet been announced, Alice in Borderland Season 3 is expected to premiere sometime in 2025. Based on the production timeline of the previous seasons, fans may anticipate a release towards the end of the year, possibly around December.
Fan theories are abundant, exploring every possible direction the series could take. Some common theories include:
- The Joker is the creator of the Borderland.
- The characters never actually left the Borderland.
- Arisu and Usagi will be forced to return to the Borderland, possibly without their memories.
- The Joker card will introduce a new game that spills over into the real world.
- The surviving characters will need to become ‘face card’ players to keep the Borderland functioning.
Conclusion
The announcement of Alice in Borderland Season 3 has ignited a flurry of excitement and speculation. With the introduction of the Joker card, the series has moved beyond the confines of the original manga, opening up a vast landscape of narrative possibilities. Whether it chooses to adapt the sequel, create a new story, or delve deeper into the mysteries of the Borderland, one thing is certain: Season 3 promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable ride. Fans can look forward to a fresh chapter in this popular series in 2025.
