Drama Digest
Things aren’t what they seem for Arisu Ryohei. He is a depressed, jobless, video-game-obsessed man whose life is thrown into a spiral when he finds himself in a strange and empty Tokyo. In this version of Tokyo, he and his friends must compete in dangerous games to survive. These games are literal life and death. Here he meets Usagi, a woman who was sent to navigate these games alone. These games are dangerous and test the group’s minds and push them to the absolute limit. Arisu and Usagi have to work together to unravel the mysteries of this strange place and risk their lives in the process. Why and how did they get here? Who is Usagi, and where did she come from? Will Arisu, Usagi, and the gang leave this hell alive? Watch this drama and find out. The drama adapted from the popular manga series Imawa no Kuni no Alice by Haro Aso is here to twist your mind and keep you on the edge of your seat.
The Feel-Good Part
What makes the drama stand out from other dramas is the visuals. The drama is visually stunning and has excellent lighting, color, cinematography, and direction that all add to the suspense, action, and thrill of the entire show. Other technical factors that make the show stand out are the sound design and scoring, which works in tandem with the action and the intense moments on screen. The production and set design honestly give off an eerie feel that is just perfect and genuinely immerses the viewers in this dangerous world. You cannot expect anything less from a Netflix original. The drama is nail-biting. The suspense is out of this world and keeps you on the edge of your seat. The drama also does not sugarcoat the situation that our characters are in. It is ruthless and intense at all times. You can lose a character you like if they slip up, and there is no getting them back. Perhaps what makes the show’s action so great is its satisfying nature. It is excellent to see how our heroes tackle the dangers of this unknown world.
The Disappointing Factor
For the most part, the drama is not faithful to the manga. While it is a direct adaptation, it changes a lot and is somewhat inspired by it instead of a recreation from page to screen. The degree to which you like this drama depends on how much you care about the original work. The show can sometimes be a bit derivative and pull from a wide range of references, such as 28 days. But even then, the show manages to create its own identity. As mentioned above, the show is ruthless when it comes to killing characters which give us some moments where a lot of characters seem underdeveloped. But this is a very nit-picky judgment that can easily be overlooked.
In-Depth Analysis
The drama is an excellent look at freedom and what it truly means. It shows us that an absence of rules does not mean that we have true freedom and that it takes a lot to survive. It is highly emotional and intense and keeps you wanting more. It is also a great look into how you can not truly adapt something to the fullest and still have a great final product. The drama’s name is an excellent metaphor for the concept of freedom in the face of danger in a mysterious and unknown land.
Star Power
Sato Shunsuke directed the drama and screen-wrote it alongside Kuramitsu Yasuko. Sato Shinsuke is best known for his projects, such as Gantz, I Am a Hero, Death Note NEW GENERATION, and BLEACH. Kuramitsu screen-wrote projects such as Love Song, Koi suru Hong Kong, Keiji Yugami, and Tourist. The drama consists of a star-studded cast with Murakami Nijiro, Moringa Yuki, Machida Keita, Miyoshi Ayaka, and many more. Perhaps the two main characters in the show are Alice and Rabbit aka Arisu, and Usagi, played by Yamazaki Kento and Tsuchiya Tao. They provide an intense performance alongside their castmates and truly deliver the tension and character development one expects from a show like this. Yamazaki Kento stars in other dramas and movies such as Good Doctor, Todome no Kiss, 35 sai no Koukousei, The Disastrous Life of Saiki K, One Week Friends, Another, and Your Lie in April. Tsuchiya Tao stars in dramas and movies such as Limit, Mare, Kakko no Tamago wa Dare no Mono, Kasane, Little Monster, and Orange.
Overall Opinion
Alice in Borderland has created a name for itself as a great show, and it truly meets the hype in terms of quality and entertainment. If you are looking for an intense 8-episode series, this is the drama for you.
