Netflix’s ‘Alice in Borderland’ Is the Perfect ‘Squid Game’ Replacement

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After a three-year gap, it would be impossible for Squid Game (Season 2) to live up to its astronomical expectations. Debuting during the global lockdown of 2021, this South Korean thriller broke Netflix’s viewership records and achieved international acclaim as a global sensation. Given such unprecedented success, it was only natural for a decline in quality to occur in Season 2.

For those slightly let down by “Squid Game”, it might bring some relief to know that Netflix is gearing up to debut another potential Korean TV thriller sensation. After a break of three years, the third season of “Alice in Borderland” is scheduled for release in early 2025. Given the enhancement from Season 1 to Season 2, the upcoming season of “Alice in Borderland” could potentially dethrone “Squid Game” as Netflix’s next international phenomenon.

Why ‘Squid Game’ Season 2 Was Disappointing

Facing the challenging responsibility of matching its highly acclaimed first season, Squid Game Season 2 found itself in a difficult position of surpassing its own remarkable success. The South Korean drama revolves around a group of individuals struggling with financial difficulties who participate in a series of lethal games inspired by children’s games to secure a substantial monetary reward. The life-or-death competitions necessitate contestants to employ their intelligence and cunning to outlast opponents, form strategic partnerships, maintain adversaries at arm’s length, and take any measures necessary for self-preservation.

At an ideal moment and location, Squid Game became a global sensation when it premiered on Netflix in September 2021, drawing tens of millions of viewers who were staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With unprecedented viewership, the show’s success prompted Netflix to approve Season 2, placing immense pressure on the series creator Hwang Dong-Huyk to meet the impossible standards and produce something comparable to the first season’s groundbreaking performance.

Hwang, feeling the strain to match Season 1’s success, humorously commented in public, “I’m tired of Squid Game,” (as reported by Variety). He expressed his frustration over how the show has grown into an unmanageable commercial giant for the platform. Before even the second season was released, Netflix started diluting the original content with various spin-offs of a Squid Game reality show, video games, interactive art exhibits, and more.

Regarding Season 2, the primary reason for disappointment stems from the faded excitement of the games, the absence of jaw-dropping twists, a decrease in episode numbers (from nine to seven), and an underwhelming finale. With a 6.9 IMDb rating, Squid Game’s season finale holds the lowest rating in the series’ history. Following this quiet conclusion, fans of Squid Game may find solace in Alice in Borderland, Netflix’s next anticipated Asian sensation.

What Is ‘Alice in Borderland’ About?

Based on the well-known Haro Aso manga, “Alice in Borderland” is a highly praised Japanese thriller TV show that premiered on Netflix in December 2020. Although it’s not directly about children’s games, its concept shares similarities with “Squid Games.” The storyline centers around Tokyo teenagers Arisu (played by Kento Yamazaki) and Usagi (portrayed by Tao Tsuchiya), who participate in dangerous survival games within an abandoned urban area.

Within an entertainment venue called Borderlands, Arisu and Usagi participate in a sequence of games, each with unique layouts and levels determined by playing cards. The significance of these games goes beyond mere competition; the winners, including Arisu and Usagi, are granted visa extensions to keep residing lawfully within the country. If a participant loses a game, their visa is instantly revoked, leading to a lethal outcome as lasers from above instantly vaporize them.

In “Alice in Borderland,” the boundaries between interactive gaming and survival thriller genres blur, creating an experience akin to masterpieces like “Cube,” “Battle Royale,” “Escape Room,” and more. Exciting visual spectacles intertwine with the strategies essential for survival. The surroundings themselves are integral to the plot, enhancing the immersive gameplay as characters such as Arisu, Usagi, and others traverse between real-world scenarios and the virtual domain of Borderland.

Why ‘Alice in Borderland’ Is the Perfect Squid Game Antidote

Despite some critics seeing a similar theme between Squid Game and Alice in Borderland, there’s a compelling reason Netflix might have its next global hit series: consistent enhancement. In the case of Squid Game, its critical acclaim took a slight dip from a 95% Rotten Tomatoes rating in Season 1 to 84% in Season 2. On the other hand, Alice in Borderland boosted its praise, moving from an 80% RT rating in Season 1 to an impressive 89% in Season 2. Given that these survival shows are headed in opposite directions quality-wise, Alice in Borderland emerges as the next must-watch TV show for Netflix subscribers.

It seems that the third season of “Alice in Borderland” is shaping up to be exceptional. Compared to Season 2, which took two years to produce, Season 3 has taken a bit longer, approximately three years, indicating that even greater care, attention, and dedication were poured into its creation. Additionally, what could keep “Alice” ahead of the popular series “Squid Game” is its vast source material. Unlike “Squid Game,” which doesn’t have a pre-existing storyline and will need to come up with new stories for each season, “Alice in Borderland’s” narrative has already been established through Aso’s long-running manga series.

18 volumes of “Alice in Borderland” manga have been released since 2011, along with 8 spin-off volumes titled “Alice on Border Road” and 2 more volumes under the title “Alice in Borderland: Retry”. This means that the story continues to unfold, potentially making “Alice in Borderland” a global hit survival thriller TV series on Netflix similar to “Squid Game”. The series’ longevity seems to surpass what “Squid Game 2” failed to demonstrate, establishing itself as a must-watch TV event on Netflix in the year 2025. Both “Alice in Borderland” and “Squid Game” can be streamed on Netflix.

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2025-01-12 02:31