Summary
Alice in Borderlandseason 3 is happening, but I hope the Netflix series does not adapt a certain Arisu story from the manga. Even thoughAlice in Borderlandseason 2’s endingwas virtually the same as the manga, theNetflix live-action showwill return for another season. Arisu and the others are back in the real but do not remember what happened in the“60 seconds”that they were clinically dead, so I’m interested to see where the story goes next.
While I’m excited forAlice in Borderlandseason 3, I thought the end of season 2 would have been the perfect way to conclude the show. The series will now have to go beyond its source material to continue the stories of Arisu and Usagi. Interestingly,there is technically a sequel to theAlice in Borderlandmangathat, in theory, could be used as season 3’s story. However, I do not think that covering this particular Arisu story would be good for Netflix’sAlice in Borderland.
Alice In Borderland Season 3 Should Not Cover Alice In Borderland: Retry
Retry does not include most of the Alice in Borderland characters.
Alice in Borderland: Retryis a 13-issue manga series released between October 2020 and January 2021 written and illustrated by Haro Aso. It is set a couple of years after the events ofAlice in Borderlandand revisits Arisu and Usagi, who are now a married couple expecting their first child. While Arisu and Usagi are together, they do not remember what happened in the Borderland.Shortly after Arisu receives the news that Usagi is in labor, he suffers an accidentand once again finds himself between life and death. This brings Arisu back into the Borderland.
Kento Yamazaki and Tao Tsuchiya are so far the only actors confirmed forAlice in Borderlandseason 3.
While the premise ofRetrysounds like the perfect way of continuing the show following Arisu’s return to the real world in season 2, there is a big problem with it. Arisu and Usagi are the onlyAlice in Borderlandcharactersfeatured inRetry, everyone else is an original character created for this story. In other words,ifAlice in Borderlandseason 2 were to faithfully adaptRetry, most of the show’s cast would not return.Although Arisu and Usagi are indeed the protagonists, I believeAlice in Borderlandwould not work without the likes of Chishiya and Kuina.
An Original Story Is The Best Option For Alice In Borderland Season 3
Retry is not big enough to be its own season.
Alice in Borderland: Retryis the closest thing to anAlice in Borderlandsequel in the manga. Still, I don’t think this would be the best story for season 3. Not only doesRetryignore mostAlice in Borderlandcharacters to focus on Arisu, but it is also a very short and straightforward story.Arisu is hurt, enters a coma, finds himself in the Borderland, and wins a series of games to returnto the real world in time for the birth of his child. During his second time in the Borderland, Arisu remembers everything he and Usagi went through.
Alice in Borderland: Retrymay not be the ideal source material for season 3, but this manga sequel could serve as inspiration for the Netflix show in some ways.
WithAlice in Borderland: Retrynot offering many storytelling options for a new season, the best option forAlice in Borderlandseason 3’s storywould be to have an original plot. The Netflix series has created an identity of its own that differs from the manga in several ways, even though it is a relatively faithful manga adaptation. I cannot pictureAlice in Borderlandwithout Chishiya, Kuina, Ann, and the others. AlthoughAlice in Borderlandseason 3 could benefit from a time skip, introducing adult, married versions of Arisu and Usagi would not work.
Alice In Borderland Season 3 Could Still Incorporate Some Elements From Retry
Retry includes some interesting ideas that Alice in Borderland could use.
Alice in Borderland: Retrymay not be the ideal source material for season 3, but this manga sequel could serve as inspiration for the Netflix show in some ways. For example, having Arisu and Usagi become a couple despite them not having their memories from the Borderland is a very interesting idea. Season 2’s finale already teased thatArisu and Usagi will always find each other no matter what, so it is reasonable to assume they will be together even without remembering that they already fell in love with each other once.
Alice In Borderland Season 3 Already Has An Adaptation Problem The First 2 Seasons Didn’t
Alice in Borderland season 3 faces an adaptation problem that the first two seasons of Netflix’s live-action manga series did not encounter.
Another cool concept fromRetrythat could make its way into the show is that Arisu is still connected to the Borderland and could return there if he ever finds himself in another life-or-death situation. Lastly,Alice in Borderland: Retrygives Arisu his memory back, which is something I believe will happen eventually in the Netflix show. As much as I enjoyed howAlice in Borderlandaccurately brought the manga to screen, I’m excited to see what the show will look like now that it no longer has a proper source material to be based on.
Alice in Borderland
Cast
Alice in Borderland: Released in 2020, Alice in Borderland follows a young man obsessed with video games and his two friends who find themselves transported to a mysterious version of Tokyo. They must participate in perilous games to survive and navigate the challenges of this alternate reality.
