Alice in Borderland Season 3 Review: A Disappointing Finale That Breaks Its Own Rules

Introduction

Alice in Borderland Season 3 Review: I watched Season 3 with high hopes and, after finishing it, I have a lot to say. In this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review I’ll explain what worked, what failed, and why this entry feels like a mixed bag compared to the brilliance of the first two seasons. This review is written from my personal point of view — I watched it, I liked some scenes, and my opinion on this is blunt: the season has emotional highs but collapses under inconsistent logic.

This is my honest Alice in Borderland Season 3 review, where I’ll break down what worked, what didn’t, and why this season might leave fans divided.

Episode 1: A Slow Start That Ends With a Bang

Alice in Borderland Season 3 Review — Episode 1 drags at times. The pacing at the beginning felt off; I watched it slowly because the setup took too long. But the final sequence of Episode 1 delivered a game that reminded me how brilliant the show can be. I liked this scene because it rekindled the same strategic tension that first hooked me on the series.

The Zombie Vaccine Game – A Highlight

In this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review I must praise the zombie vaccine game. It’s the most thrilling, ethically challenging, and well-executed game of the season. The stakes feel real, characters make impossible choices, and the game design forces emotional responses. I genuinely felt tense — and that’s saying something because Season 3 rarely recaptures the sustained suspense of earlier seasons.

Rei and Matsuyama – The Characters Who Stole the Show

If I had to pick the best part of Season 3, it wouldn’t be the games—it would be the characters Rei and Matsuyama.

The emotional core of this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review is character-driven. Rei and Matsuyama stood out for me. Rei adds a fresh voice and a fighter’s resolve that made her memorable. Matsuyama’s arc is heart-wrenching; when he dies, I actually cried. I liked Matsuyama’s moments of sacrifice and calm bravery. My opinion on this is simple: without Rei and Matsuyama, the season would have felt empty.

These two characters are the reason I didn’t abandon the show halfway.

Usagi and Arisu – Love That Runs Deep

I’ve always liked the dynamic between Usagi and Arisu, but in Season 3, their bond felt even more meaningful. Their love story evolved beyond survival—it was about sacrifice, trust, and saving each other against all odds.

One of the stronger threads in my Alice in Borderland Season 3 review is how Usagi and Arisu’s relationship deepened. Their bond now feels more mature — it’s about survival, hope, and the willingness to risk everything for one another. I watched scenes where the strength of their connection was the only believable element holding the story together.

There were scenes where their relationship was the only thing holding the story together. If you’re a fan of romantic arcs within dark thrillers, this season did deliver that beautifully.

Where Alice in Borderland Season 3 Failed

Now comes the part I can’t ignore in this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review—the failure of logic and storytelling. Now the critical part of this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review: the plot. The season increasingly ignores the rules that made Borderland feel structured. The villain’s ability to move in and out of Borderland at will is a major problem. How can that be?

1. The Villain’s Powers
   • How could the villain move in and out of Borderland at will? This completely broke the internal logic of the universe. If survival rules don’t apply to everyone, then what’s the point of the games?
2. Arisu’s Survival in the Final Game
   • Another issue I mention in this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review is Arisu’s survival in the final game. According to the rules, Arisu should have died in the last game. Instead, he magically survived, broke out of the game room, and returned to save Usagi. I wanted him to live, of course, but it felt forced and unrealistic.
3. The Resurrection of Dead Characters
   • Perhaps the biggest disappointment was the ending twist. How on earth did the players who died in earlier seasons suddenly reappear alive? It erased the weight of all those emotional deaths we cried over in the past. The closing episodes also reintroduce players who should have remained dead. This twist erased emotional stakes from past seasons — a cheap shortcut that dismissed prior sacrifices. In this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review I call this a major misstep: when deaths lose permanence, the series loses a piece of its soul.

These lapses in logic made me feel disconnected from the story. The first two seasons had consistency—even in a bizarre world, the rules felt grounded. Season 3? It felt like the writers threw logic out the window.

Want to know more about Netflix fails, read here: Worst Netflix Movies: Top 5 You Should Never Watch in 2025 – CineSyncs

Comparing Season 3 to Previous Seasons

• Season 1: Pure survival horror with mystery. Brilliant.
• Season 2: Deeper character development, emotional stakes, shocking games. Fantastic.
• Season 3: Emotional highs with Rei, Matsuyama, Usagi-Arisu love… but ruined by weak writing and broken rules.

If the earlier seasons were a 9/10 for me, this one barely touches 5/10. Despite the problems I’ve pointed out in this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review, the season has redeeming moments. The acting is often strong, with Rei and Matsuyama carrying several scenes. The production design and game cinematography still deliver visual thrills.

What I Wanted from Season 3 (and Where It Fell Short)

In this Alice in Borderland Season 3 review I want to be specific about expectations versus reality. I expected tighter rules, a sense of consequence, and games that built logically on what had come before. Instead, the season often substitutes spectacle for substance. Small moments of exposition that could have explained the villain’s new capabilities were skipped, which left me frustrated. I kept asking: why was this choice narrative-driven instead of rule-driven? My opinion on this is that the writers traded plausible motivation for convenience, and that choice cost the season credibility.

Here is what I expected from Season 3: Arisu Death: Alice in Borderland Season 3 Release: The Shocking Netflix Survival Thriller Returns September 25 – CineSyncs

My Personal Verdict on Alice in Borderland Season 3

After finishing the season, I honestly felt let down. Yes, there were emotional moments, especially Matsuyama’s death and the love between Usagi and Arisu. Yes, some games were exciting, particularly the zombie vaccine challenge. But overall, the season lacked the consistency, logic, and thrill of its predecessors.

In my opinion, Alice in Borderland Season 3 is worth watching only if you’re already invested in the series. But if you expect the same level of brilliance as before, prepare for disappointment.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)

FAQs about Alice in Borderland Season 3

1. Is Alice in Borderland Season 3 worth watching?

If you’ve seen the first two seasons, you’ll probably watch it out of curiosity. It has emotional moments and good characters, but don’t expect the same magic.

2. Who were the best characters in Alice in Borderland Season 3?

For me, Rei and Matsuyama were the best. Rei brought energy, and Matsuyama’s death was heartbreaking.

3. What was the best game in Season 3?

The zombie vaccine game stood out as the most thrilling and intense game of the season.

4. Why did fans dislike Alice in Borderland Season 3?

The lack of logic in the final episodes, resurrection of dead characters, and Arisu’s unrealistic survival disappointed many fans.

5. Is there a possibility of Alice in Borderland Season 4?

As of now, Netflix hasn’t confirmed Season 4. Given how Season 3 wrapped up, it feels unlikely, but fan demand could change things.