ALICE IN BORDERLAND Review (Episodes 1-4)
It wasn't until the end of the first episode, that I realised I have not watched a Japanese tv series in a while (last time was "The Naked Director", and before that, "Miss Sherlock"), and recognising the traits which both attracted me to J-Dramas before, and echos of reasons why I chose not to actively watch J-Dramas.
Halfway into the 8 episode ALICE IN BORDERLAND, I'd thought to share my impressions of this Netflix Original series. *SPOILERS AHEAD*
"An aimless gamer and his two friends find themselves in a parallel Tokyo, where they're forced to compete in a series of sadistic games to survive." (Netflix show-page)
WHAT-IS: "Alice in Borderland" is an 8-episoder series (eps range between 42 to 53 minutes each), and is rated "R21" - more for sexual situations and partial (non)nudity, with the gore thus far kept to a minimum. Watchable here on Netflix
The premise is familiar to folks who partake in Game Play-styled plots. A group pf folks are tasked to play in "games", where SURVIVAL Means LIVING thru multiple tests (of brains and brawn), and LOOSING THE GAME Means DEATH.
The one-shot opener reminded me of the good old days of film tho, and essentially sets up the premise, while slowly unravelling clues to "survival", but not necessarily points out the source of the game. "Dark City" easily popped into my mind, but perhaps that would be too lazy a plot-device, no?
Four episodes in, it is very interesting WHO are the people chosen to go thru the "games". The outliers of the general populace. Folks who have not gone thru the "traditionally accepted" process of their work - even as innocuous as character sleeping her way up her job. Everybody has a "taint", it seems. And I certainly hope, as the series moves forward, everybody has their own secrets to reveal.
Hyperbole is not as irritating as shows in the past might have turned me off, even the aaa of over-reacting seems dialled down a bit here, giving more room for silent introspection and reaction, IMHO.
I have a personal "thing" for when actors act like they are on a single front-viewing stage, as if they needed to over-exaggerate their words and actions, so the audience at the back of the theater could understand and somehow make sense of what was going on on the stage, as the play unfolded.
It is a vastly different reaction needed for television, IMHO. You "act" and inhibit a character's role and circumstance, you do not need to put on a "presentation".
Thankfully this series manages to bridge the two, within (my) tolerance. One reason why I turn to more KDramas recently too, as they are able to dial back the drama - at least for the shows I chose to watch, and continue to watch anyways (LOL). BUT, that said, the story needs to interest me, and catch my attention as well.
Sometimes the story trumps the acting, and I am fine with "presentation" as well, as there is something I can focus on. In the case of ITS OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY, the overt-drama is apart of the characters, and the storyline certainly helped me adore the show LOL
Four episodes in, humanity is explored, the reaction to survival and death is explored and depicted. The aspect of the "game" had - for me - taken on a secondary level of importance, less about WHY THIS IS HAPPENING, compared to LETS SEE HOW THEY WORK IT OUT.
The game play seemed exceedingly simple puzzle-styled games, but they essentially test your awareness to your surroundings, and stamina, both of which I admit I'll not be able to survive in LOL
In the first episode, participants are tasked to choose between one of two doors in a room to enter: One kills you, while the other one allows you to escape the room you were standing in prior, which will go up in flames (Above clip).
Essentially it's been A GAME PER EPISODE, with Ep2 being a GAME OF TAG (see clip below), Ep3 being a variation of TAG, and Ep4 using both stamina and brains. Ep3 was the trigger for our protagonist, while Ep4 was a turning point.
As with a similarly themed franchise: "GANTZ", participants are given a chance to participate in "games", and once they survive a game, they are granted "VISAS", which could mean three days of non-game playing, where they continue on "living their lives". Or of and when they choose not to participate, they will receive a laser shot down from the clouds, and killing you immediately.
And while we follow our main protagonists in the first few episodes, new folks are introduced each episode. There are multiple folks who have played the games before, and newbies as well. WE (the audience) are introduced to ALICE IN BORDERLAND thru these folks, but also realise we might not journey with them until the "end".
I secretly enjoyed the notion that the "outliers of society" are given a space to shine and showcase their skills, as opposed to the "regular society" folks, whom have disappeared and left the streets empty. Cars are abandoned, shops remained opened but void of people, and restaurants have served hot plates of food on their table, but no one is around. It is not that "time stands still", but eventually folks are waiting for the game to start, while the mundanity of "empty life" continues for the survivors.
No one is shown "puffed" up in the air, nor any specific trace of them are left behind (like cosmic dust after Thanos snapped his fingers).
But folks who survived and chosen to play the games, they bleed, they die and lie on the floor and continue to bleed, although we are never specifically shown contestants going BACK to the scene after the game has ended tho ... I wonder if they'll continue to rot in the streets, alleyways and corridors...? Or would they all reanimate and become "zombies" to attack the survivor(s) in the endgame?
The "zombies" reference is mentioned multiple times by our protagonists in the beginning episodes too.
ALICE IN BORDERLANDS is based off the Japanese suspense manga series written and illustrated by Haro Aso (Wiki), which I have not read, but am extremely tempted to read up on Wiki, but (as of Ep5) choose not to, to enjoy the show, which premiere on Netflix is all of its binge-able 8 episodes, that's why! LOL
The manga was also adapted into an anime series (in 2014).
Thus far I finished 4 episodes on a Sunday (til lateass at night tho), and more likely will finish up this Monday (my self-given partial "day-off" from blogging, ironically me still typing this up LOL)... But I'm never known to be consistent in "wrapping up" show reviews, so MID-POINT is when I am neither disappointed yet, or still eager to find out what happened next... Heh.
Featured below is the MAKING-OF, in Japanese with no English subtitles, but was as interesting to see the actors in "real life", as well as visually how the scenes were shot...! I'll def post the English-subbed edition when it goes "live" online, hopefully by the time I finish my watch ~ hyukhyuk!
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