Alice in Borderlandis about to come back, and we already know some exciting things about season 3’s story. Following the release of a poster that teased Arisu and Usagi’s return to the Borderland, Netflix has now shared thefirst trailer forAlice in Borderlandseason 3as well as a synopsis.
Based on Haro Aso’s manga of the same name, Netflix’sAlice in Borderlandis one of the streamer’s most popular Japanese shows. Despite the satisfying ending of season 2,Alice in Borderlandis returning for season 3, this time having little from the source material left to cover. Between new characters and an original story, the next games are about to be quite different.
7Alice In Borderland Season 3 Will Include A Time Skip
Things Have Changed Since Arisu Woke Up
Unsurprisingly,Alice in Borderlandseason 3 will take place a few years after the end of season 2.While we don’t know when exactly season 3 will take place, it is clear from the trailer that a significant time has passed since Arisu returned to the real world.
Not only does Arisu look a lot different – partially thanks to a fresh haircut – but he also seems to have a job and is living with Usagi.Alice in Borderlandseason 2 endedwith Arisu and Usagi finding each other again despite not having their memories, so we can assume they started dating shortly after.
6Only 5 Returning Characters Are Confirmed For Alice In Borderland Season 3
Several Alice In Borderland Characters Are Missing From Season 3
One of the biggest shocks regardingAlice in Borderlandseason 3 is that, so far, only five characters from the first two seasons are confirmed to be returning. Apart from Arisu and Usagi,the only three other returning characters that we know of are Ann, Banda, and Yaba.
Although other characters from seasons 1 and 2 could still show up in season 3 as a surprise, the fact that we only have Ann, Banda, and Yaba officially returning, in addition to Arisu and Usagi, is interesting. So far,we’ve heard nothing about characters like Chishiya or Kuina.
Oki Yaba
Katsuya Maiguma
Arisu and Usagi’s relationship is the heart ofAlice in Borderland, but the supporting characters are also an essential part of the show. On the one hand, it will be strange if the other characters don’t return in season 2. On the other hand, their stories have already concluded.
For example,Chishiya woke up in the real world as a changed personafter his experience playing against the King of Diamonds in the Beauty Contest game. Likewise, Kuina reunited with her parents, including her father. That said, I’m curious to find out whetherAlice in Borderlandseason 3’s cast is hiding some surprises.
5Arisu And Usagi Got Married Between Seasons 2 And 3
Arisu And Usagi Fell In Love A Second Time
Another major reveal from season 3’s trailer is thatArisu and Usagi are now a married couple.This is exactly what happened in Haro Aso’sAlice in Borderland: Retry, the sequel/epilogue toAlice in Borderland.
InRetry, Usagi was pregnant and about to give birth when Arisu returned to the Borderland. This doesn’t seem to be the case forAlice in Borderlandseason 3, and it actually looks like Arisu and Usagi got married recently. Either way, they’re now in a very different place from the first two seasons.
It’s interesting how Arisu and Usagi fell in love again and even got married without remembering everything that they went through together in the Borderland. It’s clear that these two were meant for each other, though, as they essentially lived two different love stories in totally different contexts.
4Arisu Will Have To Return To The Borderland To Find Usagi
A Mysterious Man Seems To Be Manipulating Usagi
Perhaps thebiggest mystery going intoAlice in Borderlandseason 3was why Arisu would return to the Borderland, and now we finally have the answer. Arisu will have to return to the games to find Usagi, who appears to have been brought back into the Borderland.
We see Usagi in a hospital bed during the trailer, suggesting that she might once again be fighting for her life. As far as we know, being on the brink of death is the only way to enter the Borderland. It’s unclear whether Arisu will also get hurt before returning to the games, or if he will access the Borderland differently.
InAlice in Borderland: Retry, the reason Arisu returns to that world is that he suffers an accident and almost dies. WhileAlice in Borderlandseason 3 is clearly borrowing some things from the manga sequel, including Arisu and Usagi’s marriage, the actual plot looks to be a lot more elaborate.
3A Mysterious New Character Will Play An Important Role In Season 3
Ryuji Is A Scholar Studying The Afterlife
The synopsis forAlice in Borderlandseason 3 reveals a character called Ryuji, a mysterious scholar who is studying the afterlife and will guide Usagi into the Borderland. Although season 3 will have several new characters, Ryuji appears to be one of the most important.
Alice in Borderlandseason 3 comes out in September 2025.
Interestingly,the fact that this mysterious Ryuji is obsessed with the afterlife all but confirms that the Borderland is indeed some form of afterlife, or at least some kind of purgatory. Neither the manga nor the live-action show explainswhat the Borderland actually is, so it will be interesting to learn more about it in season 3.
2The Joker Will Be The Major Threat Of Alice In Borderland Season 3
Arisu Will Have To Go Through The Joker Stage
Despite the introduction of Ryuji and plenty of other characters, the Joker will still be the biggest threat to Arisu and Usagi inAlice in Borderlandseason 3. We don’t know if the Joker is an actual character, butthe synopsis references a “Joker stage” that Arisu and new players will have to face.
In season 2, every Face Card stage was represented by a citizen. For example, Mira was the Queen of Hearts, while Kyuma was the King of Clubs. Using the same logic for the Joker stage,there must be at least one character who symbolizes the Joker game in season 3.
There is no Joker game in the manga. Instead, the Joker is the ferryman who guides Arisu back into the real world after our hero declines to become a citizen of the Borderland. In other words,Alice in Borderlandseason 3 can surprise us all with the Joker storyline.
1Banda And Yaba Are Now Borderland Citizens
The Season 2 Characters Are Back
Banda and Yaba, two of the most evil characters inAlice in Borderland, are back in season 3 as Borderland citizens. We met Banda and Yaba during the Jack of Hearts stage, which was arguablyAlice in Borderland’s best game. The two of them survived along with Chishiya but ultimately accepted the invitation to stay in the Borderland.
As previously revealed,those who stay in the Borderland die in the real world and become citizens of that alternate universe.It will be very exciting to see Yaba and Banda as citizens and potentially game creators. We didn’t know much about most citizens from season 2, whereas these two returning characters have already made their mark on the show.
The fact that they are now Borderland citizens means that Banda and Yaba can be even more dangerous and unpredictable than they were inAlice in Borderlandseason 2. It’s important to note that Chishiya was the only of our main characters who met those two in the second season, which means that Arisu will not know what to expect from them.
