While the internet loves comparing these two very different TV shows, I like to take the time to point out their differences. My Little Undead World doesn’t go with the flow—what can I say? It’s weird how often they are mentioned together while not even being from the same country. It’s like Western eyes see Asians and just assume.
Let’s start with a quick rundown, and a nice little nod to Battle Royale for both of them (or the lesser but more famous franchise, The Hunger Games). Both TV shows had a 3-season run, portraying brutal games where characters die fairly often, and they both have a very similar ending. They have a pretty big ensemble cast and are mainly secluded to one location. Oh, and humans are always the worst, but we’re used to this by now.
The illusion of choice : free will vs. death
One is an analysis of the very real Korean societal divide, and the other is based on a Japanese manga dealing with what happens between life and death. That’s really where the similarities go to die, so to speak.
In Squid Game, a very small part of free will is involved (don’t come at me; they have their backs up against the wall, but they still technically dialed the number willingly).
The games are child-like and somehow manageable for most people.
If we take “Red Light, Green Light” as an example, everybody could have won. The glass bridge was not so simple, though. They get tougher as you go on, but the first ones are winnable.
This is how they get the players to keep going—that, and the money. There is a real prize at the end of it all.
Capitalism in technicolor
The universe is very aesthetic, bright, and loud, which clashes well with the brutality of the deaths. It’s like a pleasant distant memory turned into a living nightmare.
From childhood to the reality of being an adult, on steroids.
Despite it all, there is still a very firm structure.
Votes, food, time for sleeping, and even a company-like order, with ranks and schedules.
It’s not chaos, it’s not anarchy.
It’s a society run by the upper class that gets entertainment from abusing the poor.
It’s very human in its violence. Blood isn’t the main thing here. There isn’t even any in the birth scene.
It’s not a horror show. It’s a societal critique.
The marketing team at Netflix gave it their all. They were number one everywhere on the platform, and they released so many licensed products. Those outfits were meant to be Halloween costumes from the get-go.
It’s really weird when you look at the show as a capitalism critique. Bold choice.
The ending divided, and so did some of the later choices.
Season one is still very much loved though. And for good reason.
The desolate beauty of the borderlands
Alice in Borderland, on the other hand, was mainly discovered through word of mouth internationally.
It was left to fend for itself through quality alone.
There is absolutely no free will involved in getting sucked into the Borderlands. You kind of just spawn there, in an empty, urbex-looking city.
No explanations, no food, no safety. Just a desolate Tokyo. It’s a very Last of us vibe, minus the infected.
The players have to figure things out on their own, risking their lives in the process.
They have to be smart, strong, athletic, and empathetic. Most of us would fail on game one.
Their will to survive has to be a driving force because the lasers (or worse) won’t give them time to think.
Life goes on without them in a heartbeat. It’s brutal and bloody.
They are given visas for a few days at a time where they have to hunt for food, water, for a safe place to sleep, a cold shower -if they’re lucky- and medicine if they got hurt.
It’s a battle of will and resilience. The prize in AiB is life. Pure and simple.
Cards, cults, and lunatics
When we discover the cards, it turns a game of life and death into a psychological nightmare.
The nods to Alice in Wonderland seal the deal. Of course Hatter would have a cult-like structure, while Alice is lost and the White Rabbit deals with everything on her own.
And of course, the smartest one of them all would be the one and only fan-favorite Cheshire.
The contrast between beloved Disney characters and the games they have to play is a brilliant juxtaposition of their common desire to escape Wonderland. None of them are happy there.
And while everyone loves the heroes, I am fascinated by deranged lunatics.
So, of course, Niragi shooting like a maniac on a pirate ship stole my attention.
It’s weird to be happy to see a serial killing rapist for 3 seconds at the end of Season 3.
Trust me, I’m not proud of it.
We learn along the way that the second round of games was created by survivors of the first round.
Their lives being in the balance again as face cards. They had the choice to leave, but decided to stay…
This draws a strange parallel again with Squid game and Gi-hun choosing to return to the island.
None of them are crazy or pure evil, they are just layered human characters.
The gender divide
Another important topic to point out is the way they treat their female characters.
In Squid game, women are often seen as a liability. They are either annoying, too endearing or easily killed in a world dominated by patriarchal ahjussis.
While there are exceptions, even the fan-favorites end up disregarded in the end.
In Alice in borderland, women are strong, independent, and can kick ass if need be. They are a driving force behind the action. They are badass, intelligent, and dependable.
Some are just truly well written women we usually lack in mainstream media.
They have range. They matter.
While Squid game feels like a boys’ club where women are barely allowed to enter, AIB feels like a world where gender is secondary to sheer competence (well, except for some toxic characters).
What now ?
Am I looking forward to an americanized version of Squid game ? Absolutely not.
The ending, with them playing ddakji in New york ? Please.
Name one American who knew of this game before Squid game. Just one. I’ll wait…
This alone tells you everything you need to know about a potential worldwide franchise.
Am I sad that Alice in borderland won’t be getting a 4th season ? Not really either.
To be fully honest here, they didn’t really need season 3 to begin with.
I like that they included some of the games from the manga, but that’s where it ends.
I connected with Tetsu, but would have been fine if he never even existed in this universe.
What saved the season for me were the 10 seconds of fan service at the end, giving us an update on the characters we truly cared about.
Getting Arisu and Usagi back was nice, but they’ve spent most of the season apart, and were closer in season 2 than while being married. And don’t get me started on the reason why they got back to the borderlands because I’ll get mad again.
There is no need to milk it anymore. It was lovely. Let it die with dignity.
If I were to choose to be sent to one or the other, Squid game wins.
I don’t have the brain matter or the athletic abilities to survive in Alice in borderland.
But for entertainment purposes ? Alice in borderland wins my heart by a landslide.