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After two years of intense, mind-bending survival games and psychological battles, Alice in Borderland concluded its second season by ending one chapter and unveiling a much bigger mystery. The deadly games stopped, or so it seemed, and Arisu, along with other survivors, reappeared in the "real world" after a supposed meteorite disaster. But just as viewers were starting to relax, the camera shifted to a playing card—the Joker—lying on the ground.
That last shot was more than just a flirt with the film. It suggested to fans that the story might not be over, and the games may continue. The visual symbolism of the Joker card was deliberate and clear. In the manga, the Joker was a symbol connecting life and death—a bridge through limbo. In the Netflix version, however, this character has not yet been revealed or defined.
This has sparked widespread speculation among viewers. Alice in Borderland Season 3 is expected not only to continue the story but also to clarify major unresolved plot points.
Disclaimer: the article reflects the author's opinion.
Let's take a look at the five questions Alice in Borderland Season 3 needs to answer to make the wait worthwhile.
1. What is the true significance of the Joker Card in Alice in Borderland?
The last shot of Season 2 focused on the Joker card, hinting at a bigger mystery beyond simple face card games. In the manga, the Joker acts as a gatekeeper—someone who guides souls between life and death. This interpretation might mean that Arisu and the others were never just dreaming or in a coma, but rather experiencing an after-death realm connected to mortality itself.
Nonetheless, the Netflix show has not yet assigned a physical or narrative role to the Joker. Season 3 must clarify whether this character is symbolic or a real character or force that will be introduced later. Is the Joker the mastermind behind the game? Is it a personification of fate or death itself? Or is it simply the start of a completely new phase of the Borderlands franchise? These questions need to be answered to maintain the series' narrative continuity.
2. Did the games really end, or is reality another game in Alice in Borderland?
Although the characters appeared to come alive inside a Tokyo hospital after a meteorite strike, the authenticity of this sequence is now questioned. How could so many people share a collective hallucination or vision that was so skillfully crafted and coherent? Is it even possible for multiple people to enter the same dream world independently? The series did not give a clear explanation of how or why the Borderlands existed.
If the meteorite catastrophe is real and the Borderlands were just a collective near-death hallucination, then the Joker card makes that impossible. On the other hand, if the Borderlands are a purgatory or an alternate dimension, then returning to reality might not be real at all. Season 3 has to determine the link between the Borderlands and the real world. Was it a test? A simulation? A do-over? Without clear answers, the emotional impact of the first two seasons remains uncertain.
3. Who was running the Borderlands in Alice in Borderland—and why?
Over the course of Seasons 1 and 2, audiences were introduced to game masters and face card players, each more dangerous than the last. None of them, however, were revealed as the designers of the games—instead, they were players forced into those roles. The Queen of Hearts, Mira, offered philosophical insights about reality versus illusion but admitted that she was also just another player.
So, if the face cards weren't in control, then who was? Was there ever really a game master, or is the system self-sustaining? The complex infrastructure of the games—down to advanced technology, efficient logistics, and intricate puzzles—reveals a powerful force or system at work. Human? Alien? Algorithmic? Season 3 needs to address this question directly. Knowing who, or what, controls Borderlands is key to understanding everything the characters endured.
4. Are the characters of Alice in Borderland really alive, or living in another illusion?
When Arisu and the others woke up in the hospital, they had no memory of anything from the Borderlands. However, the fact that they all experienced cardiac arrest during the meteorite event and were revived within the same time frame is suspicious. Perhaps the Borderlands are a realm that can only be accessed in a state of suspended animation or near-death. Or maybe these players are now trapped in another reality without realizing it.
The appearance of the Joker card in the real world shows that the Borderlands, or whatever forces create them, still exist. This suggests that the characters might be less free than they think. Season 3 must clarify whether Arisu and the others are truly alive in the traditional sense or if they are still stuck in a cycle. Their true status, alive, dead, or somewhere in between, needs to be clearly defined to give emotional closure to the journey they have been on so far.
5. What's the future of the games in Alice in Borderland—Will they return in a new format?
Alice in Borderland Seasons 1 and 2 crafted the games using playing cards, progressing from number cards to face cards, with each suit representing various psychological and physical challenges. With the entire deck now seemingly exhausted, it naturally raises the question: what's next?
If the Joker card symbolizes a new era, will players face an entirely different kind of game? Is it a final challenge or a punishment? Will there be a completely new group of players? Or could it turn into a struggle not just for survival but for understanding and control of the system itself? The game mechanics, rules, and stakes must be rewritten in Season 3.
Without a solid structure and high stakes, the show risks losing the intense focus that made the first two seasons compelling.
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Alice in Borderland Season 3 faces the challenge of resolving the big, existential questions that have loomed over the show since it began. While the visuals, pacing, and performances have all been impressive, it's the unresolved mysteries that demand answers. These include what the Joker card does, the ultimate fate of the characters, and the origins of the Borderlands—five questions that are crucial to resolve next.
Without clear answers, the entire story risks collapsing under the weight of ambiguity. Season 3 doesn't need to over-explain, but it must provide answers. Most importantly, it must be confident that everything leading up to this point was driven by purpose, not spectacle.
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