Alice in Borderland: Who is the Joker? Speculations explored

Alice in Borderland is a Japanese sci-fi thriller drama and is directed by Shinsuke Sato. The show is based on the manga of the same name by Haro Aso and features Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Aya Asahina, and others. The show has two seasons out so far and the first aired on Netflix in 2020.

Alice in Borderland is about Kento and Tao’s characters, who have to play in a dangerous game that tortures players. Kento stars as Ryōhei Arisu and Tao stars as Yuzuha Usagi. Arisu is a video game fan and plays the sadistic game with Usagi as his partner. Usagi is a mountain climber.

The two are trapped with other players in a parallel and mysterious version of Tokyo and must play the dangerous games, with each level’s difficulty being decided by playing cards. The games extend the players’ visas and if they expire, the player will be executed by lasers that shoot from the sky.

Alice in Borderland has received positive reviews consistently for its direction and sequences and the third season of the show is also about to premiere on September 25, 2025. However, the show revealed a Joker card at the ending of Season 2, which has fueled speculations. More on who the Joker can be.

Alice in Borderland: The Joker’s reveal at the end of Season 2

During Season 2 of Alice in Borderland, Arisu has reached the final game and he ultimately defeats Mira. Even though Mira tries to weaken Arisu psychologically, he thinks about Usagi and wins despite her manipulations.

When the remaining players are given a choice to either remain in Borderlands as citizens or return to the real world, almost everyone chooses to go back. Arisu, Usagi, and others, wake up in a hospital, and it is revealed that a large meteorite hit Tokyo, which led to Alice in Borderland.

While everyone meets each other, they have no recollection of their memories and the events that happened in the Borderlands, and Arisu and Usagi feel a connection. However, as everything ends up going well, the final shot reveals a Joker card on a table.

Therefore, the Joker becomes an important connecting link for the upcoming season of the show, as it ends on a cliffhanger, with the Joker’s identity and purpose remaining mysterious.

Alice in Borderland: The Joker’s role in the manga and details from the trailer of Season 3

The Netflix live-action show is based on a manga of the same name and those who have read it know that the Joker is an entity who is the last one to talk to Arisu after the games are over. Arisu thinks of the Joker as a ferryman, who must take care of transporting people to and from the Borderlands. In the manga, the Joker arrives at the end and after the players come back to the real world, there is no continuation, apart from a short sequel.

However, it seems that Netflix has used the Joker to propel a new season of the show. In the Season 3 trailer, Arisu and Usagi have married and when Usagi disappears and Arisu realizes that she is back in the Borderlands, he must get back into the game. In the trailer, Arisu is handed the Joker card and welcomed back into the game. Therefore, the character of the Joker will play an important role.

Alice in Borderland: Speculations about the Joker

The cliffhanger ending of Season 2 of Alice in Borderland, with the menacing Joker card on the table, has driven viewers and critics to speculate about the purpose of the character in the upcoming season. According to CBR, there can be several theories. Contestants like Banda or Yaba could be the Joker, as they did not return to the real world and stayed in the Borderlands.

However, CBR also speculates that Netflix could court controversy by getting Arisu to play the Joker himself. It could be a major plot twist and heavily imply that being in the Borderlands was always Arisu’s destiny as he becomes the next ferryman and the ruler of the alternate world. The show could then delve into themes of fate and free will.

On the other hand, RadioTimes talks about the Joker enacting its role as being the wild card in a card deck and therefore being a final entity that Arisu has to conquer. Screen Rant speculates that the Joker could lead to a whole new Borderland, with new games and new contestants. On the other hand, the Joker could also signify the real world and Arisu must play the game of life in reality and not in a Borderland.

As Season 3 of Alice in Borderland drops on September 25, 2025, on Netflix, fans will have to tune in to finally understand who the Joker is.

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