Netflix continues to release TV shows that gain popularity on a global scale, and even though many have been released and concluded in recent years, Squid Game is undoubtedly the streaming platform’s best K-drama series. Centered on desperation for money and survival, the series presents characters with an opportunity to change their lives by participating in rounds of traditional Korean children’s games. As participants are eliminated, more money is added to the prize pool. However, the elimination is literal; failure means death. Through its wide array of games, the first season delivers everything expected from complex emotions, while most importantly showcasing the desperation of the poor struggling to survive in hopes of winning more money.
However, this is where the originality of Squid Game ends, and it is clear that the first season should have been the conclusion. Meanwhile, another similar series, the Japanese live-action adaptation of the manga Alice in Borderlandwhich shares many traits with Squid Gamehas continued to hold up better in its last two seasons. Reports suggest that the continuation of Squid Game into season 2 was driven primarily by the overwhelming popularity of its first season, implying the series was never intended to continue but should have ended there. In contrast, season 2 of Alice in Borderland builds naturally on the foundation of its first season, transitioning seamlessly into the next, unlike Squid Gamewhich struggles to find its narrative balance.
Alice in Borderland Has Better Last Two Seasons Than Squid Game
Squid Game season 1 ends with Seong Gi-hun as the sole survivor, seemingly making peace with what occurred and preparing to travel to the U.S. to meet his daughter. However, upon spotting the recruiter once more, it becomes clear that the story will continue, with Gi-hun seeking the source of the games while the Front Man’s brother, Hwang Jun-ho, also pursues this quest. Yet the story quickly falters, with Gi-hun being drawn back into the games, taking on the role of a leader and supposed hero, only for his position to collapse. Meanwhile, Jun-ho’s storyline of searching for the island becomes almost unwatchable.
By the end of season 2, the setup for season 3 suggests Gi-hun will find himself in yet another unwanted role in the death games, which also sees him killing someone else, something no one expected. Season 3 concludes with little to no progress in either Gi-hun’s or Jun-ho’s attempts to stop the games. Though the narrative tries to deliver a moral about the rich always controlling the system, the foundation built over the last two seasons falls flat, particularly with Jun-ho’s arc.
In contrast, season 2 of Alice in Borderland sustains intrigue, drawing Arisu and the others deeper into new sets of games while unraveling the truth: the Borderland is a liminal world where people arrive when near death, and surviving means returning to life. With these unique elements, season 2 continues to deliver fresh and inventive games. While some are clearly over the top, they remain compelling and rival those in Squid Gameespecially with human emotions at stake.
The unpredictability of the challenges adds a deeper layer of intrigue, keeping viewers as invested as the characters themselves. Even though Arisu and Usagi’s return to the Borderland in season 3 isn’t as compelling as the first time, it conceptually works and seamlessly provides a new season without losing balance. Ultimately, Alice in Borderland proves stronger, especially compared to Squid Game seasons 2 and 3, which feel unnecessary and lack narrative balance. Thanks to its consistency across three seasons, Alice in Borderland stands out as the better series. Moreover, while both shows set up new expansions in their third seasons, Alice in Borderland‘s expansion will make more sense than Squid Game‘s.
Alice in Borderland‘s Expansion Will Be Better Than Squid Game‘s
One of the main reasons Squid Game worked so well is its authenticity, built on the juxtaposition of adults participating in children’s games. By centering the competition around traditional Korean games, the series had a unique cultural impact and originality. However, with the last season hinting at an American spinoff, the concept already begins to lose coherence. Death games based on Korean children’s games would not make sense in an American setting, and if the series shifted to American children’s games, it would lose the original charm that made it distinctive. In contrast, Alice in Borderland is not confined to a single culture, making the idea of an American spinoff conceptually stronger.
In fact, the finale of Alice in Borderland even hints that the protagonist of the potential spinoff might be named “Alice,” which would fit more naturally with the English title. Thus, while Squid Game may have had a larger impact overall, its last two seasons struggled to find solid ground, and an American spinoff built only on popularity already feels misplaced. Meanwhile, Alice in Borderland not only maintains its consistency but also presents a concept where an American spinoff could genuinely work better.
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