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Survival thrillers have taken over after the pandemic, and we’ve had two break-out shows that have kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Japan’sAlice in Borderlandand South Korea’sSquid Game, are series that center around high-stakes games.
It’s a life-or-death situation in both shows, but their approach to storytelling and a lot of other things are quite different. Even thoughSquid Gameis the more popular one among the two,Alice in Borderlandoutdoes it on multiple parameters, and here’s a breakdown of the same.
Alice in Borderlandhas complex and varied games
The games inAlice in Borderlandare a masterclass on how to feature diverse and complex playthroughs that truly challenge the players. They are categorized by playing card suits and every single game tests different abilities of humans such as physical strength, teamwork, intelligence, and emotional resilience.
Overall, the games are more layered and each comes with a moral dilemma and twist, but in contrast, the ones inSquid Gameare simple. They do evoke nostalgic value for many, butRed Light, Green Light, and Tug of War are not as creative.
Fantasy and supernatural elements are more engaging
The best part aboutAlice in Borderlandis how surreal the setting feels because it immediately transfers you to an alternate and deserted version of Tokyo. It’s eerie and mysterious, with a supernatural backdrop and dystopian vibe. The Borderland itself becomes a character and keeps the viewers in suspense.
On the other hand,Squid Gamehas a story grounded in realism, and it unfolds in a high-tech facility. This choice of set-up is understandable because the creators were aiming for social commentary more than aesthetics and escapism. Their strategy is indeed effective, but the lack of fantastical elements in the series does limit its scope.
Better character development and backstories
Alice in Borderlandis amazing at showing us the background of its characters and their current motivations. This allows us to connect with them deeply, and the prime example is Arisu, our directionless protagonist who turns into a determined leader. Such transformations feel compelling, especially when the side characters like Usagi, Chishiya, and Kuina are just as good with rich backstories.
Alice In Borderland: Characters Ranked Based On Intelligence
Squid Gamealso delves a bit into this territory, and we’re aware of the main character’s financial struggles, but secondary characters are not much explored. This limits us from caring too much about them because we’re not fully invested in their journey (the reason being that it wasn’t fully shown in the first place).
Some great and intelligent plot twists
The Japanese show truly shines when it comes to the unpredictability department because it goes from power struggles within the Beach community to revelations about the game’s origins. Viewers are constantly anticipating what will happen next, especially when the characters are trying their best to employ strategies and facing moral dilemmas.
There’s a cerebral layer toAlice in Borderland’sstorytelling that seems to be absent fromSquid Gamedespite its impactful surprises. It’s just that the former simply demands complete attention, which makes the plot twists more satisfying, every single time.
The Recruiter From Squid Game 2 Is Still Alive- As if the Cameraman Blunder Wasn’t Enough Eagle Eyed Fan Exposes Another Mistake of Netflix
With that said, both shows are exceptional examples of how a survival thriller should be made. But ultimately, the ones who truly seek a thought-provoking experience should go forAlice in Borderland, instead ofSquid Game.
You can watchAlice in BorderlandandSquid Gameon Netflix.
Sonika Kamble
Articles Published :1195
Sonika Kamble is an entertainment writer at Fandomwire, covering everything from timeless classics to newly released movies. With over 1000+ articles published, she delves into breakdowns, think pieces, speculations, and more.She enjoys connecting the dots and covering newfound angles about characters, scenes, and themes from movies directed by Scorsese, Fincher, Tarantino, Linklater, and other exceptional filmmakers.
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Alice in BorderlandSquid Game
