About “Alice in Borderland” in a few words:

“Alice in Borderland” is a thrilling Japanese live-action series adapted from the manga of the same name by Haro Aso. The show follows three friends – Arisu, Karube, and Chota – who are transported to a parallel world where they must compete in deadly games to survive. The trio must use their wits and skills to navigate the twisted and treacherous landscape of Borderland, where every decision can mean the difference between life and death. The series is full of suspense, action, and intrigue, and will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.

Meet the characters from Alice in Borderland

Ryohei Arisu

Arisu is that bewildered, brilliant mess of a protagonist who thinks in spirals and somehow makes it through by overthinking and, like, pure stubbornness. He obsesses about patterns and games and also cries at the drop of a hat — but then will sprint into danger because responsibility hits him like a ton of bricks. Kind of a reluctant leader, forever nostalgic for video games and convenience store sandwiches (I swear he has a favorite flavor of instant noodles). He looks indecisive but has this weird stubborn core that won’t quit, and honestly he’s both soft and a little terrifying when cornered.

Yuzuha Usagi

Usagi is raw, fierce, and moves like somebody who learned to survive by running — literal parkour queen with a softer center she barely admits to. She’s loyal to the bone, practical, and also a little haunted (that face she makes when she’s thinking of her brother, ugh). Can be impulsive and reckless but also oddly tender, like she’ll steal your jacket and then cry into it later; also claims she hates sweets but will raid a candy stash in under a minute. She’s the kind of person who’ll scold you and then shoulder-check a monster away; complicated and gorgeous and relentless.

Chishiya

Chishiya is the smug chessmaster of the cast, always two moves ahead and barely pretending to care about anyone — but secretly enjoying every manipulative second of it. He has this flat, amused tone like nothing phases him, except when he actually lets something weirdly specific bother him (like a ruined book or a missed bit of logic), which is hilarious. Cold, sarcastic, brilliant, and kind of theatrical about games; he’ll analyze your soul and then give you a weird compliment. He says life is a joke but plans like an archivist, so yeah, don’t trust him but also enjoy his commentary.

Daikichi Karube

Karube is big-hearted, loud, and entirely incapable of subtlety — in the best possible way. He’s the muscle and the moral compass who makes terrible jokes and yet is somehow the person everyone turns to when things get real; also has a surprising talent for whipping up instant coffee that tastes okay, don’t ask how. Protective to a fault, impulsive, and sometimes annoyingly cheerful, he’ll rush into harm’s way with this ridiculous grin; but also really tender when it counts, and can be unexpectedly philosophical at 3 a.m. He’s the friend you want on your side and the big brother who’ll punch a wall if you’re sad.

Chota

Chota is the tiny spark of optimism who squeaks but somehow keeps everyone from completely unraveling. He’s nervous and goofy and deeply earnest — like, he trips over his own feet but apologizes to the floor — and yet in the crunch he can be brave in a way that surprises himself. Sometimes he’s comic relief, sometimes he’s the emotional anchor; the two roles are not mutually exclusive and he frequently flips between both in the space of one breath. He claims he’s scared of everything but will stare down danger if it means protecting a friend, which is kind of ridiculous and adorable.

Aguni

Aguni is the steely, rule-bound cop who reads like an immovable granite cliff with a really soft interior (don’t poke it too hard). He brings order and a grim practicality—very calm, very methodical, also kind of terrifying when he decides to be serious — but he also hums to himself sometimes and loves stories about honor, which, okay, unexpected. Stoic and reliable, he’s the one people listen to when plans need to be made, and he has a melancholy patience that suggests a lot of backstory (and scars). He’s strict but protective, and honestly you kind of want him to approve of you, which is somehow the highest compliment in his book.