Reviews

Based on the manga series of the same name by Haro Aso, Alice in Borderland follows the story of Arisu after he is transported to a parallel universe (parrellel Tokyo city) in which he has to play and win games to remain alive. The games are divided into four categories represented by suits on a deck of playing cards.

Though there were few loopholes in few of the games, also some characters behave irrationaly, but overall it never disappointed.

After watching the 1st season, I became really irritated about how bad this series is. But, after finishing the 2nd season my perspective about this series has changed totally. This was beacause, 1st season did not give too much info about the strange world 'borderland' where the players were deported.

Besides, in 1st season the whole concept and episodes involving 'Beach' totally sucked.

*************Spoiler Ahead*********** At the end of 2nd season it was understood that a big meteor had crashed in a part of Tokyo city. The place where it crashed had many people (i.e. All the characters including Arisu, Usagi and others). Many died on the spot, few others were severely injured and were fighting with death. Their life was hanging between life and death (this state of limbo is actually the 'Borderland'). Whatever incidents happened in both the seasons in the 'Borderland' were actually happened within few minutes in reality.

It was understood, whenever one was dying inside the game, was probably dying in real life also (remember, they were in a critical condition and hanging between life & death).

Also, whatever wish or unfulfilled task one had in thieir real life, they tried to fulfill their wish throughout their limbo phase in 'Borderland'. E.g. Arisu: tried to find a motive which will give a meaning to his life, as in real life he was a aimless gamer who was rebuked many times by his family for not doing any fruitful job; Kuina: was going to hospital to meet her mom, so in the game she was seen repeatedly remembering her mom. Osagi: tried to understand the meaning of love.

Based on the horrific incident of 2012 Delhi gang-rape of a 23 year old girl in a moving bus, which rocked the entire nation, Delhi Crime is the chronical of the detailed investigation carried out by Delhi Police and the effort spent in nabbing the 6 accused involved in the crime within 5 days.

It shows how the high profile Nirbhaya gangrape case was solved by Delhi police. It was shown from police's perspective. Different challenges like poilitical, pressure from public and media, financial restrictions were shown very realistically. How the personal lives of the cops became a wreck.

Coming to the performances, it is Shefali Shah's character Vartika Chaturvedi, Inspired by real-life IPS officer, Chhaya Sharma (former DCP South District, Delhi Police).

Many scenes were dark and dull and felt elongated.

Watched one out of three stories: Samapti, by Rabindranath Tagore.

After watching, i was so mesmerized that immediately I read the original story, which was way better than the film adaptation beacuse the film summarises the story and in doing so misses some important detail of the story (i.e. Amulya takes Mrinmoyee to her father for few days, Amulya's mother and wife goes to Kolkata to Amulya, the ending etc.). Nevertheless, it was a very good movie to watch.

Total three stories are there: Postmaster, Monihara and Samapti. These stories are taken from Rabindranath Tagore's book 'Golpogucchho'.

Pros: Bat-Human genetic transmutation concept was really exciting to see.

Action was good

Cons: The ending was pretty bizarre, many things were not clearly shown like- i. There were two vials of antidote, one killed Milo, the villain. What happend to the other vial? Clearly Morbius did not use it upon himself, as he was alive by the end.

Ii. How Bancroft revived? Was she infected from Milo or Morbius?

Iii. How the Morbius could use the bat army against Milo? As both were having the same bat gene in them. Why Milo could not control the bats like Morbius did?

Iv. The prison cell scene went over my head, it was some other Marvel charater dragged in here.

This is all about how a Venetian merchant, having the "eyes, color of the sea" (Kokachin to Marco, S2E10, 38:48) travels through the 'Silk road' and reaches to Mongolia, the royal court of Kublai Khan. Eventually, he gets caught up in the power struggles of the Mongolian empire.

Though Marco was initially taken as a prisoner, but with his great presence of mind, charming personality, oratory and narrating skills, loyalty towards the 'Great Khan' Kublai, soon Marco becomes one of the most trustworthy persons who Kublai can rely upon.

Kublai was the gradson of Temüjin, the great Ghenghis Khan. Upon him was the onus of protecting and expanding his grandfather's Mongol empire which he did quite successfully. In 1st season, we see how Kublai crushes the rebel feudal lord, Ariq of Karakorum, who was his own brother. Later, he goes on to attack the 'walled city of Xiangyang'. With the help of Marco who gives the idea of using a European style 'trebuchet', Kublai finally manages to break through the great wall which protected the city of Xiangyang nearly over 80 years. With this, Kublai destroys the famous 'Song dyansty' of the South China and expands his territory and becomes the first non-Han emperor of the entire China. Benedict Wong as Kublai, steals every single scene with his acting skillls.

I liked the idea that Marco Polo himself is more of an observer than a main character. Lorenzo Richelmy who actually is an Italian, suited perfectly for this role with his typical Europian look of curly blond hair, blue eyes. Marco learns the sacred art of Kung-fu from 'Hundred Eyes', a buddhist monk from Wudang. From Hundred Eyes, Marco learns how hard work, and practice, preparation, and repetition creates mastery.

In season 1 a chemistry builds up between Marco and the Blue princess Kokachin. Later, Kokachin confesses to Marco that her real name is Nergüi who is faking her identity and posing as princess Kokachin, the last person alive of the Bauyat tribe. Things take interesting turn when empress Chabi, Kublai's wife, decides Kokachin to get married to his son, prince Jingim. Now, Marco had to make a tough decision either to run away with his girl from Mongolia (which Kokachin pleaded him to do) or stay loyal to his Khan and forget Kokachin.

Though there is some minor deviation from the real history, but the series is nothing less than a great story-telling, packed with adventure, lust, greed of power, wealth, flesh. It shows politics and power struggle within the royal family. And don't forget the mighty villians in both the seasons, one of whom is a war monger and always tries to indulge in battle with Mongolia in order to keep his relevance alive among his own people, and the other one who is the master-mind, plotting the destruction of Kublai's bloodline, right inside from Kublai's own palace.

Though the stage was all set for season 3, but unfortuantely Netflix canceled the season 3 :(

PROS: 1. Initially started out casually but after 2-3 episodes, I got hooked to this show.

2. Story line was pretty simple but twists and emotional content were so good that it was worth a watch.

3. Animations were top notch, specially the girls (Chizuru and Ruka were treat to the eyes), Mami was shown in slightly negative shade, always playing psychological game with Kazuya which added some spice to the story

4. Watched an anime after many years, it was fun, waiting eagerly for season 2.

CONS: 1. The lead male character, Kazuya, was shown too shaky, emotionally unstable and confused throughout the whole season 1.

2. S1 ended abruptly, (Kazuya could not gather the courage to finally ask out Chizuru who was also expecting the proposal from Kazuya, so she was seemingly disappointed with Kazuya in the end). The ending could have been more comprehensive.