Alice in Borderland season 3 is happening, but I hope the Netflix series does not adapt a certain Arisu story from the manga. Even though Alice in Borderland season 2’s ending was virtually the same as the manga, the Netflix live-action show will return for another season. Arisu and the others are back in the real but do not remember what happened in the “60 seconds” that they were clinically dead, so I’m interested to see where the story goes next.

While I’m excited for Alice in Borderland season 3, I thought the end of season 2 would have been the perfect way to conclude the show. The series will now have to go beyond its source material to continue the stories of Arisu and Usagi. Interestingly, there is technically a sequel to the Alice in Borderland manga that, in theory, could be used as season 3’s story. However, I do not think that covering this particular Arisu story would be good for Netflix’s Alice in Borderland.

Alice In Borderland Season 3 Should Not Cover Alice In Borderland: Retry

Retry does not include most of the Alice in Borderland characters.

Alice in Borderland: Retry is a 13-issue manga series released between October 2020 and January 2021 written and illustrated by Haro Aso. It is set a couple of years after the events of Alice in Borderland and revisits Arisu and Usagi, who are now a married couple expecting their first child. While Arisu and Usagi are together, they do not remember what happened in the Borderland. Shortly after Arisu receives the news that Usagi is in labor, he suffers an accident and once again finds himself between life and death. This brings Arisu back into the Borderland.

While the premise of Retry sounds like the perfect way of continuing the show following Arisu’s return to the real world in season 2, there is a big problem with it. Arisu and Usagi are the only Alice in Borderland characters featured in Retry, everyone else is an original character created for this story. In other words, if Alice in Borderland season 2 were to faithfully adapt Retry, most of the show’s cast would not return. Although Arisu and Usagi are indeed the protagonists, I believe Alice in Borderland would not work without the likes of Chishiya and Kuina.

An Original Story Is The Best Option For Alice In Borderland Season 3

Retry is not big enough to be its own season.

Alice in Borderland: Retry is the closest thing to an Alice in Borderland sequel in the manga. Still, I don’t think this would be the best story for season 3. Not only does Retry ignore most Alice in Borderland characters to focus on Arisu, but it is also a very short and straightforward story. Arisu is hurt, enters a coma, finds himself in the Borderland, and wins a series of games to return to the real world in time for the birth of his child. During his second time in the Borderland, Arisu remembers everything he and Usagi went through.

With Alice in Borderland: Retry not offering many storytelling options for a new season, the best option for Alice in Borderland season 3’s story would be to have an original plot. The Netflix series has created an identity of its own that differs from the manga in several ways, even though it is a relatively faithful manga adaptation. I cannot picture Alice in Borderland without Chishiya, Kuina, Ann, and the others. Although Alice in Borderland season 3 could benefit from a time skip, introducing adult, married versions of Arisu and Usagi would not work.

Alice In Borderland Season 3 Could Still Incorporate Some Elements From Retry

Retry includes some interesting ideas that Alice in Borderland could use.

Alice in Borderland: Retry may not be the ideal source material for season 3, but this manga sequel could serve as inspiration for the Netflix show in some ways. For example, having Arisu and Usagi become a couple despite them not having their memories from the Borderland is a very interesting idea. Season 2’s finale already teased that Arisu and Usagi will always find each other no matter what, so it is reasonable to assume they will be together even without remembering that they already fell in love with each other once.

Another cool concept from Retry that could make its way into the show is that Arisu is still connected to the Borderland and could return there if he ever finds himself in another life-or-death situation. Lastly, Alice in Borderland: Retry gives Arisu his memory back, which is something I believe will happen eventually in the Netflix show. As much as I enjoyed how Alice in Borderland accurately brought the manga to screen, I’m excited to see what the show will look like now that it no longer has a proper source material to be based on.