Alice in Borderland Parental Guidance Review and Ratings. Age rating, objectionable content, positive messages, cast overview, and family suitability.
Alice in Borderland
- VERDICT: Alice in Borderland is intended for mature audiences and is not suitable for children under 17 without parental guidance.
- Release date: December 2020
- Director: Shinsuke Sato
- Writers: Yoshiki Watabe, Yasuko Kuramitsu, Shinsuke Sato
- Stars: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Yūki Morinaga, Keita Machida, Ayame Misaki
- Genre: Drama / Sci-Fi
- Rating: TV-MA
Alice in Borderland is a Japanese survival game thriller streaming television series based on the manga series of the same name by Haro Aso. The series stars Kento Yamazaki as Arisu, a high school dropout who is transported to a parallel Tokyo where he must compete in deadly games to survive.
The series has been praised for its suspenseful plot, well-developed characters, and visually stunning production. It has also been compared to other popular survival game series such as Squid Game and The Hunger Games.
Needless to say, Alice in Borderland is a great show that is sure to entertain fans of survival games, Japanese pop culture, and suspenseful thrillers.
But our questions is always, is it family-friendly? Find out below as we explore the content and context of this thriller.
Age Rating: TV-MA
Sex & Nudity
- A male character is completely naked for three episodes straight. Only his bare bottom is shown, and anything else is blocked out by characters or the environment.
- In season 1, many characters are seen in swimwear, and the Hatter makes out with two girls.
- A woman is dissecting two women, and they are laid on their front with their buttocks in the air. The camera focuses on the rear end in the scene.
- A man and woman bathe in a hot spring together and kiss. Both are nude, but nothing explicit is shown besides the man’s torso and the woman’s bare shoulders.
- Episode 1 (4/10): A couple kisses passionately. Three men talk about virginity.
- Episode 5 (6/10): Close-up on people’s backs, not explicit. A woman is naked, but the nudity is covered by a guy’s hand. A man kisses two girls.
- Few sex scenes throughout the show.
- Episode 2 (7/10): A woman and a man prepare to have their time. She takes off her clothes, and we see a flashback.
- Episode 3 (5/10): We see the same flashback from the previous episode.
- Season 2 Episode 1 (5/10): Suggestive language.
- Season 2 Episode 2 (7.5/10): Nudity is seen during the entire episode (only buttocks). A male character abuses a female character.
- Season 2 Episode 3 (8/10): A flashback shows what a couple was doing before the game. Graphic but brief and comical.
- Season 2 Episode 5 (6/10): A woman talks about virginity with her friends and then tries to kiss a guy.
- Season 2 Episode 6 (3/10): A couple takes a bath together, and they aren’t wearing clothes. Not explicit and mild.
- Season 2 Episode 4: A girl sits down, and you briefly see her underwear under her skirt.
Violence & Gore
- Bloody and intense violence throughout the series.
- Four people hold down a girl while a fifth attempts to rape her. He starts locking her limbs but is interrupted before it goes any further. No nudity in this scene.
- A scene shows someone with their skull open, and someone inspecting and dissecting their brain.
- Characters’ necks explode, which is extremely bloody and graphic.
- A woman captures and kills a rabbit for food. No sound of a crying animal.
- In one episode, a few players are burned with sulfuric acid. The melting bodies are shown, and it is very gory.
- Season 1 Episode 1 (7/10): Lasers hit people, a man’s leg is burned, and we see the injuries.
- Episode 2 (8.5/10): A neck explodes (VERY GRAPHIC), and people are shot, punched, and stabbed. Disturbing.
- Season 1 Episode 3 (8/10): Neck explodes but not as gory as Episode 2.
- Episode 4 (4/10): The least violent episode of the entire show. We don’t see blood, just stabbing noises.
- Episode 5 (5/10): Mild violence like Episode 4. A girl gets electrocuted, and a man fights a tiger, attacking it with a sword.
- Episode 7 (8/10): Shooting and stabbing.
- Episode 8 (8/10): Men are punched several times on screen. Blood and dead bodies are seen later.
- Season 2 Episode 1 (8/10): Many people are brutally shot, and blood is seen.
- Season 2 Episode 2 (7.5/10): A lot of blood is seen leaking from a guy’s hand, and people are shot by lasers. Very unexpected.
- Season 2 Episode 3 (8/10): Necks explode, and blood is seen. Graphic but not as much as the first season.
- Season 2 Episode 4 (8/10): Bloody violence, dead bodies, and coughing blood.
- Season 2 Episode 5 (8/10): A painful scene in a flashback shows a girl who had her leg impaled with a metal object and tries to remove it. It’s very disturbing and graphic.
- Season 2 Episode 6 (8.5/10): Acid is thrown on people’s body parts, and the effects are VERY graphic. Bones are exposed while the acid is falling.
- Season 2 Episode 7 (9.5/10): This episode is way more violent than any Squid Game episode because it’s explicit, prolonged, and gory. A girl is shot multiple times in the chest, two girls are brutally stabbed, and two men fight until death. It was so intense that it got age-restricted on YouTube.
- Season 2 Episode 8 (9/10): A girl has her pulse cut, and a huge quantity of blood leaks for a prolonged time. Extremely painful and it can give anxiety to the majority of the viewers.
- Episode 7 (9.5/10): Extremely graphic blood and gore, including stabbing, shooting in the chest, and in the head. By far the most violent episode of the entire show.
- A young girl gets lasered. You can see the laser shoot vertically through her head, and blood leaks from her eyes (one of them rolls to the side as well). Mildly graphic, but the shock factor/jumpscare makes it seem more violent. Seen in detail (close-up + impact is fully on screen).
- The King of Spades sometimes shoots with anti-tank rifles, which are much gorier/bloodier than normal machine guns. Whenever someone is shot with an anti-tank rifle, you can practically see a large hole in their body, and a very large amount of blood shoots out. However, shots are very brief and not lingered on.
Profanity
- Multiple uses of ‘fvck’.
Alcohol, Drugs & Smoking
- One of the main characters, Karube, is seen smoking various times throughout the series.
- Characters drink frequently at The Beach and are seen drunk/partying.
Frightening & Intense Scenes
- Episode 1 (Impact: 8/10): Dark and claustrophobic atmosphere.
- Episode 2 (Impact: 9/10): Celestial soundtrack during the brutal and gory scenes may be very disturbing and weird for some viewers.
- Episode 3 (Impact: 8/10): The ending may be upsetting, but the lack of character development makes this episode milder than the Squid Game episode called “Ggambu.”
- Episode 4 (Impact: 5/10): Mild, except for the chase scene.
- Episode 5 (Impact: 6/10): The new characters may be unpredictable for some viewers.
- Episode 7 (Impact: 9/10): The insanity and the soundtrack during a massacre, followed by strong violence, may be frightening for some viewers.
- Episode 8 (Impact: 8/10): The ending isn’t that bad, but it has some violence and blood.
- Season 2 Episode 1 (Impact: 8.5/10): Loud noises and bloody violence may be disturbing for some viewers.
- Season 2 Episode 2 (Impact: 8/10): The ending may upset some viewers.
- Season 2 Episode 3 (Impact: 9/10): Some characters’ attitudes and the strong violence may be frustrating for the majority of the viewers.
- Season 2 Episode 4 (Impact: 8/10): Bloody violence and mysterious directing and photography may be disturbing for some viewers.
- Episode 5 (Impact: 9/10): The leg impaled and the loud noises may be very frightening for some viewers.
- Season 2 Episode 6 (Impact: 8.5/10): The acid effects may be very disturbing for some viewers.
- Season 2 Episode 7 (Impact: 10/10): Extremely frightening due to the insane violence and the characters’ suffering.
- Season 2 Episode 8 (Impact: 10/10): The last episode is extremely unpredictable, and the directing makes the viewer’s head think a lot and imagine unreal circumstances that could happen to the characters. Incredibly disturbing and mind-blowing.
What You Should Know
1. Is Alice in Borderland suitable for children?
No, Alice in Borderland is not suitable for children. The series is rated TV-MA and contains explicit content, including nudity, sexual scenes, and intense violence. It is recommended for mature audiences.
2. What is the age rating for Alice in Borderland?
Alice in Borderland is rated TV-MA, which means it is intended for mature audiences and may not be suitable for viewers under the age of 17 without parental guidance.
3. How explicit is the sexual content in Alice in Borderland?
The sexual content in Alice in Borderland is moderate. There are scenes of nudity, characters in swimwear, passionate kissing, and discussions about virginity. While the nudity is not explicit, parents should be aware of the sexual themes present in the series.
4. How violent is Alice in Borderland?
Alice in Borderland contains severe levels of violence and gore. There are scenes of intense bloody violence, neck explosions, graphic dissections, and characters being shot, stabbed, and burned. The series is not recommended for viewers who are sensitive to violent content.
5. Does Alice in Borderland contain profanity?
Alice in Borderland contains mild profanity, including the use of the word ‘fuck.’ While the profanity is not excessive, parents should be aware of its presence in the series.
6. Are there scenes of drug use in Alice in Borderland?
No, Alice in Borderland does not depict drug use. However, characters are seen drinking alcohol frequently at The Beach and engaging in partying scenes.
7. Is there any smoking shown in Alice in Borderland?
Yes, one of the main characters, Karube, is seen smoking various times throughout the series. Parents should be aware of this portrayal of smoking.
8. Are there any jump scares in Alice in Borderland?
While Alice in Borderland is not primarily a horror series, there are some intense and frightening scenes that may include jump scares. These scenes contribute to the overall tension and suspense of the show.
9. Is Alice in Borderland based on a true story?
No, Alice in Borderland is not based on a true story. It is a work of fiction that originated as a manga series written by Haro Aso.
10. Can I watch Alice in Borderland with my teenager?
While Alice in Borderland may be suitable for mature teenagers, it is important to consider their sensitivity to explicit content and intense violence. Parents should preview the series and make an informed decision based on their teenager’s maturity level and ability to handle the themes presented in the show.
11. How does Alice in Borderland compare to other similar series?
Alice in Borderland stands out for its unique blend of survival game elements, intense suspense, and thought-provoking storytelling. It has garnered a strong following for its gripping plot twists and character development. However, due to its explicit content and violence, it may not be suitable for all viewers.
12. Is Alice in Borderland suitable for fans of the manga series?
Alice in Borderland is generally well-received by fans of the original manga series. While there may be some deviations from the source material, the adaptation captures the essence of the story and maintains its thrilling and suspenseful atmosphere.
The Verdict
About Alice in Borderland, it is important for parents to know that the series is rated TV-MA and contains moderate levels of sexual content, including nudity, sexual scenes, and discussions about virginity. The violence and gore are severe, with scenes of intense bloody violence, neck explosions, and graphic dissections. The series also includes mild profanity, depictions of smoking, and scenes with alcohol consumption.
The frightening and intense scenes in Alice in Borderland are severe, featuring dark atmospheres, brutal and gory visuals, and disturbing soundtracks that may be upsetting or frightening for some viewers.
Alice in Borderland is not suitable for children or younger teenagers. It is recommended for mature audiences who can handle the explicit content and intense scenes. Parents should exercise caution and make an informed decision based on their child’s maturity and sensitivity to violence and nudity.