Alice in Borderland season 3’s ending introduces a mysterious titular figure named Alice, making it hard not to wonder who she is and what significance she holds in the series’ overarching story.

Just like Netflix’s Squid Game, Alice in Borderland was also expected to end its successful run with the third installment. From a storytelling standpoint, season 3 also feels like the end of the line. Alice in Borderland‘s main characters, like Arisu and Usagi, get a conclusive closure, where nothing else in their narrative demands any further exploration.

Surprisingly, however, the Netflix live-action Japanese show ends with a massive cliffhanger that hints the franchise is far from over. In its closing moments, it even unfolds in the United States and subtly introduces a titular character named Alice. It never explains who this character is, leaving a lot of room for speculation.

Who Is “Alice” At The End Of Alice In Borderland Season 3?

The final sequence in Alice in Borderland season 3 suggests that an imminent disaster is about to wreak havoc across the globe. The disaster will not only lead to many casualties in Japan and send many Japanese people to the Borderlands, but also leave a similar impact all over the world.

By unfolding in America, the final scene hints that many people from the West will also end up in the titular world between life and death after the hinted catastrophic event. Before the credits start rolling, the camera zooms in on a waitress’ name tag who works at an American diner. The badge reads “Alice.”

The “Alice” name tag could be a mere reference to how Arisu’s characterization served as a metaphor for Alice in Lewis Carroll’s iconic novel, Alice in Wonderland. Or, it could be the show’s way of ending on a bleak note, portraying how the next natural disaster will affect everyone in the world, not just Arisu and his nation.

However, after a closer look at the show’s source material and its potential for expansion, it seems possible that the Alice reference digs into something far deeper.

“Alice” May Be A Reference To Alice In Borderland’s Manga Spinoff

Audiences familiar with Haro Aso’s original Alice in Borderland manga will also know that it has a spin-off titled Alice on Border Road. The manga focuses on a high-school girl, Kina Sano, who, like Arisu, grows tired of the human experience in the real world. To her surprise, she soon awakens in the Borderlands one day.

After finding the Queen of Clubs card in her possession, she runs into another Tokyo schoolgirl, Alice Kojima, who holds the Queen of Hearts card. This kicks off another fascinating adventure in the world between life and death. Since Alice Kojima serves as one of the protagonists in the spin-off, Alice in Borderland season 3’s ending might be a nod to her.

If this is true, Alice in Borderland season 4 might adapt Haro Aso’s spin-off manga and portray another fantastical adventure in the strange titular land. Unlike seasons 1, 2, and 3, which featured a male character as the lead, the new spin-off might have a female character, Alice, as its protagonist.

How Alice In Borderland Season 3’s New Alice Sets Up A Spinoff

Given how Squid Game is likely to get an American spin-off in the near future, it is hard not to consider the possibility that Alice in Borderland might also get a similar treatment. Why else would it feature American characters in its final moments? Owing to this, if a spin-off happens, it might have a completely original story.

Or, it might draw inspiration from Haro Aso’s Alice on Border Road manga and borrow some of its key story elements, but with a new setting and cast of characters. Since Alice in Borderland did not become as successful as Squid Game in the West, the new spin-off might even try to resonate with a larger Western audience with its new setting and characters.

Will Alice In Borderland Season 4 Take Place In America?

Even before Squid Game season 3 landed on Netflix, there were speculations and rumors about its future. Some rumors even suggested that Netflix was eyeing an American spin-off with David Fincher at its helm. While nothing about the series’ future has been confirmed yet, the rumors have not completely faded.

When it comes to Alice in Borderland, however, little seems to have been said about its future. Only season 3’s cliffhanger ending seems to set up a potential follow-up that could take place in America. With no official confirmation, it is hard to say whether an American spin-off of the Japanese series will see the light of day.

However, it would be fair to assume that Alice in Borderland‘s creators and Netflix likely had something in mind when they decided to pave the way for a potential Americanized expansion of the franchise with season 3’s closing arc.