AKA - Imawa no Kuni no Arisu // 今際の国のアリス
Three friends gaze out at deserted Tokyo.
Warm car engines, cigarettes burning in ashtrays, frosty drinks still cold, but humans are gone.
Night falls, and they are summoned, as are others.
And the “games” begins.
Games of life and death, meaning winners survive, losers zzzztt!!
First 3-4 installments move crisply, the contests are inventive, characters fleshed out.
I wondered if the creative team could maintain this level.
In a word, no. Once at the stagnant “oasis” energy plummets.
The “ending” is a Netflix ending (meaning there ain’t no ending).
The finale is drawn out, sluggish and inconclusive. S02 is confirmed.
