The following article contains mentions of death and sexual assault.
On September 18th 2020, Netflix released a teaser of what later took the world by storm. The hit TV series ‘Alice in Borderland’ soon grew to become one of Netflix’s biggest shows, overtaking the thriller series ‘Squid Game’.
The series, which poses as a live action for the graphic novel with the same name, focuses on social reject Ryohei Arisu, who finds himself trapped in a dystopian Tokyo which is referred to as the ‘Borderland’. Here he finds a mass of other Tokyoites stuck in the Borderlands with him. He has to play through a series of games in order to survive and extend his ‘Visa’.
The characteristics of these games are acknowledged by its suit and number. Heart games relate to trust and betrayal, diamond games are based on wit and sense, club games require teamwork, and spade games test physical strength. The higher the number, the more difficult the game.
The second game showcased in the series is classed as a ‘5 of Spades’. This suggests that the game should be of a ‘medium’ (...) difficulty, and would involve physical strength. The game ‘Tag’ forces the players to hide in a multi-storey building from 2 armed attackers, while in the search for a room containing two buttons, which must be pushed on at the same time to stop a mass homicide. In this game, we are introduced to a plethora of characters, such as Usagi, Tatta and Aguni. Not only this, but we are introduced to one of the series’ most loved characters, the enigmatic Chishiya. His first entrance captures him leaning against a wall with his signature calm demeanour. This is further portrayed by his minimalistic outfit.
In the nightmarish world of "Alice in Borderland," Shuntaro Chishiya stands as a compelling character whose journey not only captivates audiences but also imparts profound lessons. As we traverse the twists and turns of this gripping narrative, Shuntaro's experiences offer more than mere entertainment; they become a source of inspiration and reflection. This article delves into the valuable lessons that Shuntaro Chishiya imparts to viewers, exploring themes of resilience, interpersonal dynamics, personal growth, and the pursuit of purpose.
This next section contains spoilers for Alice in Borderland!
Shuntaro Chishiya is well known to show resilience in his journey through the Borderlands. In the chaotic and unpredictable world he is depicted in, he has an undoubted ability to adapt and strategise even the most confusing of situations, which may appear as testament to the resourcefulness one should have when dealing with any issue. An example of his resourcefulness is in the first game we see him in, where he instantly grasps the concept of the game, as he is the first person to deduce that the players have to find a safe room within the building. His adaptability is also prominent as we see him evolve to the dynamic nature of the game. Through his practical approach to solving the games, we recognise a strong will to live from his character. A point that may be made however, is that to ensure his safety, it appeared to us that Chishiya has blurred the lines to what seemed morally right and wrong to most, and may open up a topic of conversation to much of the audience.
Like all of mankind, Chishiya can not be perceived as a perfect person, and some of the lessons that we may be able to take away from his character can be learnt from some of his less desirable characteristics. While he blurs the line between right and wrong, we can understand the power on interpersonal relationships, especially in times of need and desperation. In the 5 of Spades game, although Chishiya appears to be the first person to understand the objective of the game, he does not reveal this knowledge to people that would be able to help. If he did, it would be likely that the game would have finished earlier, and he would have been able to make valuable relations earlier on in the series. However, he chooses not to, which led to the deaths of more people trapped in the Borderland.Nevertheless, as we progress in the series, we learn of a valuable comrade he has at the Beach: Kuina.
The Beach is regarded as a utopia in the Borderland, it is a location where many of the citizens unite, the main aim being to find and play all of the card games, in the hopes that they can return back to Tokyo, one by one. Main characters Arisu and Usagi arrive at the Beach, and are initially met with hostility. However, they are soon accepted into the Beach, where they once again encounter Chishiya, with his closest associate Hikari Kuina, an athletic, exuberant girl who resides at the Beach. Here they all hatch a plan to steal the cards, with Arisu naturally being the one carrying out the theft. However, due to the untrusting nature of Chishiya, he instead betrays Usagi and Arisu, with the plan being to leave Arisu to be killed by the Beach officials. In doing so, he also allows Usagi to have sexual assault attempted on her by Niragi, one of the militants at the Beach. This event stands as a warning to the audience that a certain level of trust is good for a person, and that it is necessary to work with people you trust when carrying out a joint task.
However, the presence of Chishiya in Alice in Borderland is due to the fact that he is a good judge of character. When Chishiya has his first interaction with Arisu, he is impressed by his logic and skill and understands how his quick thinking skills combined with a strong sense of morals could come of good use to him in his time at the Borderland. Before the last game of season 2, Chishiya takes a bullet from Niragi, who has meant to shoot Usagi, which suggests how he feels that Usagi is a valuable life which is worth getting wounded for. He is also able to understand what people are thinking, and can use it to his advantage, the best example of this being in his activities at the beach.
In this journey of survival, Chishiya tackles existential questions that resonate with the audience the show is made for. We see a flashback to Chishiya’s normal life, as a doctor. It depicts a dying child, a patient of Chishiya’s, who was due for a life-saving transplant. However, Chishiya is informed that the child has been moved down the priority list as the result of a political move. In the show (not the graphic novel) many view this as the breaking point of him from having a hopeful outlook on life, to a colder, more sceptical version of him. He was beyond indifferent, and in the Borderland didn’t care about who lived or died. This is potentially why he takes such interest in the protagonists in the show: it gave him a small glimpse of hope that he needed. This shows us that hope and positivity can lead us to do great things and achieve happiness.
Some people in the fandom refer to themselves as ‘Chishiya apologists’ as they believe that although some of the things he has done have been debatable, he has improved himself as a character throughout the series, in what many like to call a ‘redemption arc’. We see a moment of vulnerability as he takes the shot. In response to saving Usagi, Chishiya says ‘I wanted to do something uncharacteristic’. This shows us that he has the determination to do something that could make him a better person, and shows us that we as humans have a capacity for change, and that the potential for growth and redemption is always there for the taking.
When they once again return to Tokyo, with their minds wiped of the events that had happened in Borderland, Chishiya has a conversation with Niragi, who he does not recognise. In this conversation, he says ‘Since I’ve wasted my life until now, I think I’ll be able to live a more useful life from now on’. This shows us how change can be for the better, and that there may be something positive even in the darkest of situations.
In conclusion, Shuntaro Chishiya's character in "Alice in Borderland" transcends boundaries of fiction, becoming a guide through life. The lessons drawn from his experiences, like resilience, the power of relations, personal growth, and the pursuit of purpose, are not just confined to the screen he is depicted on; they echo in our own lives. Shuntaro Chishiya becomes more than a fictional character; he becomes an example of valuable lessons learnt, which we can all take away in our day-to-day lives.