WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Alice in Borderland season 2.
Alice in Borderland season 2 revealed what was Chishiya’s profession in the real world, and it made the audience's favorite character even better. While Alice in Borderland’s main character is Arisu, both the manga and the show give enough attention to a lot of supporting characters. That includes Usagi, who can be considered an Alice in Borderland co-lead, as well as characters who don’t receive that much screen time like Chishiya or Kuina.
Chishiya may not have had as much screen time as Arisu and Usagi in Alice in Borderland, but the mysterious character still managed to make an impact. Ever since Alice in Borderland season 1, Nijiro Murakami’s portrayal of Chishiya has been a highlight of the show, especially regarding how relaxed and unbothered Chishiya is compared to other Alice in Borderland characters. Now, Alice in Borderland season 2 reveals what made Chishiya become so disconnected from the world and the people around him.
Alice In Borderland S2’s Chishiya Reveal Made His Story Better (& Sadder)
In a shocking twist, Alice in Borderland season 2 revealed through a flashback that Chishiya was a doctor in the real world. Given that Chishiya never seemed to care about other people’s lives throughout most of Alice in Borderland, those who had never read the manga would have most likely never imagined that Chishiya was a pediatric heart surgeon before entering Borderland. Not even the cruelest Alice in Borderland battle royale games were enough to make Chishiya display any emotions, and the character was willing to sacrifice anyone to survive. That said, Alice in Borderland season 2 also explained why Chishiya was acting that way.
Before Chishiya’s near-death experience that led him to Borderland, Chishiya saw himself in the middle of a clandestine operation to favor certain patients who were waiting for a transplant. Chishiya had to tell a mother that her son would not survive and lie about the motive, which broke Chishiya’s spirit and made him stop trusting people. Chishiya continued to take part in the hospital fraud, and after some time, he no longer valued other people’s lives. Alice in Borderland season 2’s Chishiya reveal explains a lot about the character, and it makes him a far more nuanced and tragic player.
Alice In Borderland Season 2’s Ending Confirmed That Chishiya Changed
The Alice in Borderland season 2 Chishiya flashbacks hinted at a tragic end for the character, but there was still time for redemption. The King of Diamonds game – which was based on an Alice in Borderland manga story, as opposed to a few other games that were created exclusively for the Netflix show – tested how Chishiya perceived the world and made his entire story come full circle. The King of Diamonds, just like Chishiya, had also lost track of what makes a life valuable – yet the Game Master was trying to find that answer again. By playing against the King of Diamonds, Chishiya found answers too.
The Alice in Borderland season 2 finale showed that the mysterious series setting was a form of purgatory. The Netflix show confirmed the Borderland was the border between life and death, and it was up to Arisu and company to find their way back to the world of the living. However, for that to happen, the Alice in Borderland characters had to display a strong will to live. The events of Alice in Borderland were meant to be a cathartic experience for the plays, which applies to Chishiya, who states that he now has a different perspective of the real world upon waking up once more in it.