What’s Inside
The Joker card teased at the end of Alice in Borderland Season 2 sent fans into detective mode — and one viral theory now argues that the Joker could be far closer to Usagi’s backstory than we expected. Beebom summarized this idea: that the mysterious Joker in Season 3 might actually tie back to Usagi’s missing father, a climber whose fate haunted her story.
The theory in short
The theory starts from two facts: Usagi’s father was shown in flashbacks as a driven mountain climber with a scandal in his past, and Season 3 trailers show Usagi being pulled back into the Borderland under cryptic circumstances. Fans suggest someone in the Borderland wanted Usagi to return — and the simplest, most emotional explanation is that a figure connected to her past (her father) is involved, possibly as the Joker. The idea resonates because it offers a personal stake for Usagi and a payoff to a long-running emotional thread.
What the trailers actually show
Netflix’s official Season 3 trailers highlight the Joker card as a “wild card” that disrupts the survivors’ return to normal life, and they specifically tease Usagi’s disappearance and Arisu’s desperate attempt to follow her back into the games. The trailers reinforce that Season 3 will resolve the Joker mystery and open with high emotional and narrative stakes.
How plausible is the Usagi-father-as-Joker angle?
It’s plausible in storytelling terms: turning an unresolved personal grief into the pull that drags a character back is classic dramatic structure. The manga and previous seasons treat the Joker as a borderline-mythical figure tied to the afterlife and the final game; the live-action show appears to be leaning into that symbolism while introducing human motivations and surprise reveals. That means a reveal that mixes mythic and personal explanations — such as the Joker being connected to Usagi’s dad — would fit both tones.
What to watch for in Season 3
Look for flashback details, new character introductions (the Season 3 cast list hints at figures who could be connected to Usagi’s past), and how the show frames the Joker: as a single mastermind, a symbolic force, or an unexpected person with a personal connection. Beebom’s Season 3 coverage and cast roundups are good places to keep tabs on confirmed returns and newcomers.
The Joker’s identity will likely blend the supernatural and the intimate. The Usagi’s-father theory explains both motive and emotional thrust — and it’s exactly the kind of twist the series has excelled at so far. Until Season 3 drops (Netflix lists the premiere for September 25, 2025), fans will keep speculating — and the trailers make it clear the payoff will be worth the wait.
