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Basically, if you’ve watched season 2 of Alice in Borderland, you know the face cards don't play around. But there’s one character who feels a bit different from the rest of the psychopathic citizens. Her name is Risa. She’s the Queen of Spades.
Most fans call her the "Baddie Queen" because, honestly, she’s terrifyingly cool. Played by the insanely talented Chihiro Yamamoto, Risa is a force of nature. She doesn’t just walk; she glides through that shipping container yard like she owns every square inch of the concrete. And for a while, she kind of does.
Risa Alice in Borderland: The Netflix Original Mystery
Here is the weird thing: Risa doesn't actually exist in the original manga.
Yeah, you read that right.
In the source material, the Queen of Spades game is barely a footnote. It’s mentioned as one of the games cleared in the background. Netflix decided to flesh it out, and honestly, it was a smart move. They created Risa Alice in Borderland specifically to challenge Arisu and Usagi on a physical and emotional level that the other games didn't quite hit.
Risa is a "Spades" specialist. In this universe, Spades means physical strength, endurance, and agility. Since Chihiro Yamamoto is a real-life martial arts champion, the fights look visceral. You can feel the impact of every kick. It isn't just movie magic. She’s actually that fast.
What Really Happened in Checkmate?
The game is called Checkmate. It’s basically a high-stakes version of tag with a chess twist. You’ve got the Queen’s team (the Red team) and the Challengers (the Blue team).
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Risa starts with a massive advantage. She’s the "King" of her side, meaning she can’t be turned. Everyone else? They’re just pawns. If you get tagged by the opposite team, your vest changes color, and you’re forced to switch sides.
Most people just give up. Why wouldn't they?
If you join Risa’s team, you survive. If you stay on the blue team and lose, you die. It’s a Social Darwinist’s dream. Risa spends most of the episode monologuing about how humans are inherently selfish. She even picks a little kid, Kota, to be the Blue King. Why? Because she wants to prove that adults will abandon a child the second their own lives are on the line.
It’s cynical. It’s dark. It’s totally Risa.
That Bizarre Crush on Arisu
Okay, let’s address the elephant in the room. Risa has a weird obsession with Arisu.
She literally tells her team, "That guy... he’s my type."
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Some fans hated this. They felt it "nerfed" her character. Like, why is this powerful Queen losing her cool over some random guy she just met? But if you look deeper, it’s not really about romance. Risa is a citizen who has been in the Borderlands for a long time. She’s bored. She’s jaded. She sees Arisu’s loyalty to Usagi and it irritates her because it proves her "everyone is selfish" theory wrong.
She wanted to "collect" Arisu. She wanted to break him.
By making him switch to her side, she wouldn't just win the game; she’d win the philosophical argument. She wanted to show Usagi that even the "good guys" will choose survival over love.
The Fall of the Queen
She lost because she underestimated the power of hope. Sounds cheesy? Maybe. But in the context of the show, it works.
Usagi and Arisu managed to convince the other players to switch back to the Blue team at the very last second. They didn't do it because they were stronger. They did it because they reminded the players of their humanity.
Risa’s reaction to her defeat is actually one of the more moving moments for a villain. She doesn't scream. She doesn't beg. She almost looks... relieved?
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"We're a hell of a lot freer here. I like it here better than in that rigid, repressive world."
That line tells you everything. Risa was likely an outcast in the real world. Someone who didn't fit into the polite, suffocating expectations of Japanese society. In the Borderlands, she was a Queen. She was powerful. She was free.
When the "Game Over" announcement rings out, she knows what’s coming. She accepts the laser from the sky with a weird kind of grace. She jumps off the building, choosing her own way to go out.
Why We Care About Risa in 2026
Even years after the season 2 release, Risa Alice in Borderland remains a fan favorite.
- Authentic Action: No shaky cam. Just real parkour and martial arts.
- The Philosophy: She represents the part of us that's scared everyone is secretly out for themselves.
- The Aesthetic: Let’s be real, the red outfit and the ponytail are iconic.
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the lore, keep an eye on the Season 3 rumors. While Risa is technically dead, the Borderlands have a weird way of bringing people back in flashbacks or hallucinations. Just look at how Karube and Chota kept appearing to Arisu.
Next Steps for Fans:
If you want to appreciate Risa’s character more, go back and watch Episode 5 of Season 2, but pay attention to her eyes during the monologues. She isn't just a villain; she’s someone who was deeply hurt by the "real world" and found a home in a nightmare. Also, check out Chihiro Yamamoto’s other work if you want to see what a real martial arts master looks like on screen.