What Is the Story About?
Mask Girl is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, and follows Kim Mo-mi, a regular office worker who has grown up to be deeply scarred and insecure about her looks. She becomes a masked internet personality, an overnight sensation to cover up her insecurities. However,things take a wild turn as she gets caught up in murders, one after the other and a brutal tale of vengeance.
Performances?
Mask Girl‘s biggest asset is it’s star-cast. Every single actor gives a performance that knocks their previous performances out of the park.
The titular role of Kim Mo-mi is played by three actors throughout the course of the series. Lee Han-byeol plays the insecurities, introverted-ness and double life of Mo-mi seamlessly in the first two episodes. Despite being the least popular amongst the three actors playing the part, she’s the one who you empathise the most with.
Nana plays Mo-mi post *spoiler* and her jail scenes are so raw and gritty. One would instantly demand a serial killer story with Nana in the lead role looking at her on-point aggressive performance.
Go Hyun-jung plays present day Mo-mi and the veteran actress proves why she is who she is with a performance for ages. She deserved more screen-space in the show.
Analysis
Based on a Naver webtoon of the same name, Mask Girl is a crime thriller that essentially is also a story of a normal girl who grew up to be insecure of her own self due to societal constructs of appearance, gets caught in a series of uncomfortable events thereby changing her life forever.
Mask Girl starts off on a very realistic note setting up the premise and the whys of our protagonist, Kim Mo-mi. A woman who is conventionally not considered good-looking by a society that obsesses over looks. Mo-mi’s insecurities, rejections she faces from every walk of her life, even from her family and the heart-breaking double life she lives as the sensuous internet personality ‘Mask Girl’ are clearly sketched in the first two episodes.
All Mo-mi wishes for is a life where she could get appreciated and loved for who she is & the internet personality she takes up is a clear cover up for what she sought from life. However, things take a drastic turn in her life, at her most vulnerable situation, she gets embroiled in a murder, then another and that leads her to ways one wouldn’t imagine about. The consequences she faces as a result of the murders forms the main crux of the plot.
Coming to the strengths of the show, it’s exceptionally cast. The actors are pitch perfect in their roles and makes the show even more impactful. The protagonist and antagonist gets their own stories, well written and proper arcs where one could empathise with but not really fully root for. There are funny moments until a point and then there’s only violence and bloodbath.
Coming to what doesn’t work, the story is too ambitious and tries to go to far lengths but gets muddled in the same vicious trap of repetitiveness. The finale episode in particular is so elongated. The colour palette of the show and the narrative template it sets up mirrors the Japanese film ‘Memories of Matsuko’, where you know the content is good but the levels of tragedy that looms over the main character makes the show too dark to invest in after a point. I mean, show some mercy on her!
In short, Mask Girl is a much needed show that talks about the very serious obsession people have around looks and the horrors of insecurity that roots from them. But it’s very triggering to watch the protagonist never finding an escape from the trap set around her and there’s no one but the circumstances to blame.
Other Artists?
Despite the show titled ‘Mask Girl’, the actor who owns the show through and through is Yoem Hye-ran as Kim Kyung-ja. Her spectacular arc from a grief stricken mother to that of the most fearful woman with a heart stopping at nothing other than Vengeance is a treat to watch. She has some impeccable comical moments as well.
Kim Min-seo who plays Kim Chun-ye also is spectacular in the few scenes she shares with Kyung-ja and Mo-mi.
Shin Ye-seo’s performance as Mo-mi’s daughter Mi-mo is also really good. She represents generational trauma, frustration and anger of a teenage girl growing up with the tag of a murder mum painstakingly well onscreen.
At last, not the least Ahn Jae-hong as Joo Oh-nam is another watch-out worthy performance. He portrays the horrors of loneliness and social-awkwardness perfectly onscreen.
Music and Other Departments?
Mask Girl is a nearly written show. Although it grapples in the starting, it does give well fleshed out character arcs to his leading characters, and a lot of characters to empathise with despite circumstances.
Jang Young-kyu’s music is adequate and the camera work in the series is particularly worthy of all appreciation. The neons of the early 2000s and the greys of the 10’s are aptly captured.
Highlights?
Main Story
Social Messaging
Engaging Screenplay
Cast
Drawbacks?
Very much triggering
Sloppy finale episode
Did I Enjoy It?
Yes.
Will You Recommend It?
Yes.
Mask Girl Series Review by Binged Bureau
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