Mask Girl (2023)

Display of Social Abnormalities shown by exceptional Actresses

Warning ahead: This is no show for softies. And those who have no tolerance for a drama full of amoral siraegis, black characters. And somehow i'm questioning if i'm allowed to like this show, because it left me with a feeling of watching a pileup. Mass collision episode after episode - that i watched with open mouth in the beginning not believing what i'm actually seeing and during the end with fascination and aww for the incredible good actors and the artistic expression of abnormality and social deviances. So don't make the mistake to assume it's like Celebrity because of the title, trailer and beautiful intro and the poster, it cannot be more far away.

Mask Girl was shocking, and actually disgusting to certain scenes but on the other hand this was incredible original, creative and well executed in production - because despite the very explicit scenes it had a very captivating plot. Every actor leaves a brilliant mark - especially unrecognizable because of the the obviously incredible work of the make-up artists in a thrilling story, with 7 sub-plots in every episode that web together. If i have to describe what this fast-paced, binge-worthy drama is without spoiling much i would say it gives a vibe like a mix of Oldboy and Somebody: It is bloody with violence, abuse and sexual content. So viewer discretion advised this is +18 for multiple(!) reasons.

And still some funny scenes were just brilliant. Black comedy par excellence.
Be careful not to judge hasty finishing episode 1. The ride begins with episode 2. If you make it to episode 3 congratulations. From now on it gets easier and the true story begins.

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Why Mask Girl was great and why some couldn't understand the meaning behind it!

Some are free to dislike or even hate this Kdrama, but it is important to recognize that not every female lead in a Kdrama has to fit the mold of a "strong good girl." We need more complex, enigmatic, and twisted female characters. Personally, I look forward to the day when I can witness a compelling kdrama centered around a female serial killer. Because why not?

Among the many memorable scenes in this K-drama that I loved, two that stood out to me were when Mi Mo murdered Oh Nam and when she and Chun Ae joined forces, gripping the rope from opposite sides, killing Chun Ae's abusive boyfriend. These scenes beautifully conveyed the feeling of saying, (I'm done!) even if they weren't executed most kindly.

This kdrama delved into the lives of women from different eras and age groups who harbored dreams and aspirations but were compelled to conceal their true selves, wear a mask, and conform to societal expectations and the whims of men. Some succumbed to defeat and strayed down the wrong path, while others, like teenager Mi Mo, representing the new generation, came to understand the essence of their experiences. This realization was poignantly depicted in the scene where Mi Mo watches a videotape of her mother's performance when she was an innocent child at the end of the show. And even she said that since then, the nightmares that haunted her about her mother have stopped.

To some, it may appear as if there are too many stories interwoven within this story. However, upon closer look, each character embodies a distinct facet of the female experience:

- Kyung Ja represents the older generation of women who were unable to even realize their dreams, thereby dedicating their entire lives to their children and utilizing them as instruments to accomplish their own aspirations and desires that they couldn't do themselves. Hence the obsessiveness in her mind & her crazy way of holding on to God's beliefs as the women in her generation were told.
You can see some of this in Mo Mi's mother as well, as she hates how her daughter wasn't good enough for her expectations.

- Mo Mi embodies the generation of women who were told to be beautiful and finding a tall, handsome, and charismatic man was the ultimate dream and the sole path to love, even if said the man turned out to be the ultimate idiot.
And if she happened to feel good about herself or her body in some way, some creep will see her as a thing to claim!
Nonetheless, women like Mi Mo fail to comprehend that loving oneself is the key to happiness and earning the affection of others. Thus, in her pursuit of conforming to society's superficial beauty standards, believing that it would enable her to start fresh, be beautiful, and be loved, she inadvertently destroyed herself. Consequently, she was labeled a monster despite her "new attractive appearance".

- And finally, Mi Mo symbolizes the younger generation, a girl who is angry at people "the society views on her", dreading the possibility of ending up like her mom, "the previous generation of women," and has a hatred towards her grandma's way of thinking, "the older generation of women.
But in the end, she gradually grasps the reality that the world is not simply divided into black and white, decides to accept herself as she is, forgives her grandmother (Mo Mi's Mother), and contemplates how her mother's fate might have been different had the world been more understanding.


Overall, the show was crazy and dark indeed, but so are the lives of these 3 women.

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Girl Who Got Loved In A Painful Way

This was a very unique, creative and well acted black comedy psychological thriller series. There are three departments where i absolutely adored the show.


Firstly, the production quality is visual stunning and stellar. Starting from cinematography, background music, editing, lighting, color grading, styling, set pieces to locations. Everything was refreshing and eye pleasing.


Secondly, the acting here is award winning, amazing and heartwrenching. Each and every character be it positive or negative has left a mark of their acting chops on me. I personally loved everybody's performance. Yes it was damm amazing to watch such a star studded show.


Thirdly, the storytelling is very unique and engaging. The X factor about this show is that each character here be it positive or negative is always a protagonist of their own story. The characters are extremely complex and the narration shows that very well through giving equal screenspace to every character.


Every episode shows different kind of drama. There is office drama, school drama, prison drama, sex drama, family drama. Each episode tells a different story keeping one protagonist in constant but with 3 different faces. So i would like to applaud the webtoon writer for being so creative and Mask Girl team for being so unique with their visualization that they presented such a highly dark and gritty psychological story through elements of adult and black comedy.


Overall i simply loved and enjoyed. For me this is a sheer masterpiece. I only wish this had more episodes so i could have enjoyed it a little more.

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It made me angry

First of all I wanted to slap that mans mother at some point ,, i mean why the heck she thinks that her pervert son is all pure and mask girl is at fault ?? Mask girl killed him when he was raping her ,, that old freak women saw herself that her son has sex toys sex dolls sex videos and all the sex maniac things at his home,,even though she was saying that her son is innocent?? Lol for this type of women , other girls are not safe in this world. … cause no matter what their son do they will always blame the innocent girl ,, I hateee this type of parents who always takes their childrens side no matter what they do to others ,, this type of people deserves slappppsss

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Trauma Girls

First and foremost, this is an extremely graphic, violent show which includes depicting rape and implied self-harm as well as nudity, stalking, domestic violence against women, etc. So please choose wisely if any of these make you uncomfortable.

When I started this show, I had barely any information about it. I did not anticipate how dark it was and I may have even passed on Mask Girl. It is not an easy watch by any means. Every episode makes you feel uncomfortable especially as a woman and if that was the point, then the director and actors certainly achieved their goals. As though the society doesn't already make us feel uncomfortable about ourselves in more ways than one. lol.

Mask Girl starts out to be about a woman who works in an office but has a persistent dream to be loved and applauded for her performance. But because her mother persistently made her feel ugly, her insecurities led her to hiding behind a mask and performing online to a bunch of incels who were praising her consistently. Due to a drunken mistake, she gets suspended. However, things start to get serious when her "fans" want to meet offline. From then on, it is just one bad thing happening after another.

This show doesn't just depict one woman's suffering but several women suffering repeatedly unable to escape the violence and abuse in their lives. Not only are the women forced to deal with the abusive men but also the abusive and unjust society. Other women also continuously attack and harm those women. Never letting them breathe. We also see women pitted against each other to settle scores.

The plot is engrossing, albeit slightly slow but you never feel satisfied. The depections smack the reality of victims who chose to fight back instead of laying down to die in your face. Meanwhile their abusers are barely questioned. It's unconscionable to ever blame the men who created the tragic circumstances in the first place. /sarcasm

The actresses in the series are all brilliant and the only positive in all this is how women centric this series is. Unfortunately, I can't really enjoy such kinds of graphic shows. The problem is that the presentation of the series never really lets you feel much empathy for the characters. Many would watch this and blame the women for whatever happened to them. If you caught yourself saying, "what did she expect when she was...", remember that it is so ingrained in us to blame women even when there is no excuse for rape. Sadly, there is always a "but" in people's minds. In that case, what is the point of such a show other than to create content for shock value? Every episode is shocking and it works for that reason but that is why it doesn't appeal to me.

Don't bother looking for a happy ending with this one. It just more trauma. All the points I'm giving is for the superb acting. All the points I'm deducting is for the handling of the story.

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the intricacies of self-identity and societal expectations

Mark Girl is a captivating Korean drama that delves deep into the intricacies of self-identity and societal expectations. The story revolves around a young woman, Kim Mo Mi, whose aspirations of being loved by everyone clash with the harsh reality of her perceived physical shortcomings. Born with an "ugly" face, surrounded by unsupportive parents and bullies, Mo Mi's journey is a poignant exploration of the lengths one can go to in order to fit into a beauty-obsessed world.

The three talented actresses - Lee Han-Byul, Nana, and Ko Hyun-Jung - deliver exceptional performances, bringing out the complexity of their characters. Their portrayal of Mo Mi's struggles is both heart-wrenching and thought-provoking, making viewers empathize with the challenges she faces.

What sets the drama apart is its willingness to confront darker themes. The series doesn't shy away from showcasing the brutal standards of beauty prevalent in society and how they can corrode a person's self-esteem and personality. The narrative unflinchingly exposes the consequences of succumbing to societal pressures, reminding us of the importance of staying true to oneself.

The well-crafted storyline keeps you engaged from start to finish, unveiling unexpected twists that add depth to the characters and their experiences. The series masterfully weaves together Mo Mi's struggle for acceptance with moments of introspection and personal growth.

In a binge-worthy watch, the drama manages to shed light on the complexities of self-acceptance and the impact of external judgments. It's a powerful reminder that being genuine in the face of societal expectations is a remarkable feat of strength. With its strong performances, compelling storyline, and impactful themes, this drama stands out as a must-watch Korean drama that leaves a lasting impression.

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A Slow, Aimless Traumafest

Trailers and marketing lie to us all the time, and such is the case with Mask Girl. What was pitched as a mystery and a psychological thriller is little more than a pretentious, too-episodic meander through the shallowest meditation on a theme--if it's even a theme and not a coincidence.

There is no real story to speak of, though the series of events does come around to neat, connected conclusion. (And whether that conclusion needed the six episodes it took to get there is a debate unto itself.) Yes, the characters are the same and, yes, there is a steady stream of cause and effect, but, just as no one would ascribe narrative to a literal set of toppling dominoes, there is no real through-line for the show.

The episodes progress as a snail's pace, fill time with needless character backstory as a way to justify their actions that tie directly to the cause-and-effect events, and take you nowhere.

The lone saving grace to the series is the acting, with every actor--and particularly the different actresses playing the same character over time--giving a solid performance, regardless of how well or poorly written their characters are. (And, really, there is maybe one interesting character and maybe two or three specifically likeable ones. That the cast can outshine this issue is a real compliment to them.)

Ponderous, dull, and (assuming it was trying to say something) pretentious, this one is a miss in nearly every way. So miss it, if you can.

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Mediocre at best

First let me give positive sides -

The story narrative was unique, each episode belongs to the perspective of our main characters. The acting is top notch. But that's about it. It gets boring too soon after 3 episodes.

The drama emphasizes on how harsh beauty standards of society effect people, now by trailer we know this is some sociopathic killing spree drama, and indeed it was. But is it interesting and unique, I have to disagree.

Every character is basically the same, they get mistreated either because of their financial status or look wise department. They become people who have stalker obsessive traits or mentally not correct anymore due to the mistreatment from their childhood or teen years, now as adults they become total maniacs with serious psychological issues and then they do something completely illegal.

My problem with this is, each and every character story is basically that's it, same litter different puppy that's all, which essentially takes away the uniqueness of character differentiation and as for story line, it is pretty much predictable, there are no major twists or unexpected plots. You can guess what is going to happen from a mile.

And most importantly, the drama has missed to make the characters in such a way that we feel emotionally connected to them. It focused more on fast story pacing. On one hand it is telling the hardships characters went through because of their ugly looks, but for you feel pity or understand why these characters became the villains or making poor choices with their present life, you won't get time to feel that as audience, because just as you begin to understand the character and connect to them, all is lost when the character immediately does something psychopathic.

Finally, there is no real substance. I mean at the end, what did you want this drama to be about? Is it about beauty standards? is it about bad parenting? is it about obsession? is it about mental illness? At the end, it's nothing but just a bunch of murder spree drama. Because nothing else was profoundly discussed.

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I got lost in what message this wanted to tell me

There is something about this series that bugged me a lot, and it's the fact that in trying to have a social commentary about "beauty standards" it ended up framing the "ugly" characters as the worst of society. By the end of the show I was wondering if the message was that if you're "ugly" you'll end up being a murderer or a rapist or something in those lines, or you'll be a perv with dolls in your house. "Beautiful" people don't have any weird likes and spend their lives doing the most normal things, apparently. *sarcasm*
I get the metaphors in this show, don't get me wrong, at the end of the day for example Joo Oh Nam was going to try and rape her without her looks coming into consideration and Chun Ae would have also suffered the same consequences she got if she didn't operate, or how Choi Bu Yeong got his life because of his looks despite being a bad person. But I couldn't get that feeling out of me, and so as the show went on I started to sigh more deeply.
The message that might be there is not clear and doesn't speak loud enough, it's weak and gets put to the side for the shock value and the grittiness (also when she learnt she was pregnant I thought we were going to get a debate about that but apparently it was immediately accepted without any issues).

I liked the start and the premise of the story in relation to her real persona versus the internet one, but as other users have pointed out, this idea gets quickly overshadowed by the murder drama and the constant trauma from that point on. I also found very annoying that at no point it's shown (and so I understand she didn't mention to the police or in trial) what happened during the incident and why she killed him. Either way, from that point on it's just trauma and a relentless psycho mother.
The plot then just becomes boring and predictable and I found myself wondering if 7 episodes were even needed, especially towards the end. I think honestly this could have been a movie.
About the mother Kyung Ja as a character, for better or for worse I've met in the past mothers that would completely ignore the evidence of their children doing wrong and would go completely ballistic at anyone that would dare say something wrong about them, so she worked well in my opinion as the ultimate "evil" in here, even though I do not personally find it interesting enough to be something I would like to dwell on or watch many episodes of like in this case, but as a concept it works for me.

If there was any morality to be learnt from this show I got none, maybe that you should operate your face as soon as you can so you can have a normal or privileged life before things get out of control? *sarcasm*

I give points for the acting, it was good as it was the general atmosphere and photography, as well as a good idea for the story that sadly becomes average thriller. Special mention to Ahn Jae Hong in both his performance and characterisation. Also special mention to Lee Han Byeol, I liked her as main character and I was sad when she didn't appear anymore, I think she's very pretty, and saying this (and having read some questions and comments the actress received), you know, the show could have actually dwelled on how beauty is completely subjective and "beauty standards" are a lie and shouldn't exist, that would have been a lot more interesting.

Rewatch value for me this has none and I would only recommend to those that like thrillers and are not triggered by rape, murder, trauma and overall grittiness, otherwise avoid completely as some scenes are not pleasant to watch.

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That was unexpected

I went in thinking this was another Kdrama with maybe some social messaging for Korean beauty standards that would end up being cliché ...but boy WAS I WRONG

The series took an 180 degrees turn. I will keep the review spoiler free, so all I am saying is that if you are a fan of Korean cinema; Park Chan-wook , Lee Chang-dong, Bong Joon-ho type of Korean cinema you will like the Mask Girl.

BE CAREFUL this a very VERY heavy series which if you can't stomach, sure it is just not for you, but the production had no fault. Actually describing it as "no fault" is a disservice ... the story was impeccable, the director used masterful techniques, that helped the narrative without seeming gimmicky. Above all it was an important commentary on Korean/modern society.
It should not be left unsaid that the actors were all astonishing , even smaller roles or even child actors, it was shocking how well they performed. For example Junyoung, I've only seen him in romcom and knew him from his idol fame days but his acting made me google more of his roles.

I hope this becomes a new classic and is appreciated in both the domestic and international market, so we can see more productions like this one with such high quality.

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Poignant, Oddly Addictive Show Depicting Consequences of Chasing Beauty

The short series takes up one character's story per episode and stitches it beautifully into one single noir narrative. One story leads to another which makes it exciting and you might end up binging it like me. It tries to give an insight into the psyche of each character to justify their actions. But inherently it is a sad tale that is reflective of the real world's illogical high standards of beauty since times immemorial and the harsh consequences that it has on all of us.

-------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ Should YOU watch it? ✦✧ ------------------------------------------------------
It is not brilliant/earth-shattering, but oddly addictive as you want to know what each characters does in the end. Hence, if you like dramas with a message - given the shorter format this is worth a one time binge as it has a thought-provoking plot with real world issues, underlying elements of mystery executed well by a fine cast of actors, with right pace and direction!

----------------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What to Expect ✦✧ ----------------------------------------------------------
The drama shows two sides - characters who are perceived not so beautiful by society and therefore face struggles while achieving their dreams at work, love and life. Due to some events and sometimes their own choices they are brought to a breaking point that compels them to take actions having grievous consequences. The other side, we have characters who were going about their usual lives but suddenly their world shifts due to the actions of the first set of characters. Thus their lives get intertwined and now they either seek love or revenge - to find some semblance of peace in their lives.

--------------------------------------------- ✧✦ What Did NOT Work (For Me) ✦✧ ------------------------------------------------

✘ Rampant use of Plastic Surgery:
For some characters, use of plastic surgery was logical and was pivotal for the story to move forward. But for few characters, it was unnecessary and it made no affect on their character development or story arc if they remained looking the same. It's like how spies use temporary disguise in missions, the writers gave these characters the same, just more permanent which felt completely irrelevant.

✘ Lack of Positive Characters/Outlook:
For all characters (except one) it was one sad choice after another. Like they have been dealt a bad hand at life - so everything that follows or their own action are also bad. Maybe this was deliberate in order to focus on the harsh reality that the story characters (and even us) face when you are constantly being judged. Wishing there could be just one sliver of hope through a character/event, that might have made the characters believe that while there are many things bad in this world, there are many good things to look forward to as well. Just that could have changed their outlook, choices and lives!

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