Mask Girl (2023)

The Price of Beauty

...Can I just say,before delving into this review head first...What a good KDrama. Honestly. It`s been A WHILE since I saw something this controversially twisted yet...beautiful.

As always,if this is your first time coming across my reviews,I like to thank the crew,staff,actors and everyone involved in making this(and any other)drama. As an aspiring writer myself,I`m well aware of trials and tribulations one must go through to deliver dramas,movies and many other forms of art. Thank you.

To start this particular review off,I`ll probably be leaning more towards my own feelings towards this drama`s message,as someone who doesn`t fit in ANY beauty standard,be it of my own country and/or foreign. I mean,I do like to begin by listing off the positives,after all.

With Kim Mo Mi being played by a wonderful array of actresses,from striking rookie actress Lee Han Byeol,wildly impressionable Nana to seasoned competitor Ko Hyun Jung,you can really get the feeling of Mask Girl growing and changing. With every hand that handles her differently. But what is so thought-provoking about this drama,that`d warrant a lengthy review from yours truly?Well,let`s take a looksie at the plot itself. More than your straightforward affair,much of this character study(both of one character and one GENERATION of characters) relies heavily on both utmost stylization(purposefully) and female experience. You see,if I had to compare this drama(based on a webtoon by the same name,which ran from 2015 to 2018.) to any piece of media,it reminds me so much of a gem that should definitely be reevaluated today,a movie by the name of `Helter Skelter`(2012). `Mask Girl`s insistence on weaponization of male gaze(helped by the fact that all female characters of this drama suffer because of the labels superimposed on them by society they want so desperately to please) makes it feel like `Helter Skelter`s more adult cousin. Hammering in even more just how much damage one can cause to self and others by simply wanting to be accepted into the mold,yet stand out all the same.

Across the board,every actor did great with their respective roles,with Lee Han Byeol and Yeom Hye Ran being my personal standouts. Despite it covering about two decades(with 80s being referenced slightly,yet shaping a lot of Mo Mi`s perception),`Mask Girl` feels very modern in its execution. And it also doesn`t feel much like a KDrama at all. And in this context,that`s a good thing,you see. Much like Mask Girl,an entity the whole country of South Korea seemingly became obsessed with(with men chasing and tailing her even after what she does,while women almost exclusively seem to hate and want to bring her down),many KDramas discussing infamous Korean beauty standard,undergo a certain level of...performative shallowness(dramas like `She Was Pretty`,`True Beauty` and `Oh My Venus` come to mind). These are noticeable in their wish to `have their cake and eat it too`. Ergo,these specific examples are ready to discuss how damaging these severe expectations in the form of a beauty standard are...as long as they`re still adhered to and ultimately make the protagonist happy and fulfilled. At best patronizing,at worst damaging to many people,this form of storytelling communicates that the one writing it never questioned the existence of the standard itself.

Whilst `Mask Girl` has other conflicts to pad out the runtime(some of which work, others not so much),it is without a doubt,Mo Mi`s necessity to be loved by everyone,that catapults her into a whirlpool of trauma,crime and a new life.

Another aspect of this drama that isn`t all KDrama like,is how not one character here is GOOD. You could make a strong case against any of them and I`d agree. Mo Mi is not a good person,but you,as a viewer,can clearly see why and how,her twisted nature came to be. Many of her decisions bear weighty consequences. At some points,I COULDN`T anticipate her next move. But not in a ready to shock only for exploitation way. More in a,oh this character is layers and layers way. Do not be mistaken,there ARE some exploitative aspects. But they do service a bigger picture,almost like exploitation movies of the 70s. I prefer this. I`d rather have hard hitting scenes with a purpose,than unnecessary fan service to warrant that Netflix +18 rating. I`d go as far as to say that this drama`s payoffs are seriously punishing,something Korean dramas in particular have a hard time balancing(most recently,dramas like `Flower of Evil` have this issue).

Storytelling,though jumpy for most of the runtime(may turn people off),feels fluid too,mostly because Mask Girl very much could serve as a concept,rather than a character outright. The ending is both heartbreaking and positive,depending on which side of the justice spectrum you fall on.

As for drawbacks,there aren`t many but they are noticeable. For one,I would have preferred this as a 12 episode KDrama(asking for more episodes is not something I expected to want at this point in my KDrama journey). There are some story elements and key plot points left unanswered and put to the wayside for some other storytelling devices.

Secondly,this drama does something I`m not very fond of and that`s relying on coincidence to push the story along,something glaringly obvious like that happens in the last two episodes.

Finally,while it`s not a drawback for me at all(in fact I WANT KDramas to get more experimental,even at their own detriment because God knows they could use a challenge),`Mask Girl` might be too much for an average KDrama enjoyer used to tried and true tropes and bland thrillers. I`d gauge your readiness for this drama by how well you know and enjoy JDramas,because much of `Mask Girl` is reminiscent of more mature crime JDramas.

And that`s about it. Truthfullly,I didn`t expect to like this drama as much as I did,especially given the rating it holds on here. What I found,however,is that unlike a well polished veneer hiding hollow space,`Mask Girl` is more akin to a dark,macabre fantasy. You`ll either love it or hate it. At least it`s not empty. It`s ugly,and yet...so beautiful. And incidentally,it wears no mask.

Lire davantage

"pretty privilege"

the expression of this show showcase how today's modern world effect us as humans to each other because of how we see other people, if its "ugly" or "beautiful" either way it may effect the person in some way or another, we lose any kind of connection of self love and kindness towards people we talk to in our everyday lifes.

in this show we can see Kim Mo Mi who is working as a regular office worker, but her "behind the scenes" life shows us another side of her that is coming from a young age as she always wanted everyone to love her but she never was loved by anyone truly because of her looks, i will call her life more unlucky, as it resulted her to go into uncomfortable situations, example: sexual harassment and rape. as a result of a rape action Kim Mo Mi is pregnant with Joo Oh Nam's child, and decides to give birth.

coming from a professional perspective Mo Mi gave birth to Kim Mi Mo because she had this missing hole in her life which was resulted by sad childhood and sufferings, that's why she said "i will always call my child beautiful because my mother never did so" even though later on we see that she never got to do so and talk with her child as she indented to do...

I found it kind of ironic that Kim Kyung Ja that played as the "villain" wanted to kill Mi Mo because she always told her son that she wants to babysit grandchildren and now without knowing that Mi Mo is her granddaughter she wants to kill her. i will be honest i was truly waiting for Mo Mi to tell her that Mi Mo is her son's daughter but that never happened. kind of disappoint, i wanted her to die in the knowledge that she wasted all her life just to kill her granddaughter.

I never felt bad for the "victims" they were never victims in the first place they got what they deserved in my opinion, it was just unfair that the media never found the truth about what happened and why Mo Mi did what she did which is really sad.

I also really loved the connection and soulmate vibes with Kim Mo Mi and Kim Chun Ae, right person but wrong timing...

ending: I cant say that I'm satisfied but throughout the whole series it was always the intentions for it to have a sad ending because Mo Mi's life always was unfair that's why she met death and never got her happy ending, also there was never a true "reunited moment" thats the saddest of it all if you think about it.
the special effect of short shows is here "short and straight forward" there was never time to rest every episode new plot twist and new actions, i cant say i love it but it was decent also throughout the episodes i was speechless maybe it also because i watched everything in one go but also the story line is crazy, im not a softy person but this series... when people say its not for softies they mean it.. its full of violence and every episode leaving you with an empty feeling like something just left your body and fully traumatized you. i feel like i will never be the same person after watching this series, and its not because of the blood or the murder its because of the meaning behind the whole series,,, its just.. too much to handle because its true...

Lire davantage

Chocante

"Uma enxurrada de flashes de câmeras e um palco preparado só para mim. Os olhos e o interesse de todos se concentraram em mim. Sonhei com tudo isso por muito tempo."

Comecei esse drama especialmente pela Nana e valeu a pena! Apesar de ser um tanto bizarro, principalmente nos primeiros 2 episódios, a partir do ep 3 tudo começa a melhorar! Kim Mo Mi é o tipo de personagem que não dá pra concordar com suas ações mas mesmo assim torci por ela! Ela queria ser amada!
O drama fala sobre a fixação que a Coreia tem por corpos e rostos perfeitos - não é atoa que o país é o número 1 em cirurgias plásticas - Também mostra sobre abusadores e bullying - Mi Mo, coitada, essa criança vai precisar de muita terapia.
As mulheres reinaram nesse thriller, e infelizmente a "veia do satanás" também. As cenas da Momi com a Chunae foram minhas favoritas!
Todas as atuações foram incríveis, mas Nana foi PERFEITA em sua atuação!

Lire davantage

broken dreams

This kdrama was an emotional rollercoaster. At first, it was just like watching another story of a girl who doesn't achieve her dreams and has to live resigned in a boring selfdraining job. Then the story turns out so dark suddenly, and it only goes worse and harder to watch. Everything is agony, just like the life she had to live. I feel like most of the things that happened to her wasn't even because of her decisions but because of other people needs and desires. She constantly tried to have the control of her life until someone snatch it from her. I was too shocked to cry throughout the entire show, just at the end in the very last 5 minutes I melted in tears.

In resume, it's such an emotional and heartbreaking tv show. Stories like this are needed, because not everything is a fairy tale, and not everyone is lucky to have what they dreams of even with the hardest of the works. Brokendreams people needs to be shown too. Thank you so much for this amazing piece of work and bravety.

Lire davantage

Dysfunction and Technology Are a Dangerous Combination!

This series serves as a reminder that people impel, but they do not compel, and that all actions have consequences. While people are not responsible for other people’s actions, they do have influence, which is why it’s important to understand that how we treat others is essential because it also reveals so much about ourselves.

This is a superficial world in which so many people seek adoration from outside of themselves. You don’t need to look any further than today’s social media and how it impacts people’s lives. Look at Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and others which utilize and prey upon the insecurities of others. Eckhart Tolle may have said it best: Technology amplifies egoic dysfunction. In other words, it provides the means to keep dysfunctional behaviors going and make them even bigger.

Mask Girl is about a young woman, Kim Mo Mi, who has the talent and the physical attributes to possibly succeed in the entertainment industry, save for one: her facial features. She is quickly dubbed “ugly” by her classmates in school, all the way up to her job where she scarcely gets a second look from anyone, especially men. She finds a way to entertain without using her face. She wears a mask, performs through live webcams, and suddenly has the adoration she craves. Such superficial success often unlocks its own vile problems, as she finds herself the target of stalkers, sex addicts, and men who are as psychologically damaged as she is. People fail to realize that they often attract what they perceive in themselves. And Kim Mo Mi is soon caught up in a world of lies and murder.

Kim Kyung Ja could go down as one of the worst mothers. Her son is a recluse who spends all of his time online, dreaming of women he could never have. When he viciously rapes Kim Mo Mi and is killed for his trouble, Kim Kyung Ja turns into a vengeful, sadistic monster whose sole desire is to see Kim Mo Mi suffer and put to death. Her first attempt fails, and nearly at the cost of her own life. However, she finds a second chance by exploiting Kim Mo Mi’s daughter, Kim Mi Mo, and using her to exact her own revenge: she will find a way to kill Kim Mi Mo and record the act on video. Stuck in prison for the murder of Kim Kyung Ja’s son, Kim Mo Mi vows to do whatever it takes to save her daughter.

The series is told from the perspective of different characters, featuring them in their own episodes but correlating with the other characters and what has already transpired. We end up with the pitiful, misfit people society has cast aside like trash. People starving for attention and adoration to the point where plastic surgery is one of the focal points.

You may or may not be surprised to find out that 1 out of every 3 Korean women will have had some form of plastic surgery done before they are 30 years old. That’s a staggering number, and the series demonstrates the extremes that people will go to for the smallest amount of attention.

What is truly sad is that, unless you find a way to love yourself, there isn’t enough attention in the world to ever make you feel happy. It simply does not exist outside of yourself. Yet, the world has reached a point where attention and fame are so addictive and desired, that people will do anything for it. However, what they fail to realize is that all fame and glory are fleeting.

Now, this series may represent a somewhat extreme depiction of what is going on in the world, but it’s actually not as far off as one might believe.

There are scarcely any truly “likable” characters in this series. They all represent degrees of indifference and dysfunction with Kim Kyung Ja being the most severe example of a person who has become so unhinged that she ends up truly being the monster of the story. I’ve seen Yeom Hye Ran (Kim Kyung Ja) in a number of series now, and this woman is a true genius as a character actor. She never fails to disappoint.

I will say that the last episode is a bit over-the-top when toning it down would have served the story better. It got just a bit ridiculous and unrealistic, but overall, it didn’t hurt the story very much, and we already get a sense of how it would ultimately end.

It’s of the utmost importance for people to learn how to love themselves and not be so caught up in what other people think. It’s also important treat others with dignity and respect, for we never know how our actions may cause a person to respond. In other words, don’t poke the cat. You may find that you’ve poked the cat and ended up with a tiger coming at you as a few characters in this story found out the hard way.

Lire davantage

The good.. the bad.. and the ugly.

One of my favorite genres. A convincingly dark tale of a woman played by three actresses, all good supported by also great actors.

I don't need to elaborate so much on the plot to avoid much spoilers, but I do love this series because of its depth and the message it's conveying. It's dark yes, but needed to be told. Real ugly consequences of societal issues we face today, must be addressed and thanks to the producers and writers who bravely do it, using these mediums.

The thing is, for me there was no need to use three actresses throughout the episodes, regardless if several years had passed. Though they were greatly portrayed by these women, I just think two were enough. Second actress was needed of course, but as several years had passed in some episodes, for me they could had just used some prosthetic makeup to make one look older, considering how advanced films or television series are made today. Some supporting actors didn't even change much or got much older, how come main actress changed that much.

Main issue for me as mentioned above, the mature actress used in the last two final episodes, though she was great too, didn't even resemble the second younger actress in any way, when it came to facial features, to make it more convincing that she used to be Mask girl after surgery. We retain some of our facial features regardless, through the years.

Other than my one issue, I'd say this is a beautifully done must see series if you're okay with some dark themes associated with it.

Lire davantage

Comecei a assistir este drama às cegas. Não tinha assistido ao trailer e nem lido a sinopse, simplesmente dei play e foi uma verdadeira surpresa. Inicialmente achei que fosse um drama centrado somente na pressão estética, pois o drama começa com a protagonista usando uma máscara para fazer streaming na internet. O sonho de infância dela sempre foi ser famosa e performar para uma plateia, porém teve seu sonho frustrado porque não possuía o rosto "esteticamente ideal" para este trabalho, então para sentir um pouco de felicidade e poder realizar o seu sonho de alguma forma, ela usa uma máscara e faz performances na internet.

Porém, este tipo de exposição acaba atraindo a atenção de alguns caras estranhos e ela começa a receber ameaças de ser desmascarada em seu ambiente de trabalho. E após sofrer uma tentativa de assédio sexual que termina em uma acidente com o assediador como vítima, o drama se transforma em um suspense psicológico.

O drama se passa basicamente em diferentes linhas temporais: mask girl fazendo streaming na internet, depois de se tornar uma assassina procurada e seus anos na prisão. Mas também alguns episódios são centrados na construção da história dos outros personagens para que o expectador possa compreender as ações deles na linha temporal do presente.

Não consigo colocar em palavras todas as qualidades que o drama possui, mas resumidamente é um drama bem cinematográfico em termos de edição, música, luz. O roteiro é bem montado e intrigante mantendo o expectador interessado até o final e a atuação dos atores está impecável. Justificando inclusive o porquê deste drama ter sido indicado a vários de prêmios apesar de não ter sido exatamente um grande sucesso de audiência. Talvez as pessoas estejam acostumadas com protagonistas de dramas coreanos extremamente boazinhas e inocentes. Kim Mo Min, pode parecer boazinha mas ela vai ganhando camadas a cada vez que muda de rosto.

Gostei bastante. Recomendo!

Lire davantage

"우리 엄마 나한테 한번도 예쁘단 말을 해준 적이 없거든."

Happiness for the two young lesbians!
🔸One of a few dramas that go beyond just "everybody wants to look like idols, teenagers are suicidal, and social media is bad". The story unleashes its full potential with all ways and underlying reasons to get respect and acceptance in a society. There is much more violence in the world than school bullying, and disregard is another contributing part of it.

The identity of the actress Lee Han Byeol who played the first Kim Mo Mi was revealed on a press conference just before the premiere. That's quite an interesting move, also considering that this role is her debut, and she absolutely nailed it! I hope to see her more and I hope that Korean entertainment industry will slowly shift its unflinching standards of beauty.

🔸I've been waiting for this drama for about a year, and hell it paid off! I just love how Kim Wan Seon's electrifying "Dance in the Rhythm" contributes to the energy of the show. Wasn't it in Reply 1988 too? My favorite song of her has been "Let's forget it", but looks like I'm about to change the favs.

I absolutely loved the episode about Mi Mo and her friend, both the writer and the young actress made such an amazing hedgehog-like strong personality who desperately needs love, protection, and understanding. 💚

Overall, the drama felt like the mix of Celebrity and The Glory, talking both about popularity and revenge. The amazing actress Yeom Hye Ran who also performed in The Glory made me want to murder her character so bad. 😅

Lire davantage

K drama noir, and not for the faint hearted

This is not a typical k-drama, its more in the style of Charlie Brooker's Black Mirror, and I think it will appeal to anyone to likes a drama that makes you think hard, even if its unpleasent.

Its starts as what you think as a fairly standard modern plot, and leads you to think how ordinary people end up doing things, just because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time, or had the wrong sort of parent.
Its ugley no holds barred acting, and Yeom Hye-ran should win awards for this, just watching is exhausting.
As a couple we binge watched over three nights, having seen the all of the Glory , I think its even more powerful because it is an every day tale, there is no filter, being bad is not made glossy, no smart houses, the actors often without make up.
There is some sort redemption at the end, which is perhaps the only light touch, but no man saves these women, they have to save themselves.

Lire davantage

A thriller with a gripping story and grey characters

The show which looks it is gonna be some romantic cliche stuff turns into dark gritty thriller. The actors both main and side have nailed their roles.
The best part of the story is that no one is good but all have their evils and demons that slowly unravel with each episode.

FL is a girl and all she ever wanted was to perform and be loved by others but just because of her face was instead mocked and ignored by the society. Just when things couldn't get worse she meets people only used and hurt her, the only girl who ever befriended her and cherished her died in her arms.

The show also shedded light on the beauty standards that are set by the world not just in korea but everywhere. If you are a girl having a perfect physique with doll like looking features, you are cherished and loved but if you are just some average looking with a lot of talent you are still ignored until you end up going under the knife and turning into one. The same happened with her. Till the moment she died, all she ever saw was misery and pain be it because of her own actions or others.
Atleast she was finally able to see her daughter even if it was for once.

Lire davantage