Mask Girl (2023)

October 22, 2023

Our Take: A high-stakes tale of self-acceptance, murder, and revenge.

Since she was a child, Kim Mo Mi (Lee Han Byeol/ Nana/ Go Hyun Jung) dreamed of becoming a pop star, yearning for adoration and attention. When she grows up, she learns that she doesn't fit Korea's societal beauty standards. Thus, she will not be able to become a celebrity and live out her dreams. Still, she craves acceptance and love from an audience, leading her to go after what she wants by living a double life. By day, she is an ordinary office worker who no one pays attention to. By night, she performs exotic dance routines as the anonymous internet personality "Mask Girl" on a popular livestreaming platform. 

Her journey takes an unexpected and violent turn when her coworker, Joo Oh Nam (Ahn Jae Hong), develops a disturbing obsession with her. Like Mo Mi, he is insecure about his appearance and struggles to be recognized by others. From there, Mo Mi's luck runs out, and she gets swept up in a series of ill-fated incidents that keep escalating and eventually overtake her life.

Mask Girl is not afraid to tackle dark and uncomfortable themes. Both Mo Mi and Oh Nam are perceived as physically unattractive, leading them to be ignored by others and even disparaged by their parents. As their journeys progress, we get forced to reflect on the impact of the brutal beauty standards that exist today and how they affect people's self-esteem and acceptance of themselves.  

As a child, Mo Mi was beloved by all. Yet, when she grows up, she learns that the world will not give her the time of day because she is considered "ugly." As a result, she hides her face behind a mask to find success. Meanwhile, after years of getting bullied, Oh Nam grows up to become an Otaku, someone who doesn't know how to interact with women in real life. He spends all his free time watching live streams, reading anime, and enjoying the company of sex dolls in his studio apartment. As we watch their bleak realities, we are left wondering — how far are those who are broken and forsaken willing to go to feel loved and accepted?

While Mo Mi is the show's protagonist, her intentions are not always clear and she's not a trustworthy person. For instance, when she finds out one of her coworkers is having an affair with Mr. Park, it shatters her fantasy of him. In a fit, she spreads gossip about them, destroying their reputations and subjecting them to hateful comments. When an encounter with one of her fans, Handsome Monk, goes wrong, she stands her ground and defends herself from his insults. She gets angry at him for insinuating that she doesn't deserve the love she craves because of her looks. But, she goes too far in defending herself and their encounter leads her down a vengeful spiral. 

Playing different versions of Mo Mi, Lee Han Byeol, Nana, and Go Hyun Jung expertly embody her reserved, but unhinged nature. Lee Han Byeol's Mo Mi faces a fair share of injustices and trauma. After getting plastic surgery, Nana's Mo Mi starts to heal from her past trauma and finally gets the attention she's always wanted while Go Hyun Jung's Mo Mi eventually finds peace and happiness despite her circumstances.

One of Mo Mi's biggest fans, Joo Oh Nam is also a victim of bullying. However, while he deserves happiness, he's not a good person either. A regular on Mask Girl's live streams, Oh Nam idolizes her, believing she provides the best service on the platform. When he discovers her identity, he starts fantasizing about her and convinces himself that he has a chance with her because of her looks. As his fantasy grows, he becomes heavily invested in her and gets upset when she tries to date other people. His blatant sense of entitlement indicates his lack of respect for women and erases any sympathy we may have felt about him. Had he received therapy or tried to form connections with others, like Mo Mi, his story may have had a different outcome.

Meanwhile, Oh Nam's mother, Kim Kyung Ja (Yeom Hye Ran), represents the mothers who dedicate their lives to their children and use them as instruments to live out their dreams. Despite seeing substantial proof that her son is not as innocent as she thinks, she purposely ignores his shortcomings and puts him on a pedestal. Her obsession drives her to become a spiteful and ruthless person who ruins other people's lives under the guise of religion and motherly love.

One of the show's greatest strengths is that it captures everyone's shortcomings well. Each character is deeply flawed, a reflection of the complicated nature of people. By the end, feeling empathy for any of the characters is difficult. Instead, all you can do is wonder if their futures could have turned out differently. 

Our Verdict

Mask Girl is full of surprises and misdirection. The lack of predictability keeps you engaged until the very end. It's unclear what you are meant to take away from the series, but it certainly leaves a lasting impression.