Mask Girl: The Bizarre Tale of Kim Mo-mi

Mask Girl (2023)

Streaming Network: Netflix

Genres: K-drama, Thriller

Age Rating: 18+

Episodes: 7

My Rating: 🎭🎭🎭🎭

I recently watched the South Korean Netflix series 'Mask Girl,' and I can honestly say it had me hooked from start to finish. Through its fast-paced dark storyline, Mask Girl takes a hard look at the serious issues young women face in a society where beauty and its standards are so dominant. The series is a masterful blend of black comedy, crime, and thriller, with an unpredictable plot and jaw-dropping twists and turns.

Based on a webtoon of the same name, Mask Girl follows the story of Kim Mo-mi, an office worker who suffers from low self-esteem and insecurity about her looks. To escape this struggle, she’s a popular cam girl by night who hides her face behind a mask, sings and dances online as Mask Girl, attracting many fans and followers. But as fate has it, her two worlds collide, and her secret identity leads her to a series of unexpected and tragic events that change her life forever, especially when a stalker enters the scene.

There's no denying that Mask Girl is intense. Rated 18+ for its graphic violence and sexual content, I must admit that I was hesitant to give this series a try. The series doesn't shy away from depicting graphic content, which may be disturbing for some viewers. But the plus point is that it effectively tackles several sensitive topics with a lot of depth, including self-esteem, online abuse, obsession and stalking, loneliness, sexism, revenge, and bullying. The series also explores the dark side of the social pressure that women endure in South Korea.

For me, beauty is the central theme of Mask Girl, as it explores how the protagonist is influenced by the unrealistic and oppressive beauty standards in South Korea. The series shows how Mo-mi is insecure about her looks, how she resorts to a masked online persona, and later to cosmetic surgery, to escape from her reality. The series also examines how beauty is linked to power, privilege, and violence, as Mo-mi becomes involved in murder cases and a revenge plot. The series also questions the true meaning and value of beauty as Mo-mi realizes that her physical transformation doesn't bring her happiness or peace.

The cast of Mask Girl is phenomenal, with each actor delivering a stellar performance. Lee Han-byeol, Nana, and Go Hyun-jung play Mo-mi at different stages of her life, showing her complex and dynamic personality. Ahn Jae-hong plays Joo Oh-nam, Mo-mi's obsessive fan. Not to mention Yeom Hye-ran’s performance as Kim Kyung-ja, who seeks vengeance against Mo-mi. The chemistry and conflict between these characters are intense and compelling, making you sympathize with them even as they do terrible things.

Overall, Mask Girl is a thrilling series full of raw emotions that’ll leave you blown away. It’s both emotionally compelling and shocking, but it might not be for everyone, as it contains violence, gore, and mature themes. I personally enjoyed it and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a gripping yet sensitive story.