When you put on a mask, you become anonymous. You could be absolutely anyone. That begs the question: If you could be anyone, who would you be?
"Mask Girl" is a short but sweet crime thriller series that explores this concept. It lasts only seven episodes, but it contains multitudes, as they say. When I was introduced to star Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol), a masked office worker who takes the internet by storm by night, I thought I had a handle on this madcap story, but it kept me guessing every second of the way. And though it's one of the juiciest K-dramas out there, I rarely hear anyone discussing it.
When I first found "Mask Girl," I finished it in a single night and couldn’t stop thinking about it. In fact, I’ve already told a few friends who love genre-blending stories that this one’s absolutely worth the ride. If you’re into dramas with a bit of spicy crime sprinkled throughout or shows that aren’t afraid to dive headfirst into uncomfortable territory, "Mask Girl" should be next on your Netflix queue.
What is ‘Mask Girl’ about?
"Mask Girl" follows Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol), an office worker who feels invisible in her everyday life and thinks everyone judges her looks. By day, she blends into the background at her desk job. By night, she transforms into a seductive streamer who hides her face behind a glittery mask. And people absolutely love it.
But that double life suddenly feels less cushy when there's a scandal involving a coworker and Mo-mi. What starts as a small escape from her insecurities turns into a chain of some decidedly scary choices that force her to deal with some terrifying individuals.
Each episode shifts perspectives and gives us a look at the different characters who interact with Mo-mi, including some who know her only as "Mask Girl." Some want to protect her, others want to punish her, and some are as transformed by their own pain as she is by hers. In the end, we get a full picture of a woman who's so caught up in being "Mask Girl" that she feels trapped — but at least people tell her she's pretty, right?
Why you should watch ‘Mask Girl’ on Netflix
Sure, at its heart, "Mask Girl" is about a girl who wants to get the guy. But it's got so much heart, so many relatable moments, as well as some straight-up nerve-wracking ones that make it an absolutely fantastic watch.
Kim Mo-mi believes herself to be too plain as herself, but her personality blossoms when she's online. It's an interesting parallel to today's Twitch and YouTube streamers and even VTubers, some of whom never reveal their true personality or looks. Except "Mask Girl" takes this to the extreme, with Mo-mi dealing with a few heinous crimes that force her to change herself.
Even though at first it seems that the show is about some risky inter-office politics and romances, it soon takes a hard left turn into some very twisty, dark places. From there, you really can't predict what it's going to do, and that's what elevates it from a "Hannah Montana"-like secret personality situation to a full-on thriller.
There's so much to love about "Mask Girl", including the several layers it has to its core narrative. So if you're browsing Netflix and want a new Korean drama to explore or something that's simply different and breaks the mold, this is a great (and still accessible) place to start. Give it a watch while it's still streaming on Netflix and get ready to start guessing every step of the way. There's no chance you'll figure it all out immediately.
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