MaryMeKpop

I feel so conflicted about this drama because just when I’m not so sure if I like it enough to keep watching it or I feel as if I’m super disappointed, it manages to pull me in at the last minute with some really good stuff. The weakest part about this drama to me are the cases and they’re definitely my least favorite part. This week’s episodes included a terrifying stalker-turned-murderer as well as a takedown of a corporate leader. The cases are just a little too over the top that it makes it hard for me to believe and enjoy. I found it difficult to believe that the building that completely fell apart and tore down close to Han Do and So-ryong didn’t hurt them. A stalker playing the piano next to the victim at her wedding venue after he just finished shooting her husband and attendees? I felt like the drama was attempting to go for that shock factor so it over-exaggerated everything and tried too hard.

But what the drama does excel in is the more humane and emotional parts. The ending to episode 6 especially got to me. Our Trigger team held a birthday party for So-ryong at her place. So-ryong also offered the victim who was affected by the stalker to stay with her. So-ryong just has this keen ability to connect, relate, and empathize with the survivors in a way that is so raw, emotional, and vulnerable. After celebrating her birthday, So-ryong checked in with the survivor and wished that they would both be able to live a long, happy life. It might have seemed like such simple words but it was so powerful, impactful, and meaningful. It was words that was comforting to the survivor and was exactly what she needed to hear during such a stressful and terrifying moment in her life. So-ryong cares for her team as well as the people who she advocates and fights for. She’s not afraid to put it all on the line in the fight for justice and the truth, including her own life. I just really enjoyed watching our Trigger team interact, whether that was during the birthday party or when Han Do showed up to assist So-ryong in her investigation behind the stalker. He initially excluded himself but eventually gave in and joined her because he was worried about her.

I think if there’s a word to describe this drama, I would say that it feels a bit moody. It felt a bit as if the drama was undecided as to what type of drama it wanted to be so it wanted to be everything and nothing at the same time. Episode 5 had a serious tone and feel to it for the majority of the time. So-ryong had a personal connection to the case so it hit close to home for her. Then episode 6 turned up the notch on the comedy and humor and there were multiple times throughout the episode where I laughed at how funny our Trigger team was. Episode 5 probably had to be my least favorite episode so far. It just wasn’t doing much for me and dragged things out a little too much without the emotional payoff (you would expect the way that the drama wrapped up the case in episode 5 would be bigger and better because it played a huge role in So-ryong’s life). But then the drama picked things back up with episode 6. The drama generally does better when it relaxes and sprinkles in the humor plus the emotions into the investigations. I think that’s why I enjoyed episode 6 so much more. I laughed and laughed and then was intrigued by what was going on with our Trigger team but then I also was close to crying towards the end of the episode because of how emotional and subtle the moments were.

I don’t know if the drama will ever be able to outdo what it did in episodes 3 and 4. I was hoping the drama would carry the momentum from those two episodes into this week but it felt as if it only did worse. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the ending to episode 3 nor will I forget the scene where So-ryong visited the young girl again towards the end of episode 4. It’s such a shame that the drama started off so strong but then again, maybe this is the reason as to why I’m hanging on. I don’t want to stop watching this drama because it does the comedy and human emotions so well and also because of the potential to repeat what it did so well with episodes 3 and 4. Here’s to hoping “Unmasked” plays to its strengths and doesn’t stray away from what it does best.