Lee Han-byeol was a name I heard for the first time.
Lee Han-byeol. I had no choice but to find out about the actor for the first time. And that’s understandable because this work is their debut. ‘Mask girl’ is already a well-recognized webtoon. There have been so many dramas and movies based on webtoons, and many have received criticism for not living up to the original. People had a lot of thoughts about how it would turn out this time. Well, as expected this time too…
Mask girl contains many explicit and violent scenes.
Furthermore, there are too many parts where the reality and personal emotions are vividly expressed, to the point of feeling uncomfortable at times. I wondered if such content could be effectively conveyed in a short 7-part series. A 7-part series, that’s it. Since the webtoon’s content is much longer than that, proper content adaptation was the key.
Mask girl indeed achieved the highest viewership ratings.
Every so often, Korean dramas claim the top spot in viewership ratings. One number one drama disappears, and another one emerges. This is why I believe Korean dramas have been gaining even more fame lately. Of course, their quality and themes are outstanding, but there’s also a strong sense of trust in Korean dramas as something you can rely on. Once a Korean drama is at the top of the ratings, they don’t think twice and start watching from the first episode.
Mo-mi is important.
Everyone was curious about who would play the role of Mo-mi in Season 1 when they first started discussing the story. Initially, Mo-mi was described as unattractive but with a good body. The actress who appeared in this role was Lee Han-byeol, a relatively unknown rookie actress with no significant experience. She managed to beat the odds of a 1,000-to-1 competition rate. However, Lee Han-byeol’s casting as the lead role posed no issue whatsoever.
There was a reason for the high viewership ratings.
The initial part of the show was captivating and engaging, which is why it received such high ratings. For those who were not familiar with the webtoon, it offered fresh and provocative content. For those who knew the webtoon, there was admiration for the exceptional synchronization and acting skills of the new actor. The early charm of the show was acknowledged by everyone, and it was proven through the viewership ratings.
It also served as proof of Lee Han-byeol’s abilities as an actress.
The character Mo-mi played by Lee Han-byeol wasn’t the only one, and the other portrayals of Mo-mi were also quite good.
Nana, who played the post-plastic surgery Mo-mi, was originally very beautiful and her acting was also good. She lived up to expectations once again. Even the imprisoned Mo-mi, portrayed by the seasoned actress Go Hyun-jung, had no significant flaws in her performance.
Other characters were also quite impressive. The character “Joo Onam,” who is truly timid and eccentric, had an excellent portrayal by An Jae-hong. The acting of characters like Yeom Hye-ran was also outstanding.
However, the real issue that arose was the progression of the plot.
While compressing the content and adapting it into a drama, the writer’s skills are crucial. It’s essential to focus on key plot points while keeping the audience engaged. Additionally, maintaining the coherence of the story and aiding viewers’ understanding is important. This is undoubtedly a challenging task, given that many adaptations have fallen short of surpassing the original work in this regard.
Mask girl was no exception to these challenges.
It followed the typical procedure of a poorly executed K-Drama. A mix of “Yongdu-sami” and melodrama, resulting in a disappointing work, is a typical case. I don’t understand why they feel the need to forcibly insert scenes like, “Cry, viewers. This is the part where you should cry,” as the story progresses, especially towards the later episodes. It’s a detrimental and common practice that can confuse viewers and make them misinterpret the unfolding plot.
There are many fantastic works that creatively reconstruct the content and provide an interesting and unique conclusion different from the original. However, when it comes to ‘Mask girl,’ some serious thought needs to be given to this aspect.
Lee Han-byeol is tall.
She has a height of 170cm, which is similar to Nana and Go Hyun-jung. This casting choice was likely intentional. They all portray Mo-mi characters. Furthermore, they are particularly attractive due to their slim figures and good body shapes.
Will we be able to encounter her in other works as well?
Lee Han-byeol Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/lhanbyeol/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D
