REVIEW: ‘Unmasked’ Episodes 1-2

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 make it abundantly clear that this isn’t your typical crime procedural Kdrama, but it is an uphill battle to find its place in a busy Kdrama season. Starring Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, Joo Jong-hyuk, Lee Hae-young, and Jang Hye-jin, the first two episodes haven’t yet established a strong enough hook. However, the blend of comedy and tension is intriguing when executed, and the characters themselves are entertaining, if a little underdeveloped, so far.

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 follows a team of investigative journalists trying to keep their program, “Trigger,” going, even when the odds are stacked against them. Led by the chief of their team, Oh So-ryong (Kim Hye-soo), Episode 1 launches us immediately into their current investigative focus – bringing down a cult-like church group for abusing and drugging their cohorts. Right off the bat, it is clear through Kim Hye-soo’s animated performance that So-ryong is hotheaded yet incredibly earnest when it comes to uncovering the truth. Unfortunately, this puts a target on her and the team’s backs.

An anonymous hater rears up on the internet to start taking out the team one by one. Called “Dr. Trigger,” this person starts to spread rumors and share incriminating footage that targets individual members of the team. In Episode 1, this person scares off a producer with the rumor of an alleged affair, and by the beginning of Episode 2, am explicit video gets posted online with the implication that it’s someone on the “Trigger” team in the video. These scandals are wrecking the show’s ratings even further, and soon So-ryong is read the lite version of a riot act.

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 establish a potentially fun pairing

Making matters more complicated, as if that were possible, is the arrival of a new member of the time, Han Do (Jung Sung-il). In Unmasked Episodes 1-2, it’s quickly revealed that Han Do is awkward. He prefers animals to people and even gets himself in the awkward situation of being accused of murdering animals after trying to feed one. Han Do is also quiet, giving top-tier grumpy energy. It puts him in the crosshairs of So-ryong, who has the additional challenge of not scaring him away.

The two characters together make for a fun pairing, even if they’re a little underbaked. With So-ryong’s fiery personality and take-charge attitude, it puts her in direct conflict with Han Do, who simply doesn’t want to deal with people at all. Literally—his face lights up upon seeing a room full of puppies. It’s adorable. However, if the two can come together toward a unified goal, they may be an almost unbeatable force if the end of Unmasked Episode 1 is anything to go by.

When it comes to crime, Unmasked Episodes 1-2 establishes director Yoo Sun-dong’s and writer Kim Ki-ryang’s vision and tone. They aren’t afraid to highlight the darkness of humanity. The first two cases showcase why it’s worth rooting for “Trigger,” but also the dangers they place themselves in while uncovering the truth. And, while director Yoo and writer Kim don’t hesitate to illustrate the seriousness of the crime, they keep it haunting without needing to relish in gore and overt violence.

Treading familiar territory so early on makes it a harder sell

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 almost resemble American-style comedy shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine. But Unmasked doesn’t quite tap into the comedy typically expected in a K-drama, instead choosing a more subtle approach that doesn’t 100 percent work. Between this, the predictable “crisis of the week” format, and its surface-level characters, Unmasked is a trickier sell right off the bat. 

This is not to say that the show won’t get better. There is enough on paper so far to reveal its potential. The characters, while more archetypal at present, have enough comedic chemistry that their future partnership will likely be a success. The crimes so far have been titillating enough to maintain morbid curiosity. But as it stands right now, it doesn’t quite mesh and flow just yet.

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 show the show’s potential, but it is on shaky footing. There’s no immediate hook, but the pacing is good, the characters are entertaining, and the crime portion of the story works so far. It’s too soon to say whether the series will sink or swim. But if it manages to find its sweet spot, Unmasked has the potential to be great. It just faces an uphill battle.

Unmasked Episodes 1-2 is now streaming exclusively on Disney+ and Hulu.