Unmasked Episode 5 Review: Comparatively Milder Watch

In The Truth: Unmasked episode 4, we saw Hae-won finally making an appearance in front of So-ryong and Han Do. As that drama unfolds, we also learn that there’s some secret in Hyeong-tae’s past that makes him more than just another evil boss. Plus, So-ryong’s nudes are leaked, which prompts her to break up with Jin-woo. Lastly, the investigation behind Dr Trigger’s identity starts in full swing, causing everyone to be questioned. At the end of the runtime, a building collapses on So-ryong and many people on the road suddenly.

The series has 12 episodes and will release from 15 January 2025 to 19 February 2025.

The Truth: Unmasked Episode 5 Recap

The episode starts with an old man finding an ominous writing on the wall outside his house that apparently has a huge impact on him – “Cha Seong-wook lives”.

We then jump to last week’s episode, in the aftermath of a building collapse on So-ryong and many people on the street. Thankfully, So-ryong is fine, but she is shocked to see the devastation outside the car. She desperately tries to find Han Do, who also turns out to be fine. However, a blast throws her on the ground but she desperately tries to save everyone inside a nearby bus which caught fire. It’s a devastating situation all around but a gravely hurt So-ryong refuses to calm down and instead tries to help others even when she’s inside the paramedic van.

So-ryong lashes out at Han Do for not getting footage of the rubble and screams at him in the hospital for not following orders. He is confused about it, especially because he’s a victim as well, but So-ryong is not interested in seeing reason. We then jump to 2004, when a kindergarten bus driver seemingly causes a devastating accident with a bus full of children. This turns out to be So-ryong’s memories, so does that mean she was one of the survivors of the bus crash? Anyway, So-ryong is forced to stay in the hospital because of a concussion, which she does begrudgingly.

Han Do visits So-ryong in the hospital just as some flowers are delivered to him from Hae-won. He questions her about the bus accident and points out how the two situations match with one another. He mentions that he will be investigating the entire thing and says that he will interview Ms Yeom, the bus driver from 2004 who was the only survivor of the devastating crash.

The next day, So-ryong leaves the hospital and meets a detective to learn more about the accident. She is surprised to learn that the original contractor subcontracted the demolition to another organisation that is well-known for causing accidents at every place they work. GR’s Chairwoman Heo Geum-ran is involved in this entire process and uses the money saved to add to war efforts. However, in front of the camera, she is all about the theatrics and does a fantastic job of apologising to the deceased’s family – complete with lying on the ground and crying.

Back at the office, Han Do gets right into looking into GR’s past suspicious behaviour but Dae-yong refuses to help him out. With GR and the deceased’s widow refusing to help him out either, he comes up with a plan to go into GR’s offices as a delivery person. Of course, the plan doesn’t go anywhere and he is promptly thrown out soon after he enters the office. So-ryong and Dae-yong are called in to deal with everything but, thankfully, Dae-yong refuses to bow down to corporate pressure.

Later, we see Geum-ran handing over cash to the minister’s wife, while Gi-ho and Han Do talk to No Chung-dae, who was just about to end his own life. Han Do asks him to continue living on and help put these people behind bars instead of giving up and letting the circle of suffering continue. His words affect Chung-dae quite a bit, although Gi-ho isn’t a fan of his harsh words. After exchanging some harsh words with each other, So-ryong, Han Do and Gi-ho go out to drink to hash things out. In a surprising turn of events, it turns out that Yeom Min-ji, the driver of the 2004 bus crash, is So-ryong’s mother. Han Do looks shocked as he is heartbroken that So-ryong didn’t trust her and she clarifies that she wanted to know his intentions before telling him anything.

Later on, the office contacts Han Do about a whistleblower who wanted to give information on Geum-ran. He asks him to make sure that she goes to jail and the video that he provides is extremely juicy. Gi-ho, Han Do and So-ryong thus get to work together and decide to pull the ultimate stint to catch Geum-ran red-handed. For some reason, she gives a short villain monologue about the rich eating the poor in front of three journalists which is very weird considering she’s this supposed mastermind and all.

Either way, the minister’s wife gets there just in time and So-ryong plays some very disturbing conversation in front of her, leaving her fuming. She promises to tell her husband everything and leaves with the recording. As a final “F You”, So-ryong, in the midst of everyone pushing each other, accidentally rams the antenna on her recorder into Geum-ran’s nose. Listening to Trigger’s coverage of the situation, Chung-dae finally picks up the courage to reach out and talk about his own experience with GR.

Unfortunately, as it turns out, the video that the aide had given Trigger was probably doctored and Han Do had not given that a check. Seems like this story is far from over.

In the epilogue, we see Baek Song-i (?) walking away from Seong-wook’s house after writing the ominous message on his wall.

Unmasked Episode 5 Review

Although emotional, I’d say last week’s episodes were far superior to episode 5. Of course, we still have one more to watch, but the themes and the villain level of the B-plot this time are quite cliched and convenient, especially with Geum-ran ranting on the steps outside her office about subcontractors being insects and all that. Whenever something like this happens on a show, I can’t help but laugh. However, I found myself overcome by emotions with So-ryong’s past reveal, especially because Kim Hye-soo is so fantastic in it. Overall, I think episode 5 was fine, but not as thrilling or funny as I expected considering the track record.

Also Read: Unmasked Season 1 Reviews