Mousetrap (TV series)

Mousetrap is a 2026 South Korean mystery thriller series written by Lee Jae-gon, directed by Kim Hong-sun, and based on the Kakao webtoon Field Mouse by Ludovico. The 10-episode series premiered on Netflix on August 28, 2026.

The series follows a reclusive novelist whose life is turned upside down when a mysterious figure known as “The Rat” steals his identity, financial assets, facial features, and practically everything he owns. Desperate to reclaim his life, he is forced to team up with a loan shark named No-jak. Along the way, the unlikely duo begins uncovering the mystery behind The Rat and, more importantly, the reasons behind what happened to him.

I’ll be honest, the pacing was a bit of a struggle for me. The first six episodes move at a very slow pace, with the mystery taking its sweet time to develop. Once we get past that point, however, the story finally starts to unravel much faster, and that’s when things become much more engaging.

I thought the overall storyline was good, and the series did a great job developing its characters. I also liked how the writers’ scattered pieces of the mystery throughout the episodes, giving us some genuinely gripping and intriguing moments that made me want to keep watching.

Unfortunately, the problem was putting all those puzzle pieces together.

While the individual pieces were interesting, they didn’t always fit together as smoothly as they should have. Instead of creating one captivating mystery that slowly comes into focus, the story sometimes left me more confused than intrigued. There were several moments where I found myself wondering how certain pieces connected, and by the time we reached the finale, I was left feeling a little disappointed.

That said, I wouldn’t call Mousetrap a bad series. There is a good story here, and there are definitely some strong moments throughout. I just think the writing could have been tighter, with less backstory and fewer convoluted elements that ultimately made the mystery feel murky toward the end.

Couple of Critics Verdict: Mousetrap is a series with a lot of potential that doesn’t completely stick to the landing. The slow beginning requires some patience, but once the mystery starts moving, there are plenty of engaging moments to keep you invested. The good outweighs the bad in certain areas, and if you’re a K-drama fan like me, you’ll probably find enough here to enjoy.

Not perfect, but worth checking out if you’re in the mood for a slow-burn mystery.