Credit: Netflix

Mousetrap on Netflix opens with an intriguing premise when a reclusive novelist, Je Moon-jae, wakes up one fine day to discover his phone no longer recognises his fingerprint and his manager is missing, only to realise that a mysterious entity called The Rat has stolen his entire existence.

While that technically makes Moon-jae the imposter of his own life, the South Korean thriller draws inspiration from an old folktale in which a rat that eats the chipped fingernails of an individual transforms into that person.

Subsequently, with no options left to prove his identity, Moon-jae is forced to join forces with No-ja, a ruthless loan shark, to reclaim everything that belongs to him. Although the K-thriller concludes with the protagonist seemingly getting back his identity, life, and career, that hasn’t stopped fans from speculating whether Mousetrap will return for a second season.

That’s particularly because Moon-jae returns to his flat to discover a manuscript left by Yu-min that could potentially upend his life. With that in mind, the protagonist’s fate is left uncertain to an extent, leaving viewers to their imagination.

Now, answering the question of the hour, Netflix hasn’t officially renewed Mousetrap for a second season, which isn’t surprising, considering the show was released just a few days ago on August 28th. As is the case with the streaming giant, it typically weighs in some non-negotiable metrics before renewing a show for a follow-up, including completion rates and viewership numbers.

As a result, renewals or cancellations can usually take up to months, even though Netflix has its fair share of exceptions, such as The Gentlemen, which was recently greenlit for a third season before the second could even debut.

So, while fans have to hold their horses for an official update, the season finale does leave the door open for future plotlines. With Moon-jae’s future hanging in the balance, the conclusion remains ambiguous about whether he actually faces the consequences of his past and whether the manuscript exposes his checkered deeds.

When viewers last see Moon-jae, he seems trapped by the ghosts of his past, even after reclaiming everything he just fought for. Therefore, if Mousetrap returns, they would definitely like some clarity on his ultimate destiny.

So, until an official update arrives, watch or re-watch the gritty South Korean thriller before the spoilers ruin the suspense!