On February 23, 2025, viewers were treated to the third episode of season six of the popular show 'Maska' on NTV, where celebrities dazzled audiences in elaborate costumes, concealing their identities through song and performance.
This episode began with 13 remaining participants, following the elimination of the Cow mask during the last episode on February 8. Among the contestants were the likes of Cucumber, Dalmatian, and Grasshopper, all vying for the judges' recognition and audience votes.
During this episode, the tension escalated as viewers eagerly anticipated who would be unmasked next. The competition format remained unchanged: the contestants performed, offering hints about their identities, and the judges—Filipp Kirkorov, Valeriya, Regina Todorenko, Timur Rodriguez, and guest judge Denis Klyaver—attempted to guess who was behind each mask.
At the episode's conclusion, the audience votes determined which participants would proceed and who would face elimination. The nominees for removal were Capybara, Duck, and Sheep. After audience votes were tallied, it was revealed the viewers saved Duck with 46.4% of the votes.
This left the judges to decide between Capybara and Sheep for elimination. The decision was left to Valeriya, who chose to unmask Capybara. Remarkably, beneath this mask was Eldar Dzharakhov, the well-known videoblogger. This confirmed earlier speculations by the judges, solidifying their guesses and displaying the level of engagement and insight they had with each performance.
Throughout the night, the judges had engaged their collective thoughts, offering various theories about who may be hidden under the masks. For example, Kirkorov believed Cucumber might be the comedian and television host Azamat Musagaliev. Other speculations included both Dmitry Koldun as the Falcon and Egor Druzhinin as the Chief character, but none could be confirmed. The show's structure effectively blended entertainment and suspense, as each contestant gave viewers little clues through their performances paired with guesses from the panel.
Performances during this episode featured diverse genres and emotional presentations. The Capybara's rendition of the song 'Summer Was Leaving' was particularly nostalgic, setting the tone alongside other acts. The Grasshopper performed 'I Like It' by Cardi B, Cucumber dazzled with his unique take on 'Battery,' and the Duck mesmerized with 'Don't Speak' from No Doubt, showcasing the broad appeal and talent of the contestants involved.
The judges, though cautious, expressed their views during the performances, turning the evening’s competitive spirit lively. Despite their reluctance to speculate too boldly, several entertaining exchanges took place as they offered thoughts on potential identities behind the masks.
The culmination of the episode saw the elimination of Capybara, and jury members held strong opinions about possible candidates among the contestants, leading to interesting discussions on social media platforms.
The anticipation for the subsequent episode is already building, as the show's dynamics create engaging content for fans. With each episode, more artistry is unveiled, promising exciting new performances and the thrill of the reveal. The fourth episode is poised to air on March 1, 2025, continuing to draw significant viewer engagement.
With 12 contestants remaining—Grasshopper, Boxer, Bull, Chief, Dalmatian, Sheep, Cucumber, Perch, Falcon, Ostrich, Duck, and Chick—the stakes are higher than ever, and each unmasking brings viewers one step closer to discovering the identities behind the vibrant outfits.