The Glory Review

Introduction

The 16-episode Korean series 'The Glory' is a tale about pursuing glory through a complex plan of retribution, but it is also so much more than that. Both the first and second parts, successful in terms of audience and critical acclaim, were released on December 30, 2022, and March 10, 2023, respectively; the series makes viewers care about the protagonist. The show is the newest vengeance film that exposes the deeper serious fissures in South Korean society by scratching beneath the carefully produced surface. It depicts the grim truths of school violence caused by socioeconomic disparities and a lack of social justice in South Korea.

Unfortunately, these problems do not usually go away once a person graduates from high school, and this overly dramatic series introduces new complications like extramarital affairs, deceit, drug misuse, and murders. Kim Eun-Seok wrote the script, which Ahn Gil-Ho directed. A former victim of bullying seeks vengeance on her attackers after landing a job as a teacher at the bully's child's school in this Korean drama series.

Plot Story

In the series, 'The Glory', a character named Dong-eun plans her high school attackers' retaliation and vows to hold them all accountable. Based on actual events, it is an exciting, well-written revenge tale. Regarding bullying, the drama shows a strong awareness of the protagonists and the prevalent cultural concerns in Korea. Dong-Yun, the main character, has been planning her retaliation since she was just 16 and is on a mission to seek justice. On the contrary, Park Yeon-jin is a nasty, vicious person who delights in seeing other people suffer. She enjoys it as a hobby, and she is blatantly evil. She is the bully gang's commander and travels with four henchmen, including heroin addict Lee Sa-ra, who poses as an artist.

Review

This most recent K-pop drama, which centers on a woman's determination to exact revenge on people who harmed her years ago, is best summed up by the proverb, "Revenge is a dish best served cold". And we are not talking about the typical high school bullies who make fun of or humiliate their classmates in public. These are satan impersonators. Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-Kyo) witnesses their fright firsthand as she is punched cruelly, kicked in the stomach, and scalded with a hot curling iron by a group of wealthy, spoilt brats who take great pleasure in torturing someone merely for fun. But they had no idea their victim was gradually gaining strength from their severe abuse, and they would eventually pay for what they did. The main factor in any vengeance drama is how strongly the revenge-seeking character feels.

We can guarantee plenty of it at this place, but viewers might be disappointed if they are hoping for a quick fix. Moon's elaborate revenge strategy is drawn out, meticulous, and burns very slowly. Because of this, the first season's eight episodes are layered and well-paced, leaving much to look forward to in Part 2 when it debuts in March of the following year. However, you cannot put it down because of how intensely Moon's grand plan is carried out. There are moments of intensity, particularly when she confronts each of her attackers face to face. Although there are some unexpected scenes and story twists, it is crucial to binge-watch the series with careful attention to avoid missing the more minor elements.

Song Hye-Kyo portrays the protagonist with a steely reserve and a chilly demeanor that is both frightful and uplifting for her character. She includes you in her purpose. Park Yeon-jin pops out as the domesticated lovely young woman who is blissfully oblivious to how her bullying experiences in high school will impact her life forever. The rest of the actors do not get to shine as much. Shin Ye Eun, who portrays Park Ji Yeon as a young girl, is much more potent as a dangerous adolescent. Joo Yeo Jung, the spouse of Moon, is convincingly played by Lee Do Hyun. Jung's sincere compassion for his wife's turbulent past highlights the chemistry between them. Harassment and bullying in school settings is an evil that requires urgent attention. Even if the individuals and their actions are extreme, the overarching plot will resonate with anybody who has experienced either extreme or mild bullying.

As a result, the series' writing has an intrinsic aspect of relatability. The pacing near the conclusion, when all the ending tales are crammed into one episode, is the sole area of weakness. Imagine the retaliations happening almost immediately, with a long queue of people awaiting their rightful rewards. It is possible that the brief moments before their last punishments were meant to be disappointing since life is not always about getting the upper hand. However, delaying the punishments until the final few episodes would have allowed viewers more time to prepare themselves, celebrate the justice delivered, and appropriately wish the other characters farewell as they prepare to begin afresh.

Conclusion

Thankfully, the first 15 episodes of the 16-episode series more than made up for the flaws, and the entire series is worth watching. After reading 'The Glory', the viewers will reflect on societal injustices and how they affect how people behave and show themselves. The quest for glory and the lack of justice among those who should have enforced it will motivate the audience to always act morally. The level of importance that the issue holds which is shown in the series makes it a must-watch series.