La Gloria (2022)

Revenge is a dish best served COLD

I actually started this drama for Song Hye kyo and came to like Lee do Hyun more. And for some reason I liked Jung sung il character and Yoem Hye ran character too.

The storyline of this drama starts off with severe violence and the burn marks and forced kiss made me sick really. If this kind of bullying actually happen somewhere, I think I am so lucky I am not there. Seriously, it's so complicated that the victim can't even fight back. The worst part is the teacher being abusive as well. When the teacher beat her, no one in the room stopped or questioned him. How in the name of God, did they become teachers- seriously. The body shaming done by the boys in latter episode was not physically abusive but is emotionally worse than abusive. The way they say that they change target after one falls is a bit scary.

Even among the five there are 2 underdogs and they bite severely on those below them making them the worst and deserving of all sorts of punishment. All of them are in their personal hell as well.
This drama is a little bit scary really. I am not a fragile person but I feel like this because this drama brings out the violence side of me. I actually didn't feel the lead's revenge, unwarranted. I think the bullies deserve it. Especially, The scene where dong-eun fears grilling meat and has panic attack and when she cries of fear and disgust after meeting jae-jin in bathroom explains why they deserve it.

The parts that deserve applause are:
1. When Yeon Jin fears if her daughter finds out about her being a bully
2. When dong-eun says jae-jin that she is a daughter of someone too and hands him the little girl's colourless drawing
3. When yeo-jeong says to dong-eun that he'll be her executioner
4. When dong-eun teases jae-jin that he doesn't know what colourful means
5. When dong-eun instructs her students not to bully others
6. When dong-eun uses sa-ra for money and says she is going to hell
7. When hye-jeong's mother-in-law adores dong-eun which makes her kneel
8. When the teacher confronts dong-eun infront of his son (but seriously as much as I hate this teacher, being killed by his own son for what he has done is ****)

There was this scene that made me think a lot and cry a bit. It was the confrontation scene between Yeon-Jin and dong-eun where she says "Don't apologise. You need to receive punishment. Criminal punishment if God is on your side and divine punishment if God is on my side. Let's slowly wilt and die together, Yeon-Jin". Why would dong-eun want to die with her, after revenge she may continue to live right. But somehow I felt that after her revenge, she would lose the purpose of her survival because Yeon-Jin is her dream. What kind of a twisted story is this.

Throughout this drama, there are many what if's came through my mind like What if she had good parents though poor! What if the teacher was a better person! What if the school nurse was braver! What if she had one good adult to listen to her!

The house-keeper character is one of the best character of the drama. From making a deal to kill her husband To trying to develop an honest friendship with dong-eun, she was one person who seemed like a normal person in this drama. (Dong-eun is definitely not normal, living solely for the purpose of revenge, however justified, is definitely not normal)

Yeo-jeong's story was not detailed in this season. But however it was one of the reason I continued watching this series in the start.

Ha do-yeong, the rich husband of the antagonist. I can't categorize him in either way. However, he realises how evil his wife is in the last episode and we don't know how he is going to respond to it. But his character built-up was special. So he is one of the reason I am waiting for the season 2.

I think every actor has given their best in this drama. No special mention to anyone. Although I loved Song Hye kyo's acting in this drama, at times my mind wondered about an irony (i.e.) how powerful she is in real life than others and how powerless she seem in the drama.

Why I recommend this drama?!:
1. It conquers emotions well
2. The actors have done their job quite well
3. It will make you cry at times
4. I don't know what more to say really

Why I won't recommend this drama?!:
1. It's so dark and has extreme violence ( using stapler and hair straightener iron on someone.... And the red marks...)
2. It will make you uncomfortable at times

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Overly authentic : the reason why it's good

I usually don't like dramas/movies about school bullying because to me, it always looks like they make it look "better" than what it actually is. The bullies end up begging the victim at the very first moves, etc. And it's all the same thing. We know that there's some bullies that don't regret their actions at all. And this drama we got to see the harsh reality of it.

I started watching this drama because everybody around me were saying that this drama is what comes closest to how bullying actually is in South-Korea. So I was expecting for something that make me break, a drama that doesn't make me empathize for bullies one bit. And this drama was "The Glory".

The violence of some of these scenes was unbearable. Really. Sometimes I had to look away because it was just too much for me. I never gotten bullied but I was in pain, just watching those. The hot iron, the humiliation, the sexual assaults, everything was too much. Not negatively too much for this drama, but too much because I was thinking "I can't believe that somebody is probably experiencing the same thing or worse, right now as we speak". This is why I really liked this drama, it was harsh, it was real, it wasn't polished.

At first, I didn't really like how she got close to a guy that might be her love interest in the future. Because I thought he was going to try to convince her not to go about her revenge, but he followed through. Even Yeonjin's husband is about to follow through because he's the only one in his right mind.

I liked how we get to see inside the bullies clan and how they actually don't really like each other. How they would look down on their "friends" who have less money than them. How they would throw each other under the bus to save their own ass.

I like how in this drama no one is trying to stop her and tell to be the "bigger person", they ALL understand her, they understand her pain. And they know the people that made her went through it, need and deserve the worst punishment. No matter what is it is.

The devil's flower look up in the sky and the angel's flower look down on the ground. No matter how you interpreted, this saying of that old lady in the first episode is important to retain in all our minds.

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I’m afraid I’ll forget what I should be doing if I start laughing. – Moon Dong Eun

okay, so this would be one of 2023's top tier kdrama ever since the first quarter of the year. Seems the story has not yet ended for dong-eun's revenge, I guess the ending seems to getting clearer and brigher... but at the same time, the grey areas are coming in. With the never-expected plot and based on real-life events especially the school-student's system in sk, i guess this was too brutal for a student to be bullied. And it's not the same as what other wester dramas or movie portrays, but the drama was too realistic that even viewers could say that this was too violent. It's far from fantasy, turns to a deep fact check reality for everyone. So, I'll go with the note, from its cinematography, ost, casts and characters, including the story/plot.

STORY AND/OR PLOT
so the story started to get into when it discovered about how Moon Dong-eun escaped from the pain she has. A student who was the second bystander/victim from a bullying scandal, involving the other student who transferred and went missing. Moon Dong-eun, who started from getting hate and no one cares about what she feels and how she escaped and plans to get revenge to the kids who messed her badly. As she was dreaming to be an architect, but due to her situations with the kids bullying her physically, mentally and emotionally, she worked at a factory at a young age in her late 20's, until she continued studying in college in an late age then turned to be a homeroom teacher of Park Yeon-jin's first daughter. And with that the kids who bullied he,r such as Park Yeon-jin, who married a wealthy man and has a biological daughter and works as a news broadcaster, while Jeon Jae-joon, who was yeo-jin's biological father who owns a luxury business. Lee Sa-ra who was an addict and owns an art-cafe, Choi Hye-jeong who works as a flight attendant and constantly regrets a little of what she did to Dong-eun, Son Myeong-oh who was an ass and the one who harrassed Dong-eun in high school. And lastly, Yeon-jin's husband, Ha Do-Young who slowly gets involved with his wife's case. But then, Dong-eun slowly gets to meet Joo Yeo Jung, a plastic surgery doctor from his mother's big owned hospital, and Kang Hyun-nam, who she discovered to give revenge and asked for justice and needs from Dong-eun from his husband who was an abuser. As the two of them discovered Dong-eun's secrets and situations that she won't ever forget, until the were all together to be with dong-eun and give revenge and justice as one.
Well this was a long note, but the story seems to be very VERY interesting tbh. With the bullies who had their successful careers and dreams, while Moon Dong-eun still suffers inside. I guess her life was pretty tough and she doesn't event believe in faith. What she wants and craves for more justice is the revenge that she would badly want.

CINEMATOGRAPHY AND OST
in this part, I guess i'm neutral with the ost. Nothing to be so special about it but then I like the every ending of the episode, get me hooked with it. The cinematography was better, blending with the atmosphere of each and every scene.

CASTS AND CHARACTERS
So, here I am getting excited to type what I was expecting with the casts. Especially most of them were very new to me. Starting with one of my fav hallyu kdrama star, Song Hye-Kyo. After her divorce controversy with Song Joong-Ki, she really changed so much. From her facial expression and feelings that I couldn't see her smiling so much specifically her role in the glory. She discovered this drama that gives me excitement that I have never expected her to be part of this type of brutal roles. Tbh, she has soooo much potential. The second time I saw her is this drama from the descendants of the sun. Now with her character, Moon Dong-eun was a relatable character that every victims has. As what I have heared, SK has the most cases of bullying that even administrators or teachers doesn't mind about it. Again, I was pretty proud for her and rooting for her next role, she is so unstoppable. Next, Im-Ji Yeon. woahhh she was far from her character, and she fits so well with this role. As she was a villain, I guess she was very lucky to shine with this drama and the first time I saw here with this drama. Her character was so much annoying like I wanna punch her. Not to hate the actress, but she really fits with her role. I love her so much but Park Yeon-jin was heading too far from what she did to Dong-eun. Rooting for her as well! Next up, Lee Do-hyun. From what his roles are from, I guess this one I was pretty neutral with his role. So far, I can't get over to his role from 18 again, but I guess since he doesn't have that time scene much yet, hope he would give most of the time to show the background story of his character, Joo Yeo-Jung, up to the end of the season 1 I wondered why he was joining with Dong-eun except falling in love with her? But yea, also rooting for him! Yom Hye-ran was also on another level, the first time I saw her + her character was very promising, hoping that she would not betray Dong-eun. Kang Hyun Nam, her character was a softie to her. What I mean is that she gives everything Dong-eun wants to give revenge as well as Dong-eun knows her story of being abused by her husband. And with the other casts, I know this part of the note was very long, I really appreciated their roles and characters, way too promising. hoping that there would be a good ending for season 2!

Overall, rating it a 10 out of 10, how I wish that the episodes of season2 would came out faster. The story was way too interesting especially the last episode, hoping that Dong-eun deserve a good ending for her justice.
A good watch, great for time kill, not quite beginner friendly since it was too "violent" and "brutal" :'))
Oh, and even my mom liked this drama haha.

Looking forward to the casts :333

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Um drama pesado, mas que te prende em sua trama do início ao fim

"The glory" é um drama muito envolvente sobre vingança, mas que também te faz passar muita raiva por conta das cenas de bullying com a protagonista.
Eu gostei realmente do modo como ela vai arquitetando sua vingança aos poucos e é emocionante ver todo o esforço que ela fez para finalmente dar início a sua vingança.
O que realmente te deixa decepcionada é saber que durante 8 episódios somos submetidos a ver ameaças e mais ameaças, mas nada de algo realmente acontecer e isso pode causar um pouco de frustração, mas a segunda temporada esta aí para suprir todo esse sentimento.





Um drama muito emocionante, mas que
se você for cardíaco NÃO assista, risco de passar muita, mais muita raiva assistindo.

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EXPLÊNDIDO

Esse drama é espetacular
A atuação de todos foi impecável. Fico muito feliz pela Song Kye Kyo. Ela pôde demonstrar todo o seu talento.
A história foi maravilhosa. Eu até fiquei arrepiada com as cenas, em êxtase, esperando para ver qual o próximo passo, como a vingança seria, quem seriam os peões no jogo dela, o que ela faria, se ela seria realmente capaz de fazer algo parecido com o que fizeram com ela…
Todo o conjunto da obra foi capaz de transmitir de forma muito viva todas as emoções que eles queriam passar. A raiva, o rancor, a tristeza, a psicopatia com total falta de empatia e escrúpulos da vilã, a futilidade e omissão dos demais colegas que pensando apenas nos próprios narizes se eximiram sempre da responsabilidade que também tinham, etc. Fiquei presa na tela. MARAVILHOSO.

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Intenso, real, cruel

Vamos lá, primeiramente, para alguém que entrou no mundo dos doramas através de Who Are You: School 2015, que também possui como centro da narrativa uma vítima de violência escolar, essa história foi muito importante para mim. Me lembro de ter ficado impressionada com esse outro dorama, mas com este eu senti emoções muito diferentes: ódio, inquietação, medo e satisfação - por um motivo bem específico. Diferente de outras produções que propõem o desejo de vingança como o objetivo principal da personagem, este nos leva por um caminho onde os planos de Dong Eun dão certo, por mais que imprevisibilidades apareçam. Os vilões não são tão espertos quanto ela, demonstrando uma veracidade ainda maior, tirando da produção o quê de novela das 9.
Para quem viu The Penthouse, o andar da carruagem é muito satisfatório. Só quem passou raiva vendo os vilões triunfarem em The Penthouse consegue entender como é bom ver os vilões de The Glory se ferrando com o passar dos episódios. Por isso digo que foi muito mais fácil de digerir esse título, mesmo contendo violência explícita, do que os outros mencionados anteriormente. A narrativa te faz ficar agoniado e aliviado logo em seguida.
Os personagens também são muito bem desenvolvidos, mostrando o que cada um está sentindo e o que cada um tem a perder se Dong Eun continuar com seu plano de vingança. É tão realista no ponto em que os valentões dos tempos de escola escolhem varrer seus crimes para debaixo do tapete e se fazerem de pessoas-modelo quando crescem, quanto no ponto de que a hipocrisia contida naqueles que estão em uma classe alta/na mídia é muito previsível.
Ansiosa para ver o que irá acontecer na segunda parte.

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Will Dong-eun be able to get her glory?

A very sorrowful and heartbreaking portrayal of bullying shown on the first episode was enough to make me grip my hands to take my own version of revenge, I mean, to make me invested with this show right away. At times, I forgot that it was not me being bullied with how ecstatic they were whenever they bullied Dong-eun. It was as if it was me being bullied instead of her, and sadness is truly an understatement.

That's why Dong-eun meticulously planned her revenge to get back to them. It was utterly easy for her to just give up, but her determination was just gritting, and personally, I just couldn't feel anything but be inspired with her. In a technical sense, I loved how the pacing was done from her being kicked out of the school towards the present. Her growth as amply shown and her "love letters" to Yeon-jin just added intensity and vigor for her inevitable revenge.

This show is divided into 2 parts, with here focusing on the backstory and the planning stage of the revenge itself. Initially, I was not a fan of the split release but after watching the first part's ending with a cliffhanger and a shocking plot twist, I was able to get why they did it in the first place - to maintain the momentum of the increased tension and enthrall going in the second part. It was very successful at that aspect.

For now, I'm not as emotionally-invested on Yeo-joong's (Lee Do-hyun) story as with Dong-eun's (Song Hye-kyo). There's massive story potential shown in the first part and I know quite well that it will be tackled more on the second part. Furthermore, Yeo-joong's role at this part isn't as significant as Dong-eun, so this is why I will restrict this review on the main story.

On the other hand, this role has got to be Song Hye-kyo's best acting role as of the moment. She was really able to personify Dong-eun the best. Maybe it's because this is entirely different from her previous roles, but the stoic, almost emotionless personality was perfectly-written for this actress and she was also able to portray it very well. This project basically squashed the recurring criticism that Song Hye-kyo is a one-dimensional actress. Wasn't a big fan of hers prior, but she is able to own it and I'm being converted as a fan as of this moment. But can she transpose it on her next projects or was she lucky that a one-dimensional character suited her very well?

My other comments will be reserved for the second part, since it will be more cathartic, if not gruesome (I hope). Still, this 8-episode first part was greatly done in setting the tone for the overall show. The first part doesn't need all of the big twists and shocking events, yet I'm expecting it on the next.

The big question now lies: will Dong-eun be able to get her glory?

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A vingança é um prato que se come frio

Sem palavras pra dizer o quão incrível esse dorama é. Retrata o bullying de uma forma extremamente pesada e com uma vingança a altura, sem dó e nem piedade.
Gostei muito de tudo, atuação, cinematografia, história...
Várias vezes me senti ansiosa vendo, senti muito carinho por certos personagens (e um ódio surreal por outros) e também torcendo muito para um personagem e eu adoro isso!
Um dorama muito bem feito que vale muito a pena assistir.
The Glory é surreal de incrível e merece muito pelo trabalho absurdamente sensacional que todos que trabalharam nele entregaram.

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