La Gloria (2022)

Is this worth the hype? I say YES!

'The Glory' has been sitting on my to-watch list since it was announced and the synopsis wasn't too clear to me. There were only hate comments and trolls commenting on yet another age-gap drama that Song Hye Kyo was going to star in. That too a Kim Eun Sook drama! I'm so glad this drama is so good that it rocked everyone's socks off and no one will talk crap anymore because this is the type of drama that leaves one speechless.

PLOT (+trigger warning: bullying):

I thought this drama would be filled with bullying scenes but thankfully majority were restricted to ep 1 with snippets every other episode. I know how brutal bullying can get in Korean dramas / films and don't always have the stomach for it. But since I heard the incident in this was based on a real-life victim, I decided to sit through it. I must say nothing felt forced or exaggerated. It was very realistic and the writers have done an amazing job of building up the story and the characters.

ACTING:
I must say this is the best stuff I have seen from Song Hye Kyo. This is a nice, mature role she chose and seems to be more challenging than some of her previous works. I am not very familiar with the supporting cast but so far all of them have entertained me with their acting - especially the crazy bully adults.

OVERALL:
Since we are just 8 episodes in, I am invested but also doubtful of how this drama will pan for rest of the series / Season 2. My experience with Korean dramas has always been great build ups leading to unsatisfying endings (Penthouse & Reborn Rich - I'm looking at you). I hope justice prevails and the main protagonist gets her revenge and happy ending. It would be unfair to let the bullies get away.

If you're looking for an intense, gripping watch then look no further.

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Emotionally Intriguing

I binged this in one day, it was that good. story about a real life bullying event and just thinking about how this happened to someone is actually so insane.

Song Hye Kyo's character grows up to masterfully craft a foolproof revenge plot for her bullies and its so satisfying getting the justice she deserves, especially when she took it into her own hands to get that revenge.

Another thing is the chemistry between her character and all the others that she ropes into her plan because they want her to see her enact the revenge she deserves. goose bumpingly satisfying.

The actors and actresses who play the antagonists are so good you can't help but hate them.

I can't wait to see how part 2 plays out.

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Glorious

I loved this series from start to finish. Good vs. evil is a universal theme and it was delicious just waiting for these horrible people to meet their karmic ends.

I typically dislike Song Hye-kyo‘s fish mouth acting but I have to give it to her in this role. She was excellent. It’s a shame they kept making her pretty by covering her scar makeup and she lost a considerable amount of weight for the role which spoke to her commitment.

My favourite was Lim Ji-yeon as Park Yeon-jin. In every scene she was so over the top mesmerizing. I just hated her so much. Actors that can make me scream at my television get a special kudos. I also loved the complexity of Kang Hyeon-name’s character as an abused domestic worker. Perfectly portrayed by Yeom Hye-ran. Her cute smiles and laughs. The violence was so hard to watch, but I think the director didn’t trivialize it or simply it.

The weakest part of the series was the love story between Moon Dong-eun and Joo Yeo-jeong. It would have been a plausible platonic relationship. With both their psychological challenges it would make sense. . Screenwriter Kim Eun-sook wrote Guardian: The Lonely and Great God so there seems to always be some expectation of romance in her dramas.

Overall the series was close to perfection.

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I was looking for a bubbly drama but my instincts said otherwise

I'm not really a fan of Song Hye Kyo and even after this drama, I'm still not a fan. But there's no denying that she did such an amazing job portraying her character in this drama (kudos to Jung Si So as well)

On the other hand, I'm a fan of Lee Do Hyun -- and what a versatile actor this guy is!

Now on the drama:
This is a great drama that I actually just watched because of its ratings and because of curiosity about why it was trending on Netflix. Words that could describe the Glory: dark, gripping, and unpredictable. It seems like the plot, events, basically, everything was planned meticulously by the writers and directors. I like revenge dramas like this when the main character just plans everything so perfectly. What's so good about this drama is how they reveal each plan subtly but still impactfully. All I'm waiting for now is a big f*ck up since in my opinion, it would make no sense if nothing gets ruined on the side of the main character. This drama needs to just at least continue its pace and trajectory it is holding to overall become an excellent drama. They have to do a really bad job in the second season to turn this drama into something not particularly good.

Overall, The Glory Season 1 is an incredible drama despite being a build-up season.

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Tbh how are you supposed to review a show that has clearly been split in half??

While I certainly had thoughts about Part 1 of The Glory, I felt like I could not adequately review it since I couldn’t be sure how well different plot points would play out. Having now watched the second, I honestly think the first half is mildly better. For one thing, it features Ha Do Young a lot more, a character I enjoyed and found interesting. While I found Joo Yeo Jung a little tedious in this half, the plot twist in Part 1 regarding his character made me feel as if he had potential to grow darker. Moon Dong Eun had some great dialogue in this half (and rest assured, she stays great, but there some of my favorite scenes of hers are in this half). The cliffhangers are good, including the one at the end of this “season.” On principle I find this whole splitting shows into half for arbitrary reasons annoying (*cough cough* Kingdom) but this isn’t the worst iteration of that strategy, so that’s good. Overall, I do recommend this show, but I definitely don’t like it or think it’s as amazing as much as other people do. If you want to know my full thoughts on the show you’ll have to read my Part 2 review.

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"The Glory" is a K-Drama series that effortlessly captures the hearts and minds of its audience with its impeccable storytelling, consistent intrigue, and delightful romantic elements. From start to finish, this series keeps viewers on the edge of their seats, making it a standout among the plethora of dramas available.

One of the most commendable aspects of "The Glory" is the dynamic between its main characters. The interactions between them are not only wonderfully portrayed but also consistently engaging. Whether it's the tense moments of confrontation or the heartwarming scenes of camaraderie, the chemistry between the characters is palpable and adds depth to the narrative.

Moreover, the series seamlessly weaves in a crime element, which adds an extra layer of excitement and appeal. The balance between the romance and the suspenseful crime plotline is expertly maintained throughout, ensuring that viewers remain invested in every aspect of the story. Also, the Romance isnt the most Important Thing, but its good that way!

Personally, "The Glory" has quickly become one of my favorite dramas. Its ability to keep me hooked with its gripping storyline and captivating characters is truly commendable. Additionally, the crime vibe adds a unique and intriguing flavor to the overall narrative, making it stand out in the realm of K-Dramas.

In conclusion, "The Glory" is a must-watch for fans of the genre. With its stellar performances, compelling storyline, and irresistible blend of romance and crime, it's a series that will leave a lasting impression.

The only thing I am sad about, that its so short :(

but definetly a must watch!!!

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I hope this starts a movement

Bullies beware!!! This was hard me to watch the first episode Even through the series some scenes were hard to watch. Every single actor and actress did a wonderful excellent exceptional job in playing their characters.
The articles that are coming out about real life victims and their horrific experiences from being bullied is awful. I can’t believe this type of bullying is swept under the rug per say in Korea. I hope this series starts a movement. A change for better laws and actually having these dreadful people aka bullies be accountable for their crimes no matter who they are. Yes there are bullies in every country. But this type of abuse needs to stop

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Thrilling start!

I love a great revenge story! Moon Dong-eun aloof, reserved and seemingly cold mannerisms draw you in and, similar to the Ha Do-yeung described her, you start waiting for her reactions to things. Her story was awful and the lack of flashbacks from when she was happy leaves the viewer to wonder if she ever was. All of this makes for a lead character you root for and it was enough to keep me watching when some of the aspects of Netflix kdramas became especially off-putting.

I really liked the 2 male characters that get caught in her web, so to speak. Joo Yeo-jeong was a sympathetic character the decision to write him as both adorably smitten and quietly vengeful was a nice touch. Both he and Moon Dong-eun bonded over the the darkness resulting from great injustice done to them and people they cared about. I was just as interested in his story as Moon Dong-eun. Ha Do-yeung is a character I didn't expect to like, but he was the austere, quietly powerful male character that usually shows up as the main love interest in a drama. Surprisingly, I was invested in his story, as well.

Kang Hyun-nam's story was heartbreaking. She was such a lovely, strong woman and I loved how much she cared for her daughter and Moon Dong-eun. The first part ends and I just really hoped nothing would happen to her in the second part.

Now, my issues with this series are purely related to the strange things Netflix kdramas seem to have. There's unnecessary nudity, unnecessary sex scenes and unnecessarily drawn out violent scenes. I understand they wanted to convey just how horribly Dong-eun was treated, but there's a tendency for Netflix dramas (Korean and otherwise) to sort of draw out these kinds of scenes for shock value. Some of the acting choices, particularly for Lee Sa-ra's character were cringey to watch. I'm not a fan of when characters appear to scream 99% of their lines, but it felt like the sort of acting you'd see in a Netflix k-drama.

Anyway, having seen both parts, in some ways, I think part 1 was a bit more solid overall. However, both parts were moving to watch.

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This drama reminded me of some of the older series like Shark, Nice Guy, Bad Guy and Master of Revenge so I might as well take a look. Got to say that it was a refreshing take on the old revenge kdramas and quite well-written at that. While the school bullying plot wasn't really a unique plot, it was actually an interesting setting for a revenge drama to be based on.

I like how well the writing of this drama has been done. I like how the events of the past and present were written in a way that wasn't just a massive info dump and flowed naturally to keep our attention rooted. And I like how the drama, while fleshing out Dongeun's back story and plan on how she will be conducting her plan; there was barely any backstory given to the perpetrators to justify any actions that they've done or allow any hints of sympathy given to these characters. Gotta say that this is the few times that I like the shorter number of episode format since that means you barely gonna get any filler scenes that may sidetrack you from the main plot. And as much as it wasn't really that obvious, I like how this first part showed us Dongeun's revenge strategy that was quite like her own baduk strategy where she first started putting her pieces around and bidding her time.

As much as the bullying scene was a bit more violent than what had been shown in past similar-themed kdramas, I like that the drama did not focus too much on the gore but showed enough why the act of bullying someone was really bad. And I appreciate that as much as this was a Netflix drama, scenes that involve sex and nudity weren't really done excessively. The montage intro for the drama was also done well to foreshadow the coming plots.

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No forgiveness

I like the premise with The Glory being that Dong-Eun refuses to forgive any of her bullies. Recently there's been too much of a narrative in pop culture that victims have to forgive their bullies, and that they can't tear their bullies lives apart, all with the narrative of "they were kids they didn't know what they were doing".

Each and every character is complex with many nuances in each story, they all have hopes and dreams, all ready to be destroyed. Most of the characters you can somewhat sympathise for, but some that are such class-a assholes that you cheer for every horrible thing that happens to them. All the actors did a wonderful job especially Lee Do Hyun, but I am a bit biased. It was the first time I had watched a lot of the actors, save three or four, and I was thoroughly impressed with each and every performance, so I will likely check out some of their other works.

The story was refreshing and satisfying, Dong-Eun was an anti-hero for every victim to look up to and project themselves onto. The plot is cleverly laced with social context that you wouldn't notice immediately such as the differing social classes of the friend group of antagonists and how it affects them.

Overall, The Glory is just a good old revenge drama to indulge in and enjoy. I am anticipating the second season and hope that it brings about the much deserved justice for Dong-Eun and delve deeper into Yeo-Jung's story.

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BREAKING STEREOTYPES

First thing: AMAZING ACTING AND CHEMISTRY BETWEEN THE FOUR FEMALE MAIN CHARACTERS. Yeom Hye Ran, Jung Ji So, Song Hye Kyo, Im Ji Yeon. IF you were victims of bullies, you know they nail it. Especially the part were the bullies DO NOT REMEMBER.
The SUPERHEAVY subject of domestic, institutional, societal violence against women that we deem as "rite of passage" "life lessons" and all that brainwash just to set you up to fail.
The director, Ahn Gil Ho, and the screenwriter, Kim Eun Sook, created an series that is both EMOTIONALLY CHARGED without being redundant.
It was a PRIVILEDGE to watch, and to know that somehow women are heard. 여성은 히스테리가 아니라 우리에 갇혀 있습니다.

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