The Glory (2022)

1st half may be difficult for victims of bullying but the second half (revenge) makes it worth it

9.5/10 is my rating. This is a 2022/2023 South Korean psychological thriller with revenge as a primary driver for the main character. There are 16, 47-72 minute episodes in two parts. The first part comprises the first eight episodes which is primarily where the revenge is set up. The last eight episodes center around enacting the revenge.


First I provide a unique synopsis then I review.

 
Synopsis


The entire story consists of multiple instances of true life bullying and revenge incidents. It is all based on true occurrences but not all of any one but rather elements of multiple true occurrences all melded into one. It is representational of the full range of bullying and provides an example of the most extreme cases. In this story, Moon Dong eun (Song Hye kyo) survived her school years most likely by dropping out of school at a critical moment to survive the bullies. Others that were targets of the same group of bullies were not so lucky. Her entire life after that is centered around earning enough money, and putting herself in the correct position to exact revenge on those that caused such suffering and misery. She bears the permanent physical and emotional scars of the actions of this bully group.  She becomes a teacher and steers the situation so she is assigned as the homeroom teacher of the leader of the bullies’, Park Yeon jin’s (Lim Ji yeon), daughter.  From that position, which puts her in close contact with her targets, she plays out her revenge. By fate or chance she meets Joo Yeo Jeong (Lee Do hyun) who falls in love with the troubled and mysterious Dong eun and offers to help her after seeing and learning the horrible things that were done to her. Kang Hyeon nam (Yeom Hye ran) is a housekeeper in the home of one of the subjects of Dong eun’s interest. Heyeon nam catches Dong Eun collecting and going through the garbage for clues and strikes a deal for mutual benefit. Dong eun is at first unwilling to accept the true friendship and caring from others as she is so damaged from her past. But as she widens her circle of supporters to help in punishing those who were not punished by the adults at the time, she begins to heal emotionally. Karma is coming to those that bullied helpless and innocent victims in the form of Dong eun. Can she survive her own revenge?

Review

This is hands down the best revenge show I have watched. For anyone that has been bullied or been in an environment where there are lots of bullies, this will definitely resonate. For me those parts were hard to watch because I am an empath to begin with but also because I was involved in a situation where I was minimally bullied where someone else was bullied so severely it drove them crazy and they wound up on drugs, out of their mind, and ran over a bunch of people on a sidewalk and they are now in prison. I did my best, when that was happening to protect that person but, as the show portrays, it is hard to effectively protect anyone when you are one of their targets. But that was not physical bullying like this show had where it was severe physical bullying with a psychological component.

The acting in this is phenomenal by both those playing the bullies, the victims and just everyone. It does roughly follow where the first eight episodes (first half) sets the stage and tells about the past, and the final eight are focused on the revenge aspects. I delayed watching it because I wasn’t sure how well I could take watching the severe bullying, as when something like that happens to you it is not something you ever fully forget or recover from, so I thought it might be too emotionally upsetting for me. But it is just mainly those first episodes and the way she gets her revenge is so satisfying.

 
In sum, I highly recommend this for anyone that likes the revenge trope. I would rewatch it readily if it was on as there is a lot of depth to it

Spoilers

The main detractors for me were some unnecessary things people did. I think what I liked the least was that the main bullies’ spouse, who had been a very likable character nearly to the end, wound up murdering his wife’s lover. The guy was a part of the bully group, and had done some horrible things, but that did not excuse him pushing him, now blind, off a building into a vat of cement. I did not want to see the little girl with her murderous mom, psychotic grandmother, nor her sociopath father and thought I would be glad to see her going with the father she grew up with, but he did that and I was like great she is still being raised by a murderer. I know they were alluding that he did it so the real dad would not continue to bother them, but that is no excuse to murder someone.

The other senseless murder was when the girl that was the main bullies’ assistant, finished off the injured, long haired, boy bully. It showed he had raped her and they all were obviously still bullying her, but murdering him by making that final blow took her from a sympathetic character to a person willing to murder someone when they were helpless. If he had been actively attacking her again I could have sympathized but it was not an act of self defense at that moment. It did not feel as good that the main bully went down framed with a murder she may not have committed. They were trying for an even deeper revenge, because of the irony that she is serving time for a murder one of her victims committed, but I thought there was plenty of opportunity for her to go down for the murder without turning the victim into a murderer. And it is based on true events, not a record of true events, so it isn’t like that was the way it really happened.

The other detractor, for me, was Do Hyun’s suicide attempt at near the end. During the bullying, at her young age, it showed a suicide attempt and I think they were trying to show that suicide was always an option for her and now she accomplished her revenge why not? She herself should have known how much that would hurt Yeo jeong. I mean I would hope she would know how much that would hurt all of the friends she had, however reluctantly, developed. it is just such a selfish act I have a hard time sympathizing. And, if she had gone through with it, it would have reversed a lot of her revenge as her main bully would have used it as a way to vindicate some of her actions. Like see “she was always like that.” I unfortunately know that is likely how that would play out as I spoke with the bully that drove the girl crazy and to prison and asked her about that incident and she pretty said “I know isn’t she crazy?” It was apparent from the very gleeful way she said it, that she was pleased with the outcome and did not feel any personal responsibility for the end result. That bully group destroyed one life and was, in my opinion, partially responsible for the death and injury that person that was bullied caused.

It would have been nice to have seen the main couple together longer than just the tail end of the last episode. Some say the romance element was completely unnecessary but I enjoyed the angel that two people with psychological scars can find healing in each other.

I think they left it open for another season by showing the male and female lead enter the prison where it was apparent they planned to exact revenge against the person who murdered the male lead’s father. And that wasn’t a bad way to end it. It didn’t wrap up that particular piece but that was okay because it wasn’t what we were there for anyway. Streaming platforms like to keep the piggy banks open and often end things very unclear. In this case that one piece was not even completely unclear. We know enough about our main girl by now that we can be sure she will help him get his full revenge.

#SongHyeKyo

#TheGlory

#LimJiYeon

#LeeDoHyun

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复仇细节实在扯，宋慧乔演技很好。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。。

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Great show but I didn't like it as much as I wanted to

Dong-eun is cold, mysterious, and incredibly clever. This makes for an addictive watch because she constantly keeps you guessing.

If you’re the sort who loves clever schemes, this first season may also prove to be slightly disappointing. While Dong-eun’s plans were elaborate and highly complex, nothing about it was particularly clever in the first installment. In fact, parts of the revenge plot didn’t really make much sense in terms of the execution and timing (just too perfectly coincidental). But okay, I won’t nitpick the specifics.

Although audiences are meant to be rooting for Dong-eun, I didn’t really have any strong feelings about her in this season. There were other stronger characters, like Yeo-jeong (the young medical doctor) and heyonnam (the housekeeper), who I found really interesting.

Overall, I found The Glory a little absurd and unrealistic for my liking at times, but there were sufficiently compelling characters and cliffhangers to keep me invested until the end of it so this was definitely worth the watch.

Full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2023/02/01/the-glory-2022-season-1/

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Depraved manipulation

Before I begin, I would like to address the plague of 10 star reviews on this site. What's the point of giving everything you watch and moderately think is ok 10 stars? It makes all reviews, yours and others completely meaningless. My Mister is the only drama I would give 10's across the board to as it is arguably one of the greatest works of art ever made. But if everything you like is a ten, then the whole exercise is pointless. I never read 10 star reviews because these people are simply untrustworthy shills and attention seekers

Rant over

This story shows the physical and physcholological torture of a high school girl at the hands of her sick and twisted classmates. The girl is further tortured and humiliated by the school principals who side with the sadistic students because it would reflect poorly on them if they allowed her reports of abuse to go forward. The show itself is sick and twisted and manipulative and cruel. This completely unrealistic and over the top introduction is supposed to set up the subsequent revenge plot coming in the next 16 episodes, with last 8 episodes to come in a later 2nd season, so even if you start watching this now, there will be no payoff till much later, so why bother? Why tourture oneself with this garbage? Dropped after 1/2 episode.

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DRAMA QUE TODOS DEBERIAN VER!!

Bueno que decir, este drama ya lo termine hace algunos días, exactamente hace 3 días, pero recién tengo el tiempo de poder hacer su reseña, siendo sincera, no tenia muchas expectativas de este drama, la verdad no me llamaba la atención, y eso que los actores me gustan mucho, pero simplemente, no me apotecia de verlo, pero que gran sorpresa me lleve cuando empecé el primer capitulo, fue un sin fin de emociones, como el odio, la tristeza, cuando los bullies, agredían a la protagonista me daban ganas de meterme a la serie, y defenderla, de verdad que grandes actuaciones por parte de todo el elenco, me gustaron ambos papeles de edades, tanto de jóvenes como de adultos, pero mi favorito por así decirlo, fueron cuando eran adolescentes, ya que creo que cuando hay maltrato en colegio, se siente mas realista, y de verdad que le agarre odio a todos los bullies, la escena en donde le queman, fue muy difícil de ver, porque el dolor que sentía se vio tan real, y pensaba de que la agresión iba a ser mas moderada, pero no ,fue todo lo contrario, eran demasiados crueles con todas sus acciones.

Ahora si quiero hablar acerca de la trama, al comienzo pensé q me iba a aburrir, pero no fue así, yo si quería ver como la prota se va vengando de todos, quería que sufrieran, absolutamente todos, ahora vámonos al único buen personaje hombre y es nuestro estudiante de medicina, que hombre para mas lindo, él siempre estuvo para nuestra prota, la quería mucho desde el primer encuentro, como se preocupaba por ella, y si tal ves, pudo a ver sido porque iba a ser medico, pero después, si se ve el interés, aunque me hubiera gustado mucho que le den mas tiempo en pantalla, era el único buen personaje masculino, y no el esposo no cuenta, perdón pero ese tipo no me cae, pero bueno, en si todo el drama estuvo bueno, y el hecho de que no solo la trama de la venganza sea lo único importante, sino también hay otros temas interesantes, como el hecho de que el tipo que no puede distinguir los colores, este pagando su karma en su hija, eso me gusto mucho, y espero en que la 2 temporada o parte, ese tipo sufra mucho, y su hija no lo acepte, cuando se entere todo lo que hizo en su pasado.

Hablemos un poco acerca del personaje, que sin ella, la prota no hubiera logrado todos sus objetivos, o al menos la mayoría, y ella la señora que es victima de abuso por parte de su esposo, que personaje para más divertido, siempre cuando estaba enojada por los bullies, ella me hacia sacar un sonrisa con todas sus ocurrencias, ella se convirtió en una de las personas mas importantes de nuestra prota, y a pesar de ella no le demuestra cariño, ella la quiere mucho con sus acciones, como el hecho de que le da miedo que ella se ponga en peligro, me gusta mucho su relación es como madre e hija.
Bueno ahora si creo que ya termino, solo espero que la 2 parte sea igual de buena que esta, hasta marzo tengo que esperar, para ver que sigue, y espero que nuestra prota logre todos sus objetivos, y que se quede con el chico doctor, porque se lo merece, ella merece ser feliz por fin, y se con la ayuda del chico todo será un poco mas fácil, y espero que no se muera ningún buen personaje, porque sino denuncio a netflix JAJA.

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YO TAMBIÉN QUIERO PARTICIPAR DEL PLAN

Empecé el drama sin saber demasiado, aunque creyendo que iba a ser una venganza en el plano legal así que me llevé una emocionante sorpresa al ver una historia cargada de sed de venganza del tipo más telenovelesco. Las actuaciones son impecables y creo que le ganan (por muy poco) a la trama general, logran llevar la historia a un nivel de realismo que pone los pelos de punta. El ritmo lento en otro drama podría ser algo desesperante pero en The Glory es un recurso inquietante que me llena de impotencia y me hace empatizar aún más con la protagonista y su sed de venganza.

Esperando ansiosa la segunda parte que espero que sí logre superar a esta primera entrega.

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IMPACTADA

Terminei a primeira parte ontem e caraca, demais é pouco para descrever essa obra de arte, de verdade merece muito o reconhecimento que está tendo, já esperava que fosse bom, mas tá mais que bom ta MARAVILHOSO que atuação, que enredo, ansiosa pra terminar com todas as vinganças.
Já dei o play na segunda parte, e não vejo a hora da diva acabar com a raça desses seres, que aliás são uns gatos né, a netflix nem pra colocar uns vilões feios rsrs, aí fica um pouco difícil não é mesmo?
Mas falando sério, será que ta cedo demais pra esse dorama ser considerado o melhor do ano? porque a entrega que ele ta dando é fora do normal.

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Opinião polêmica

Por todo o hype gerado, imaginei que fosse gostar mais do drama. Não sei se por talvez ter assistido muitos dramas de vingança recentemente, esse não gerou em mim o impacto esperado. Apesar de entender perfeitamente a motivação da vingança da Moon Dong Eun, não consegui ter empatia pela personagem. A vida toda dela foi pensada em prol dessa vingança. Quando ela alcançar tudo isso, qual sentido terá a vida dela? Ela acaba se igualando aquelas pessoas nefastas porque ela se torna exatamente como elas. Não que eles não mereçam punição pelas atrocidades que fizeram com ela, merecem. Mas será que assassinato, aliciamento de pessoas (incluindo menores) tornaria ela melhor/diferente deles?

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Intense et brillant.

Après "Missing, the other side", je ne pensais pas trouver de si tôt, une petite perle chez les coréens. Inutile de vous répéter toutes les déceptions vues ces derniers mois, j'avais perdu grand espoir de retrouver ce quelque chose qui rendait les Kdramas inoubliables.
Je ne suis pas une fan de dramas violents. J'ai le coeur un peu sensible.
Je n'aime pas les dramas où le thème principal est le "harcèlement" à l'école. Trop déprimant.
Je ne vibre pas spécialement devant le jeu de Song Hye Kyo ( A vrais dire, je ne l'ai pas trouvé exceptionnelle ici non plus).
Mais.
J'adore Kim Eun Sook, j'ai regardé et aimé la plupart de ses oeuvres et "Mr Sunshine" est de mes dramas préférés (même s'il y a eu des ratés, comme "The King : Eternal Monarch"). J'ai eu une frayeur car après avoir détesté le dernier des soeurs Hong, j'avais cette petite voix qui me tannait "hahaha, tu verras, c'est nul à c*!". Quel soulagement de voir que la scénariste n'a pas cédé à la tentation de la facilité scénaristique (hein, les soeur Hong?).
Malgré des scènes difficiles à voir, un langage tout sauf châtié cela fut un moment fort et addictif.

Inutile de vous dire que visuellement, le drama est bien réalisé et que l'équilibre des couleurs est maitrisé, passant habilement d'une magnifique scène chatoyante d'automne orangée à la laideur sombre d'une chambre renfermant les pires cauchemars d'une étudiante.
C'est donc un thème qui a déjà été vu et revu mais la dimension prise ici l'est moins. La protagoniste est magistralement écrite. Nous en avons le coeur serré et tout au long des épisodes, nous n'attendons qu'une seule chose, qu'elle les punisse impitoyablement... Son intelligence est habilement exploitée et c'est avec un plaisir immense que nous la voyons déployer petit à petit sa toile gluante. Point de frustration, point d'exclamation, l'héroïne mène son petit monde à la baguette.
Si l'écriture de Moon Dong Eun est brillante, car elle arrive à nous associer à ses idées de vengeance sans nous obliger à nous sentir honteux, les autres personnages ne sont pas en reste. Si dans "Reborn Rich", j'avais trouvé les antagonistes pitoyables et pathétiques, ici, cela ne fut pas le cas. Ce sentiment nauséabond et cette envie de leur taper dessus nous prend à la gorge à chaque fois qu'ils apparaissent. C'est magistralement joués par des acteurs qui ne lésinent pas afin de nous remplir de dégoût et d'effroi.
Mais si Dong Eun apporte ce sentiment de désolation, les antagonistes, du dégout, d'autres personnages contrebalancent tout ceci en illuminant l'écran de leur émouvante maladresse et gentillesse (Kang Hyun Nam), d'un sourire éclatant et d'un humour frais (Joo Yeo Jung) ou encore (mon petit coup de coeur) d'une beauté sobre alliée à une attitude qui en jette (Ha Do Young). Ces personnages équilibrent le drama, qui sans eux serait sûrement trop sombre, trop malsain. Certes, ils ne sont pas tout blanc, cachent des choses ou vivent des choses pas super réjouissantes, mais de par leur attitude, l'ambiance s'en trouve parfois allégée.
Les relations entre tout ce petit monde sont amenées de manière logique et la mise en place ainsi que la progression des liens sont lentes mais naturelles avec une alchimie certaine. J'ai adoré ces petits moments où Dong Eun sourit grâce à eux, se confiant ou se mettant à nue.

Résultat, une première saison réussie! C'est donc avec impatience que j'attend la deuxième partie. Croisons les doigts afin que la qualité soit toujours au rendez-vous.

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MARAVILHOSO

Intenso, pesado. As cenas de agressão doe pra assistir, a dor da personagem era muito real.
Não é o tipo de drama que indicado a todos por ser tão intenso e as cenas de violência tão real.
'The glory'
Sem pena, sem escrúpulos, sem qualquer sentimento de culpa, os agressores estavam ali sendo babacas até depois de adultos.
O nível de atuação é tão bom que eu tive raiva dos valentões até mesmo quando estavam apenas existindo.

Sério é um drama muito bom e que vale a pena ser assistido se você não for tão sensível.

Que a segunda parte seja tão boa quanto essa.

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