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Revenge can be so Satisfying
In an era when school bullying remains a serious problem, The Glory feels particularly relevant. The drama is highly emotional, especially for someone like me with a strong sense of justice. The bullies are so vicious and cruel - almost psychopathic - that I absolutely hated them. Then there is Dong-eun's useless, drunken mother, who should protect her daughter but is more interested in money, and the teachers who turn a blind eye because the bullies come from wealthy and influential families. They are all equally infuriating.
This review covers the complete series — both Part 1 and Part 2 — rather than looking at them separately as they are streamed continuously.
Perhaps this is why the drama is so satisfying. Moon Dong-eun grows from a helpless victim into an intelligent and calculating woman capable of matching her wits against the people who destroyed her childhood and dashed her dream of becoming an architect. Of course, someone carrying that much pain is unlikely to emerge completely unscathed. Dong-eun is damaged, obsessive and consumed by revenge.
This is where The Glory becomes more than a simple revenge story. When a country's legal and policing systems fail to protect the innocent and deliver justice — especially when the perpetrators are too powerful to be held accountable — people may feel driven to seek justice through dark and personal revenge. Dong-eun's revenge is helped by others who have also experienced pain and suffering and can understand her.
The drama becomes a fascinating game of psychological warfare as the two sides counter each other's moves, while Dong-eun cleverly uses people on the fringes of her enemies' lives to get closer to her main target. There are morally questionable moments, and revenge sometimes takes dark and disturbing turns, but there is still an undeniable satisfaction in seeing the perpetrators finally face the consequences of their actions.
I did have a few minor quibbles about realism. Can someone really learn Go and become that proficient so quickly? And could a teacher realistically accumulate enough money to finance such an elaborate revenge plan, including a car and a separate apartment used mainly for surveillance? I also wondered whether chauffeurs and personal assistants would really go to such extraordinary lengths to cover up their employers' crimes rather than expose them.
These, however, are minor issues. The emotional tension kept me thoroughly invested — so much so that when Dong-eun appeared to be contemplating suicide towards the end, I was thinking, if she dies after everything she has been through, I am going to 'curse' the screenwriter and director!
The cast delivers excellent performances, with Im Ji-yeon particularly outstanding as the main villain. It is interesting to see her in such a different role from her leading role in Royal Nemesis.
Overall, I found The Glory highly entertaining, dark and immensely satisfying. The bullies will make your blood boil, but watching Dong-eun cunningly turn the tables on them makes the journey worthwhile. It is a gripping revenge drama about what happens when justice fails — and the victim decides to take matters into her own hands.
This review covers the complete series — both Part 1 and Part 2 — rather than looking at them separately as they are streamed continuously.
Perhaps this is why the drama is so satisfying. Moon Dong-eun grows from a helpless victim into an intelligent and calculating woman capable of matching her wits against the people who destroyed her childhood and dashed her dream of becoming an architect. Of course, someone carrying that much pain is unlikely to emerge completely unscathed. Dong-eun is damaged, obsessive and consumed by revenge.
This is where The Glory becomes more than a simple revenge story. When a country's legal and policing systems fail to protect the innocent and deliver justice — especially when the perpetrators are too powerful to be held accountable — people may feel driven to seek justice through dark and personal revenge. Dong-eun's revenge is helped by others who have also experienced pain and suffering and can understand her.
The drama becomes a fascinating game of psychological warfare as the two sides counter each other's moves, while Dong-eun cleverly uses people on the fringes of her enemies' lives to get closer to her main target. There are morally questionable moments, and revenge sometimes takes dark and disturbing turns, but there is still an undeniable satisfaction in seeing the perpetrators finally face the consequences of their actions.
I did have a few minor quibbles about realism. Can someone really learn Go and become that proficient so quickly? And could a teacher realistically accumulate enough money to finance such an elaborate revenge plan, including a car and a separate apartment used mainly for surveillance? I also wondered whether chauffeurs and personal assistants would really go to such extraordinary lengths to cover up their employers' crimes rather than expose them.
These, however, are minor issues. The emotional tension kept me thoroughly invested — so much so that when Dong-eun appeared to be contemplating suicide towards the end, I was thinking, if she dies after everything she has been through, I am going to 'curse' the screenwriter and director!
The cast delivers excellent performances, with Im Ji-yeon particularly outstanding as the main villain. It is interesting to see her in such a different role from her leading role in Royal Nemesis.
Overall, I found The Glory highly entertaining, dark and immensely satisfying. The bullies will make your blood boil, but watching Dong-eun cunningly turn the tables on them makes the journey worthwhile. It is a gripping revenge drama about what happens when justice fails — and the victim decides to take matters into her own hands.
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