Netflix’s recent K-drama,The Glory, ismaking a lot of buzzfor its extremely thrilling plot, which will leave theaudience at the edge of their seats. While many think violence may not be the answer, sometimes it is much needed. This is precisely whatThe Gloryis about. It tells the tale of a girl whose soul was torn apart by school violence. She grows up with only one dream: to take revenge on her perpetrators and anyone else who falls into the vortex.
If one is still contemplating whether they should dive into this masterpiece, here are some reasons why fans should get excited about thisKorean revenge-thriller drama.
Top-Tier South Korean Writer and Director Created It
Kim Eun Sook, a well-loved screenwriter in South Korea, is the writer behindThe Glory. She is the master who gave the world masterpieces likeGoblinandDescendants of the Sun. Many people were highly looking forward to seeing her work inThe Glorybecause a brutal vengeance story is something far different from her earlier creations. An Gil Ho, the drama’s director, is yet another well-respected artist. His earlier works include Happiness andMemories of the Alhambra, which fans raved about for months. When a series is in the hands of such two renowned artists, it is bound to be outstanding.
Thrilling Revenge Story
For starters, the plot ofThe Gloryis enough for many people to watch the show. It isn’t easy to create a revenge thriller drama nowadays as there are already many out there. This is why it has to be extremely good, whichThe Gloryis. The story revolves around a teenager, Moon Dong Eun, who dreams of becoming an architect. However, her life is completely wrecked when she is brutally and mercilessly bullied in high school by a school gang led by Park Yeon Jin. The bullying was so intense that it led her to think about taking her own life after dropping out. However, she decides to take revenge on all her preparators and bystanders who never helped her out. The thirst for revenge is so strong that she doesn’t mind going to great and dangerous measures as she believes she has nothing left to hold on to anymore. The plot is so engrossing which keeps getting twisted as the story progresses, making it a must-watch series.
Related:Why Netflix’s The Glory is a Revenge Story Unlike You’ve Ever Seen
Perfect Casting
Other than the plot, another praiseworthy thing about the show is the resemblance between adult and teen actors in the show. Oftentimes, directors make lead actors act younger, which is disorienting as they look old despite the hair and outfit change. Fortunately,The Glorytook that into account. Viewers of K-dramas applauded the director for choosing not only younger, but also more versatile performers who perfectly captured the star actors. Fans praised on social media for how almost flawless the cast actually looked.
Song Hye Kyo in an Extremely Distinctive Role
The Descendants of the Sunactress, Song Hye Kyo, is commonly known for her rom-coms and melodrama, making her performance inThe Glorymiles apart from her previous work. She shocked fans by giving a bone-chilling performance, which showcased her wide range of versatility as an actress. Even the writer of the show, Kim Eun Sook, also thought Hye Kyo’s performance and her expressions gave her the chills. Hye Kyo does a remarkable job of interpreting Moon Dong Eun’s thirst for revenge through an apathetic demeanor. While she may not say a lot, her eyes and expressions are enough to show the burning rage yet unresolved hurt she feels.
Excellent Portrayal of Psychological Issues
Not just Dong Eun, but Ju Yeo Jeong also has been depicted with realistic psychological issues. While in the first few episodes, he seems a very traditional sweet male lead, it is later revealed that there is more than what meets the eye. Ju Yeo Jeong, played by Lee Do Hyun, is suffering mentally through a traumatic event that happened in the past when one of his loved ones was brutally murdered. Ju Yeo Jeong feels as if he is drowning all the time and has no idea how to get out of it. The scene, which later turns out to be a figment of his imagination, where he picks the knife and kills the murderer, shows how he is fighting his own inner demons. Even Moon Dong Eun suffers from PTSD. Audiences often see her having panic attacks over some sounds and visuals that trigger her.
Not only this, but she is also seen throwing up and scratching her arms, the place where she was hit. The show portrays how psychological problems are frequently ignored and aren’t addressed as effectively as physical illnesses, even though they are capable of wrecking one’s life. One standout quality ofThe Gloryis that it doesn’t downplay mental illnesses, but also does not romanticize them. It, in a simple manner, shows victims going through these every day while trying to live a normal life.
Related:K-Drama Male Characters That Are the Ultimate Green Flag
Strong Female Characters
One thing which makes it so refreshing to watchThe Gloryis itsportrayal of female characters. It features badass female characters such as Moon Dong Eun and Kang Hyeon Nam, played by Song Hye Kyo and Yeom Hye Ran. Their wholesome friendship helps them to grow stronger together. Dong Eun wasn’t initially strong, but she grew stronger as a result of the turmoil life threw at her. She has gone through so much, from being brutally bullied to being betrayed and abandoned by her own mother. She became stronger after experiencing it all with no shoulder to lean on, just herself.
Similarly, Hyeon Nam is a depressed mother who experienced physical abuse from her drunk husband. She led a tough, meaningless life before she met Dong Eun. In order to give her daughter a better future, she strikes a deal with her. While snooping and playing detective to follow the orders of Dong Eun, she eventually finds hope and self-confidence back again. This show reminds its audience that strong women are not merely born that way; rather, they are made.
Depiction of the Real Stories of Bullying in South Korea
Moon Dong Eun was seen to have been viciously abused and harassed by her classmate Park Yeon Jin in the very first episode ofThe Glory.These heart-wrenching bullying scenes were enough to leave the audience with teary eyes. However, what baffled them was when Korean media revealed that the bullying portrayed in the show was inspired by an actualbullying incident that happened in 2006. A female student was the victim of bullying in 2006 while attending a middle school for girls. When she showed up late for a call from her classmate K, she was punished cruelly in various ways.The Gloryhas brought light to the dreadful bullying scenario which has sparked a long overdue conversation.
