in a particularly disturbing scene from glory, Netflix’s latest original K-drama, high school student Moon Dong-yoon (Jung Ji-soo) asks her classmate and bully Park Yeon-jin (Shin Ye-eun) why she should be subjected to such extreme bullying. Why is it being made? “Even if I do, nothing will happen to me and nothing will change for you,” Yeon-jin said as she continues to inflict violence on Dong-eun.
glory This is not an easy watch, nor is it your typical revenge thriller. Queen Bi Yeon-jin has nothing to fear. She is rich, entitled, and leads a group consisting of four others who pick on her underprivileged classmate, Dong-eun. This group is violent beyond measure and is sure of no retribution for its actions. As Dong-eun suffers at the hands of his goons, he is constantly reminded that no one will protect him. The school officials, the teachers, and his mother are all part of a system that has completely failed him. In one way or another, everyone around him shares in the horror to which he is subjected.
The Glory (Korean)
Author: Kim Eun-soon
director: ahn gil-ho
Throw: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yong
episode : 8
story: After constant bullying in high school, a woman returns years later with an elaborate plan to get revenge on her tormentors
Many K-dramas have focused on bullying in high schools, some more sensitive than others. in shows like cult favorites boys over FlowersThe rich, entitled male lead is shown to lead a group that frequently bullies their classmates, but we hardly delve into it as the show progresses. do shows like romance Real beauty And my id is gangnam beauty Both had bullied their female leads for their looks. just like the gritty k-drama extracurricular, revenge on others, weak hero class 1and even zombie apocalypse thrillers we are all deadBullying was either focused on or featured prominently.
After being pushed over the edge, our hero comes in glory Vow to take revenge. There’s no question of redemption here and through some extremely graphic scenes of violence and intimidation, the show makes sure to keep viewers enthralled every step of Dong-eun’s carefully planned quest for revenge And invest in it, which has no limit.
Violence is not for the faint-hearted (viewer discretion recommended), and thoughts of suicide, violence, and sexual assault are possible triggers.
Dong-yoon (Song Hye-kyo) grows up fighting his way through physical, social, and economic hardships and finds himself in a position where he is sure to win the heart of his main bully from high school. Will instill fear in me. She takes over as the homeroom teacher at Seumyeong Elementary, where Yeon Jin’s (Lim Ji-yong) young daughter is enrolled.
Very little has changed for the gang of bullies. If they were vile and corrupt as high school students, they are unrepentant and unrepentant as adults. The established hierarchy within the group due to their social background, ensuing jealousy and mistrust, is one of the key aspects that Dong-eun mines while uncovering his elaborate plan.
Revenge drama, like 2021 My name, which have a strong protagonist and engaging writing, often take predictable routes. in gloryHowever, writer Kim Eun-suk and director Ehn Gil-ho take on a disturbing, gory premise that is driven by intriguing characters, ensuring that there’s a constant sense of uneasiness and dread. The writing delves into the trauma that Dong-eun has been left with and how it manifests inside him both mentally and physically. If her itchy burn marks are reminiscent of physical violence, then she is shown breaking down when she hears the sobs of flesh and when she is confronted with one of her goons who sexually objectifies her, So it is released and shaken.
Song Hye-kyo is on top, giving a career best performance as Dong-eun. Hardened by the violence and abuse he has faced, Dong-eun appears to be dead inside and maintains a passive, haunted exterior for the most part. She also has a subtle manic gleam in her eyes when she knows her presence is smothering her opponents, and a rare smile seemingly reserved for Yoo-jeong (Lee Do-hyun) who is smitten by her. It’s a challenging, nuanced character and one that Hye-Kyo brings to life on screen to perfection. It helps and is all the more impressive that the dramatics, such as when she meets her former goons after decades, are kept to a minimum.
Largely one-note and reprehensible, the supporting cast who play the bullies have less of a challenge on their hands and yet manage to give it their best. Shin Ye-eun, who plays the high school version of Yeon-jin, is especially terrifying. While the friendly and warm Yeo-jeong may seem like a role straight down Lee Do-hyun’s alley, the writing throws up a surprise. There’s a lot of nuance and intrigue, and we’ve barely scratched the surface in the show’s first eight episodes.
In this first two parts, glory Effectively raises the stakes for an intriguing, intriguing tale of revenge. The show benefits greatly from the eight-episode format and episode length, and it’s hard to miss director Ehn Gil-ho’s expertise in keeping viewers engaged. It’s very reminiscent of their last outing, fabulously catchy Happiness,
Although it’s hard to look past the graphic violence in the early parts, glory Makes you angry at injustice and later satisfied when retribution ensues. There is a long wait for the second part of the K-drama, which is set to release in March.
The first part of The Glory is streaming on Netflix