The Glory Season 2 (2023)

Not as satisfying as promised

The Glory promised to be a woman exacting revenge after bullies traumatised and assaulted her when she was in high school. Though there was definitely plenty of that the whole revenge aspect fell flat for the lack of planning and reliance on deus ex machinas, or luck, that came through.

The plot of school violence is similar, though more extreme, than what happened to the protagonist in The Sound of Magic and in both series I’m left wondering why and how the impoverished protagonists were able to afford being in an elite private school in the first place. It’s clear social class played a motivating role for the bullies in both shows so it seems the easiest way to avoid it is just to have the working class be segregated from the seemingly more violence prone elite class. One would think private schools would do that, since they charge an arm and a leg for admission, but Korean schooling systems must be different because both protagonists, who are dirt poor, are able to attend private schools. At least in The Sound of Magic, there is the constant foraging for money to maintain admission. In The Glory, Dong Eun seems to have selective “affordism” where she’s financially able to handle the private school but not food. But anyway, I’ll focus on The Glory for this review, of course.

My expectation going into the series was that the revenge would be meticulously planned to the point where the bullies had no choice but to move into disadvantageous positions for Dong Eun to capitalise on, almost like a Go game. The calibre of planning expected were similar to those in stories and shows like The Count of Monte Cristo, The Shawshank Redemption and The Sleepers. However, aside from the mention of the Go game itself, the protagonist’s moves did not seem to have much planning involved other than waiting for the well-placed apartment to be available. A lot of the events that happened to help advance her revenge seemed fortuitous and attained by luck and nothing else. The luck in finding her greatest ally, the similarly wounded and revenge-hungry Yeo Jung; the luck in discovering the true paternity of the antagonist’s greatest weakness, Ye Sol; the luck in finding a helper in Hyun Nam; the luck in finding another helper, Gyeong Ran, a fellow victim traumatised by the same bullies; and so on and so forth all within a few years and months of the revenge culminating. It took away from the sense of Dong Eun taking her power back since most of how the bullies suffered by serendipitous means rather than by her hand.

What was frustrating was watching how little the writers actually understood about human psychology when seeing how the mother character was used as a hindrance for Dong Eun. I'm not even sure what her issue is until the char was dispatched off at a mental institution for, of all things, alcoholic substance abuse. Alcoholics don't actually linger around for years just waiting for rich benefactors to gift them with money so they can act up again and get in the way of their daughter's life. Dong Eun's mother seemed ok and sober all the years prior to the antagonist tracking her down and when the contract is made, her modus operandi isn't even consistent with alcohol abuse. Addiction isn't a switch that can be turned on and off conveniently to fulfill a plot but that seems to be how this nuisance character was written. The sense of "convenience" to the whole setup doesn't help with the whole "Dong Eun just got lucky" feel that viewers get when watching The Glory. I was left wondering why, if DE planned so meticulously, did she not tidy off this very raw and obvious loose end in her life so she can't be blackmailed with it as she had been in the past. The answer was that there's no reason but for the screenwriters wanting to just leave it till later when it's "convenient". This takes away from the organic, real life progression of the story and stretched the suspension of disbelief too much to invest in DE's "triumph", if it can be said as that.

Didn't enjoy it as much as I'd hoped and felt they should've invested more time in Yeo Jung's revenge, if only to prove that it's not all luck and deux ex machinas since she can replicate it again.

Was glad to see the actor who portrayed Yeo Jung as I thought he had too brief of an appearance in Hotel del Luna but this series is not something I'd watch again.

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Justice Is Served!

***I am reviewing Parts 1 and 2 here***

The best revenge is when the person ends up digging their own grave. Moon Dong Eun is literally a master of strategy and orchestrating a revenge that sees these monsters taking each other out. What makes this so satisfying is that she uses their own acts of violence and cover-ups against them. In short, this may be one of the best stories of revenge I’ve yet seen, in which the revenge actually does feel more like justice. Moon Dong Eun doesn’t use acts of violence against them. She nudges. She prods. She pokes just enough to let them do the damage themselves. In some ways, the K-Drama “My Name” felt more like a revenge story than this one. That is not to say that “The Glory” is somehow inferior. It isn’t at all. And because Moon Dong Eun is able to create justice—disguised as revenge—I didn’t feel one shred of sympathy of those who ultimately caused and created their own downfall.

This story takes bullying to an extreme level. Not necessarily one that is unbelievable. In today’s world of bullying, it’s sad that nothing seems to shock or surprise us anymore. The first half of the first episode is tough to watch as we see Dong Eun enduring horrendous torture as her nemesis, Yeon Jin, take great delight on burning her with a curling iron. It doesn’t take long for the viewer to realize that Yeon Jin isn’t a typical bully. She’s a sadist, who is also very likely a psychopath. These days the terms “psychopath” and “sociopath” are now under the term “Antisocial Personality Disorder.” Yeon Jin doesn’t feel a shred of guilt or remorse for her actions. She smiles and even cackles with delight as she torments the girls at the school. Bullies rarely act alone, as Yeon Jin has five friends, including two boys, who also take pleasure in raping the girls. In short, these five people may be five of the most sadistic and diabolical bullies I’ve seen. Bullies are cowards, and it often takes someone of real strength and courage to fight back. By the time the first couple of episodes are over, you really can’t wait to see what Dong Eun has planned.

At first, Dong Eun’s plans don’t seem to be doing too much. But, ah! Just like the master tactician on a chessboard who moves his pawns to set up his other pieces, or in this series where the game of “Go” is used as means of illustrating Dong Eun’s plans, we see that her plans are carefully thought out as she sets each one of the five perpetrators up. She’s also like a master Judo or Akido fighter—using her opponent’s momentum against them. In other words, she knows the weaknesses of each of the five and how to exploit them perfectly so that they end up actually fighting against each other. By the time the second season begins, you can’t help but begin to marvel at Dong Eun and how she can weave such a complex tapestry to orchestrate a nearly flawless revenge!

If Dong Eun has a blind spot, it has to do with her alcoholic mother. Just because you give birth to a child or make a child, doesn’t make you a parent. Only a true parent raises their child properly with love and wisdom. And I found it a bit frustrating that Dong Eun gave in to her mother, yet again. But fortunately, she quickly realizes her mistake and rectifies it. No parent like that has any business being a part of their child’s life. None.

We quickly see how the rich and powerful believe that they are untouchable. Yeon Jin learns this at an early age from her own mother. And it’s quite obvious that the parents of the other four were likely no different. Spoiling a child is also a form of abuse, but as I said, we don’t feel sympathy for Yeon Jin and her sadistic cohorts! As each one of them falls, it’s hard not to feel that sense of justice because that is exactly what it is. In some ways, the other four get off somewhat easily compared to Yeon Jin, but that’s all right. Seeing Dong Eun speaking to Yeon Jin in prison was sheer perfection as Dong Eun gently smiles and outlines exactly how Yeon Jin trapped herself as well as the life she now has to look forward to. And the bully becomes the bullied as Yeon Jin now finds herself the target of her cellmates. Yes, justice is sweet!

This series is definitely hardcore, compared to most K-dramas I’ve seen. It’s dark, gritty, and it certainly doesn’t pull any of its punches. The writer really illustrates the point that nobody gets away with anything. Ultimately, the truth will always come out and justice will be served.

Performances in this series were all first-rate. I hadn’t seen Hye Kyo Song since “Descendants of the Sun.” I thought she did an incredible job of playing a character that was so different from the previous one. And I’ve been seeing Yeom Hye Ran in so many series lately! And that’s good because she’s an amazing and versatile character actress! She is fantastic at playing Dong Eun’s sidekick and intelligence gatherer as follows the five around taking photos. I also loved how she played Yeon Jin—which was almost even more satisfying than what Dong Eun had cooked up! I was waiting for someone to smack Yeon Jin a couple of times!

This series may not be for everyone, given its very dark theme, but frankly, it is a necessary one that doesn’t try to dilute the effects of bullying. People have no idea how many children take that abuse into their adult lives—both physical and emotional. Isn’t any wonder that Dong Eun has to take matters into her own hands when the judicial system, the parents, and the schools, fail to help protect them? It may have taken Dong Eun 18 years, but finally, justice is served!

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Satisfying ending...but...

Initially i was going to score this season a lower score- the ending was satisfying to a degree, but lacked that OOMPH factor for me. I wanted MORE. More vengeance, more gore. I felt what Yeon jin got at the end was too mild for my liking. BUT after much thought, i decided the ending was immaculate. The revenge was sophisticated, well thought out and ended with no blood on her hands. characters were dealt with accordingly in my opinion. Not every revenge story needs to end with death, and for characters like Yeonjin- death is too easy.

All actors played their role with no fault. cinematography was simple yet amazing. The writing style made you coming back for more.

Also, whoever casted the younger versions of the cast did amazing!

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A mess that's finally over - I think

The second part of the season is where we finally get to the meat of everything - the action. With that being said, the drama was very chaotic. The focus this season is on all the side characters. For one, we see the bullying gang all get their fair share of karma. Honestly. they are all a screaming mess. There's not one scene we saw where they weren't cursing one another off.

Dongeun is becoming more of this almighty main lead with plot armor who's just conveniently there at every scene, watching her plan unfold successfully. If you're wondering how she plans all this, not much is shown. We just watch and accept!

The storytelling is unique, in that in jumps back and forth a lot to convey something. I particularly like the landlord backstory the most.

Luckily, this time around, I watched the whole drama in 2x speed. Otherwise, this drama would have been another slow burn.

I can see Netflix milking another season with the cliffhanger. But they also really tied a ribbon with this ending the way they concluded it with even the random romance.

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PERFECT ENDING. PERFECT REALISATION. EVE COULD NEVER

This drama managed to do what EVE couldn't (and if the writers of The glory had worked on the script for eve, we could have had a decent ending, but...anyway)

I am PERFECTLY SATISFIED with this ending.

She knocked them all down. step by step. This drama is a masterpiece. the story. acting. the emotions and even the villains in their roles were impressive.

I'm glad they ended up together. some find that she had more chemistry with the dad (and in this sense, it's true, but precisely, if the script had explored this chemistry, we would have had an Eve-like ending, once again

so: I'm glad she's done with him. I find them adorable and they HAVE chemistry too.

in short: THANK YOU. I totally would have liked a season 2 just for more blood and because I already miss them but this ending is just perfect.

(Sorry for my english, im french ???)

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"Let's die in the Spring"

OMG I bawllleed my eyes out. This is the best revenge drama. Anyone on the fence about either starting this or thinking about dropping it, you really need to watch this to the end. Out of all the revenge dramas I've seen, this one stands out from the usual preachy ones about not seeking revenge and forgiving the people. Usually from ass "holier than thou" characters who have lived happy lives and have never experienced what any of these victims have gone through.

The cast banged this one out. The characters are amazing, and each had a meaningful purpose in this story. The contrast between the moms. The stories of each of the victims. The reveal of that one character I was not expecting. I don't often see a story have this many characters, and yet flawlessly integrate their stories in. Wow. Just wow.

The last episode is the GOAT. It exceeded any theories and expectations I had.

I'm usually not a fan of romances and ended up loving this couple. Now I know that it's not the genre that I dislike. It's the usual type of storylines and characters that I'm not a fan of. If you are the same, then you know what I'm talking about.

My only regret here is that I didn't get to watch both parts straight through. I didn't know this was split into two parts, when I started the first. So I waited months for part two like many others. I understand it's marketing needed to generate hype, but I think it would have packed a bigger emotional punch had I gotten the opportunity to watch both parts all the way through. So anyone just finding about the drama now, you're lucky.

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Dong Eun's Retribution End

The first season left us wanting more and this season did not disappoint.

During this season everyone gets what is coming for them.

They all destroyed each other.

From Son Myeong Oh's death to Yeojin's imprisonment. Yeojin got what she deserved as a villain she was not very smart, and even I could be a better villain than her (I don't wish to be a villain). I mean the shaman said to stay away from people with O in their names and many people she knows have O's in their names. Her mother, husband, some of her so-called friends and even her daughter (Ye Sol did not deserve this I am happy that she and Do Young left). She deserved it.

I can't wait for the next season. So happy Dong Eun and Yeo Jung ended up together.

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"So what happened after he climbed the tower and rescued her........she rescues him right back"

Quoting from the ending dialogue in the movie "Pretty Woman" sums up Yeo Jung's total dedication to help the woman he loved and in return, Dong Eun rescued him back from the dark place he was living in. This was a love story between two people who found each other amidst all the tragedies they experienced in their life. They rose from the ashes of pain and suffering that nearly brought them to end their life. Dong Eun also realized in the end that there are also very good people around her like her landlady, Hyun Nam and Yeo Jung's mother.

This was a story of Dong Eun who took revenge on the people who caused her physical and mental pain and along the way she also helped those who were abused and suffering like Hyun Nam and her daughter and most especially, the man she learned to love, Yeo Jung. This is what I took away from this drama in that it showed the different sides of Dong Eun, her vengeful side and the real person beneath the facade...a kind and gentle human being who just wanted to live a normal life.

SHK impressed me as the tragic heroine of this drama as well as LDH who turned out to be, in my opinion, one of the best actors who played opposite her. They had great chemistry and come awards night, I won't be surprised if they get The Best Couple Award. Kudos to the rest of the cast who also did an excellent job.

Overall, great drama worth rewatching.

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"I Will Be Your Executioner"

After waking up at 4 am to watch this, I can 100% agree that this was WORTH the wait! Part 1 really did a great job setting the foundation and putting the pieces into place. As you go through episodes 9 - 12 you are waiting for the ball to drop and for Dong Eun finally, get to work. From Coconut Head teacher to Yeon Jin, it was so SATISFIED watching episodes 13 - 16 because each episode kept picking off each villain. From the friends turning on each other to Yeon Jin's Mother turning on her and losing everything ( even her daughter and mother). The moments between Dong Eun & Yeo Jung were so warming during the revenge era and I was so HAPPY the "cheat with the husband plot" was not used!! They really got to help one other heal through the Hell they went through. Hyun Nam finally got to have peace and her daughter got to be safe and secure in the US. The cinematography was amazing and you really got to see how everything and everyone got connected and justice truly got served to each of the friends. Lastly, I am so happy the romantic was sealed and wrapped up in Episode 16. It made the most sense and they executed it the right way!

For me, this is a drama I could watch over and that SAYS a lot because those first few episodes in part 1 were hard, but I feel like the message is loud and clear: that bullying affects both the bully and victim especially because for the victim because its a moment that they will carry forever. The pain, suffering, and guilty of other victims.

So if you haven't watched this drama when it aired in March 2023, and you're reading this, do yourself a favor and WATCH IT! Give Song Hye Kyo and Lee Do Hyun and the whole cast, all the love for this well-crafted story of revenge, healing, and hope for life. I'm sure it will go down as a Top Kdrama of 2023 for you too!

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