Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama The Glory, which became one of Netflix’s most intense and critically acclaimed Korean series, delivering a masterful tale of calculated revenge and psychological warfare.
The Glory premiered on Netflix in December 2022 with Part 1 consisting of 8 episodes, followed by Part 2 in March 2023 with another 8 episodes, totaling 16 episodes with an average duration of 55 minutes each. This Netflix original Korean series was created by Kim Eun-sook, the acclaimed writer behind hits like Goblin and Descendants of the Sun.
This psychological revenge thriller follows Moon Dong-eun, a former bullying victim who meticulously plans her revenge against her tormentors 18 years after the traumatic events. The series combines elements of psychological drama, thriller, and social commentary, offering an unflinching look at bullying, trauma, and the lengths one person will go for justice.
The show’s dark and methodical approach to storytelling creates an atmosphere of constant tension, exploring themes of class inequality, systemic failure, and the long-lasting impact of childhood trauma on adult life.
Eighteen Years of Calculated Revenge
The Glory centers on Moon Dong-eun, who endured severe bullying and abuse during high school, including being burned with hair straighteners and tortured by a group of wealthy classmates. After dropping out and living in poverty for years, she meticulously plans her revenge, becoming an elementary school teacher to get close to the daughter of her primary tormentor, Park Yeon-jin.
The story unfolds through dual timelines, revealing the horrific abuse Dong-eun suffered as a teenager while showing her present-day execution of an elaborate revenge plan. Each episode reveals another layer of her strategy as she systematically dismantles the lives of each person who wronged her, using their own secrets and weaknesses against them.
The series explores how trauma shapes identity and the moral complexity of revenge, questioning whether Dong-eun’s actions constitute justice or if she has become as destructive as her former bullies.
Moon Dong-eun’s Transformation
Song Hye-kyo delivers a career-defining performance as Moon Dong-eun, portraying a woman whose trauma has forged her into a calculating instrument of revenge. Her character arc spans from a helpless victim to a methodical strategist who has spent nearly two decades preparing for her moment of justice.
Dong-eun’s evolution showcases the psychological impact of severe bullying and how trauma can both destroy and motivate. Song Hye-kyo masterfully conveys the character’s emotional numbness while revealing glimpses of the pain that drives her actions, creating a complex protagonist who is simultaneously sympathetic and morally ambiguous.
Park Yeon-jin’s Fall from Grace
Lim Ji-yeon portrays Park Yeon-jin, the primary antagonist who has grown from a sadistic teenager into a seemingly successful weather forecaster and mother. Her character represents the privilege and impunity that allowed her past cruelty to go unpunished, living comfortably while her victim suffered.
Yeon-jin’s gradual realization that her past has returned to haunt her creates compelling dramatic tension. As Dong-eun’s plan unfolds, viewers witness Yeon-jin’s carefully constructed life crumbling, forcing her to confront the consequences of actions she thought were buried in the past.
The Final Confrontation and Justice
The series builds toward a climactic showdown where Dong-eun’s elaborate revenge plan reaches its culmination. This confrontation involves not only personal reckoning between victim and tormentor but also the exposure of corruption, murder, and systemic failures that allowed the original abuse to continue.
The final episodes masterfully balance psychological warfare with emotional catharsis as each perpetrator faces consequences tailored specifically to their crimes. The resolution explores whether revenge truly brings peace and healing, or if it only perpetuates cycles of violence and pain.
Allies in Vengeance
The Glory features compelling supporting characters who aid Dong-eun in her quest for revenge, including Joo Yeo-jeong (Lee Do-hyun), a plastic surgeon with his own dark past who becomes romantically involved with Dong-eun, and Kang Hyeon-nam (Yeom Hye-ran), a struggling mother who becomes Dong-eun’s inside source.
These characters add layers of complexity to the revenge narrative, showing how trauma creates unlikely alliances and how the desire for justice can unite people from different backgrounds and circumstances.
Success on Netflix
The Glory became a global phenomenon on Netflix, topping charts in multiple countries and sparking international conversations about bullying, class inequality, and justice systems. The series received critical acclaim for its unflinching portrayal of school violence and its sophisticated approach to revenge narratives. Song Hye-kyo’s performance was particularly praised for its emotional depth and restraint, marking a successful return to television after focusing on films. The show’s success highlighted the global appetite for Korean content that tackles serious social issues while delivering compelling entertainment, further cementing Netflix’s position as a platform for international storytelling.
If you love dark psychological thrillers that explore justice, revenge, and the lasting impact of trauma, The Glory is the perfect series to binge on Netflix.
A masterfully crafted revenge saga that confronts the darkest aspects of human cruelty while delivering one of the most satisfying justice narratives in recent television.
Series Details:
- Number of Episodes: 16 (Part 1: 8 episodes, Part 2: 8 episodes)
- Platform: Netflix
- Rating: 8.8/10 (IMDb)
- Genre: Psychological Thriller, Revenge Drama, Crime
- Protagonists: Song Hye-kyo (Moon Dong-eun), Lee Do-hyun (Joo Yeo-jeong)
- Antagonist: Lim Ji-yeon (Park Yeon-jin) and her group of former bullies including Choi Hye-jeong, Son Myeong-oh, and Lee Sa-ra