Juelin
United States
This review may contain spoilers
House of cards
The Glory is definitely on the next level with the storytelling and character development. Although it recycles the old combination of bullying and revenge tropes, it is not your average revenge drama. It's dark, gripping, and with no promise of a happy ending.
Part 1 sets the stage for Moon Dong Eun's revenge. It weaves between the past and the present painting a complex picture of each individual character and uncovering a history of violent bullying. It also shows the source of the heroine's determination. Being a victim built up her character and gave her a purpose. She is no longer a downtrodden victim of violence, but someone who uses that victimhood to eventually push back against her abusers.
The story is a psychological game of chess. Dongeun concocts a careful plan to bring down her childhood tormentors' house of cards and illusions of a happy, carefree life. She uses their weaknesses, arrogance, mistakes against them. But, although revenge is her main objective, Dongeun is not someone who blindly aims to destroy her abusers. She carefully applies pressure on their weak points to reveal their true selves to the world, so they can be judged either in the court of public opinion or being held criminally responsible for past wrongdoings.
The story also draws parallels between individual characters. Dongeun matures from a meek and obscure teenager to an intelligent and calculating woman. She is level-headed, manipulative, and carefully plans ahead. But, the bullies did not change in the slightest. They are still the same bored, rabid, shallow clique of sociopaths and drug addicts who preyed on the weak in high school. And, this lack of maturity and extremely predictable behavior will contribute to their eventual downfall.
My favorite thing about this drama is Dongeun and Joo Yeo Jung's relationship. Yeojung first comes off as a care-free young doctor from a privileged family who does not know struggle. Dongeun even comments about him talking in platitudes without knowing life. In reality, Yeojung is just as broken as her because of past family tragedy. And this trauma is what develops their relationship and brings them close making Yeojung her ally and "executioner".
This is only part 1, but it is already one of my favorites. I am exited to see where the story goes in part 2.
Part 1 sets the stage for Moon Dong Eun's revenge. It weaves between the past and the present painting a complex picture of each individual character and uncovering a history of violent bullying. It also shows the source of the heroine's determination. Being a victim built up her character and gave her a purpose. She is no longer a downtrodden victim of violence, but someone who uses that victimhood to eventually push back against her abusers.
The story is a psychological game of chess. Dongeun concocts a careful plan to bring down her childhood tormentors' house of cards and illusions of a happy, carefree life. She uses their weaknesses, arrogance, mistakes against them. But, although revenge is her main objective, Dongeun is not someone who blindly aims to destroy her abusers. She carefully applies pressure on their weak points to reveal their true selves to the world, so they can be judged either in the court of public opinion or being held criminally responsible for past wrongdoings.
The story also draws parallels between individual characters. Dongeun matures from a meek and obscure teenager to an intelligent and calculating woman. She is level-headed, manipulative, and carefully plans ahead. But, the bullies did not change in the slightest. They are still the same bored, rabid, shallow clique of sociopaths and drug addicts who preyed on the weak in high school. And, this lack of maturity and extremely predictable behavior will contribute to their eventual downfall.
My favorite thing about this drama is Dongeun and Joo Yeo Jung's relationship. Yeojung first comes off as a care-free young doctor from a privileged family who does not know struggle. Dongeun even comments about him talking in platitudes without knowing life. In reality, Yeojung is just as broken as her because of past family tragedy. And this trauma is what develops their relationship and brings them close making Yeojung her ally and "executioner".
This is only part 1, but it is already one of my favorites. I am exited to see where the story goes in part 2.
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