Stream It or Skip It: 'The Glory' on Netflix - A woman enacts a meticulously planned revenge against her high school bullies, leading to a decades-spanning tale of retribution.

THE GLORY: STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

A new Korean drama explores the theme of revenge through the story of a woman who, eighteen years after being tormented in high school, implements a meticulously planned scheme to get back at her tormentors. The "best served cold" mentality adds to the tension and excitement as the plot spans decades and the woman's revenge is unleashed when and where her targets least expect it.

The Glory Moon Dong-eun

Song-Hye-Kyo

The opening shot showcases a woman driving a car filled with boxes and crates.

 Moon Dong-eun, played by Song Hye-kyo, has just moved into a new apartment in Seoul after being away for an extended period. The camera then shifts to Dong-eun's room, where she is hanging pictures of Park Yeon-jin, a famous weather forecaster, on her wall. Dong-eun's arms and shoulders are marked with large, noticeable burn scars.

 As she works, she imagines a confrontation with Yeon-jin, culminating in a violent attack using a stapler

In 2004, we see the high school seniors Dong-eun (Jung Ji-so) and Yeon-jin (Shin Ye-eun) as they navigate their final year of high school. Yeon-jin is the leader of a popular clique that bullies and tortures Dong-eun. The group, which includes Jeon Jae-joon (Song Byeong-geun), Choi Hye-jeong (Song Ji-woo), Lee Sa-ra (Bae Kang-hee), and Son Myeong-o (Seo Woo-hyuk), goes beyond just taunting Dong-eun, resorting to cruel and violent acts. One such act results in Dong-eun's arms being badly burned with a curling iron by Yeon-jin.

Flash forward to 2022, and Dong-eun is on a mission to seek revenge on her tormentors. She encounters Yeon-jin's daughter and has a conversation with her, explaining that some hatred can look like longing.

In 2004, after a brutal attack at her flat by the group, Dong-eun drops out of school, leading to a monetary settlement offered to her mother by Yeon-jin's influential mother. Dong-eun's mother accepts the money and leaves Dong-eun on her own.

Determined to seek justice, Dong-eun works towards her GED and attends college, but the scars from her past experiences continue to haunt her. She vows to make Yeon-jin the focus of her revenge plan, declaring that her dream is to seek retribution." Rear More

Photo: Graphyoda/Netflix

In "The Glory," writer Kim Eun-sook creates a brooding tale of revenge, where the protagonist, Moon Dong-eun, seeks revenge against those who physically and mentally scarred her in high school. 

The story highlights class differences between Dong-eun and her tormentors, and the deep-seated scars of the traumatic experience. Despite being a dark story, the first episode sets up the situation effectively and makes the audience root for Dong-eun's quest for revenge.

 The show doesn't have any sexual content in the first episode, and the standout performance comes from Shin Ye-eun as the young bully, who displays a glimpse into the vulnerability of her character. Overall, the show is recommended to stream.