The Glory Part 2 Review: A Predictable Thriller with Commendable Performances

The second part of writer  Kim Eun Sook‘s The Glory just got released on Netflix and it is less violent and gory than the first part. If the first part focused more on the past of the protagonist and why she sets out for a revenge, the second part focuses fully on the revenge. Here is my review of part 2 of the Song Hye-kyo starrer, The Glory.

Even though the avenger is the protagonist here, the central character is the antagonist Park yeon-jin, a name the audience would never forget. The protagonist is obsessed with revenge and subsequently her perpetrator, Park yeon-jin. There are some bold scenes in this part and the gradual unveiling of events is phenomenal

But this is not the eye-for-an-eye kind of revenge thriller, though it is predictable. It is more like a ship sinking with a tiny crack, and here, the majestic ship that Yeon-jin has built for herself shatters by the crack that she herself made in her past. Moon Dong-eun merely acts as a trigger or a catalyst of the tragedy. And everything crumbles down and sinks.

Writing is very different here. Unlike Kim Eun-sook’s other dramas which focused more on the male protagonist, The Glory is all about women. They take the plot forward and the men are more like onlookers or underdogs. But the writing lacked clarity at times and there is this information dump which is difficult to catch up with.

It could have done without a couple of characters and incidents. It is too complex at times that the focus shifts away from the revenge. And when Yeon-jin finally gets her hell, it feels too abrupt. Take for example, how the character of Jeon Jae-joon has his end. It felt so unnecessary and far fetched.

The romance angle is probably the lamest ever in a revenge thriller. It is almost like the writer could not think of anything else to get the protagonist an executioner. It is utterly unconvincing and borderline cringeworthy. The actors have zero chemistry and it is just there for commercial purposes. It also kind of takes the attention away from the central aspect that is revenge.

The best thing about this series is definitely the actors. Song Hye-kyo’s performance was really surprising. She showcases a very controlled and nuanced performance as Moon Dong-eun. On par with her is Im Ji-yeon who plays the ruthless, non-repentant villain Park Yeon-jin. All the supporting actors are phenomenal, especially, Yeom Hye Ran and Lee Do Hyun.

In short, The Glory is a decent watch if not a must watch. There is nothing unpredictable here, but the momentum with which everything detangles is praiseworthy.