Story: A woman, who is brutally bullied in her childhood decides to exact a befitting revenge on her highschool tormentors. Will she succeed in her grand plan for vengeance?

Review: The phrase, “Revenge is a dish best served cold,” is the most apt description for this latest K-pop drama that revolves around a woman’s resolve to seek revenge from those who abused her years ago. And we’re not talking about regular highschool bullies here, who play practical jokes on their fellow students or embarrass them in public. These are devils in disguise. Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) experiences their terror first hand, as she is scalded with hot curling iron, punched mercilessly and kicked in the stomach by a bunch of rich spoiled brats, who revel in torturing someone just for the kicks. But little do they know that their victim is slowly deriving strength from their intense abuse and one day they are all going to pay for what they did.

For any revenge drama, what’s most important is the conviction of the character, who seeks revenge. We can assure you there is no dearth of that here but if you’re looking for a quick fix solution then you might be in for some disappointment. Moon’s grand plan for retribution is long-winding, patient and burns really slow. Due to this, the screenplay is layered and paced out through eight episodes of the first season that leave a lot to look forward to for Part 2 that drops in March next year. That said, the intensity of the execution and the way Moon’s master plan unfolds, will keep you hooked. There are spurts of tension, especially when she comes face-to-face with each of her abusers. There are unpredictable moments and a few plot twists but it’s important to binge-watch this drama with rapt attention to not miss the finer details.

Song Hye-kyo plays the protagonist with a steely restraint and cold demeanour that’s scary but also empowering for her character. She takes you along on her mission. Rest of the cast doesn’t get to shine as much but Park Yeon-jin stands out as the domesticated pretty young woman, who is blissfully unaware of how her bullying days in high-school are going to change her life, forever. Shin Ye Eun, who plays the young Park Ji Yeon, is even more effective in her role of a menacing teenager. Lee Do Hyun plays along well as Moon’s husband Joo Yeo Jung. Their chemistry shines through Jung’s genuine empathy for his wife’s tumultuous past.

Bullying and harassment in educational institutions is a malice that needs to be addressed seriously. While the characters and their actions here are extreme, anyone who has been on either side of the spectrum, will identify with the broad storyline. Hence, there is an inherent quality of relatability in the writing of the show.

However, ‘The Glory’ plays out very differently from the regular revenge sagas. It has its own design and methodology to engage its victims and viewers alike. Its single-minded focus on the grand masterplan for payback is refreshing and oddly satisfying.