Dark and unsettling full trailer for The Glory

16 December 16, 2022December 16, 2022

Dark and unsettling full trailer for The Glory

by missvictrix

I would like to rescind the use of the word “melodrama” to describe Netflix’s latest original The Glory. Though it’s got very much the setup of our classic K-drama melodrama genre — that’s usually so much about revenge, justice, and the sins of the parents being visited on their children — this thing just looks dark. As in, Netflix’s particular brand of needlessly dark.

The drama’s official teaser, released a few days ago, gives us a bit more than we got in past teasers, but honestly not much more in terms of plot. We see our vengeful heroine Song Hye-gyo (Now, We Are Breaking Up) setting her plan in motion. Basically, we get a lot of evil stare downs, a disturbing use of church iconography and language (why, drama, why), and even more disturbing cuts of hot tea kettles and cuts on our characters’ bodies. Well, I was intrigued at the start of this drama’s promo train — and I love those green satin shoes so much — but I think I just tapped out after watching this trailer. I don’t even know if my love for PD Ahn Gil-ho will get me onboard at this point.

In addition to the creepy aforementioned elements, we also see our hero Lee Do-hyun (Melancholia), who helps in the plan for revenge, as does Yeom Hye-ran (The Uncanny Counter). But I have to admit — even though the story looks darker than darker, the cinematography and overall aesthetic look breathtaking. Netflix really knows how to produce a thing that looks good. Now, if only they would take that creative energy and put it into something that makes people feel good too — maybe then I wouldn’t have to complain about them so much. But I digress.

The trailer, in sum, shows snippet of our heroine’s carefully laid plans, and her not-so-subtle threats against her tormentors of old: Park Sung-hoon (Memorials), Im Ji-yeon (Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area), and Jung Sung-il (Our Blues), among others.

The Glory — famously written by Kim Eun-sook in her first Netflix original production — releases eight episodes on Friday, December 30.

Via Sports Chosun, Sports Donga

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1 nerdy

December 17, 2022 at 3:57 AM

I think I am the only one excited for it. Weak Hero and King of Pigs have been the only dramas this year I was able to complete. Because the theme is the same here, I have high expectations for this one as well.

Admittedly, I also hope the drama will be a hit for SHG's sake. After her divorce, the comments she gets range from rude to downright misogynistic.

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mmmmm

December 17, 2022 at 4:21 AM

I won’t watch it because it’s not the genre I prefer, but agreed on hoping it becoming a hit for SHG’s sake. Being divorced is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, one should be proud that one is now free from a toxic relationship. I don’t understand a culture or beliefs that stigmatize divorcees.

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LaurenSophie

December 17, 2022 at 8:04 AM

I think the media and general population of a lot of cultures tend to sympathize with the man and blame the woman in a break-up situation, especially when either no real details of what actually happened are publicly known or both share contradictory versions (see Depp/Heard) and the public takes sides based on their own belief in one person's believability or likeability over the other's.

In the case of SHG, there have always been negative comments about her limitations as an actress, or her lack of emotional expressiveness (stone face) in a lot of her roles. But what seems to be new since the divorce is that that criticism has taken on a harsher, more personal note and people appear to enjoy making assumptions about her (lack of) moral character. Or they assume she's some kind of shallow, selfish monster who destroyed a nice guy. And so what purports to be objective critique of her professional acumen (or lack thereof) becomes an outlet for expressing misogynistic opinions about her as a woman who should be criticized for supposedly hurting and divorcing a popular, powerful guy.

Note: I do not know these actors, nor have I followed the particulars of their divorce. I'm just commenting on them as part of a general trend in popular culture, where people tend to side with the man and attack the woman when a relationship ends.

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Emperor Titus

December 17, 2022 at 5:15 PM

I have no interest to talk about her marriage (Both Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-gyo are working in the industry, and I prefer to talk about them in a professional angle, and I distaste any comment on their personal life--This is simply my declaration, nothing more than that.

With this in mind, I have to admit I don't like Song Hye-gyo's acting, as well Kim Eun-seok's art-direction and over patriotism after The King: Eternal Monarch. I guess this time they can give us something new. The trailer seems attractive, but I have to face too many negative stuff in my career, so I guess I will give it a pass.

(In fact, I didn't watch too many K-drama lately, other then Our Beloved Summer and Woo Young-woo, I basically didn't finish any other. Both 25, 21 and Little WomenI cannot finish the first 30 minutes. Currently in Alchemy of Souls though, I started the Season 1 around late November, and directly jump into Season 2 as it begins to air. So see you all there)

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Kurama

December 17, 2022 at 4:37 AM

I don't agree. There always were comments about her acting, she never was considered as a great actress. It didn't change with her divorce. She still gets main roles in big productions.

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nerdy

December 18, 2022 at 1:18 AM

I am not talking about that. Criticising her acting is fine, the problem is that a lot of comments are either telling Lee Do Hyun to be careful or acting as if she ruined Song Joong Ki's life.

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nerdy

December 18, 2022 at 1:20 AM

It doesn't help that half of Dramaland male actors are terrible at acting (yeah, Lee Min Ho and Nam Joo Hyuk. I am talking about you) but she is the only one who constantly gets criticized for that.

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KAddicted

December 19, 2022 at 5:45 PM

I have to say I read a lot of comments about the poor acting of both those actors, particularly LMH, which I think is unfair a lot of the time. As for SHG's acting, her face is literally blank and she seems to have no personality at all. I have no opinion on her divorce but am curious to know if this type of role will suit her better. Like a few others, I intend to wait and see, although I may not be able to resist LDH.

Kurama

December 18, 2022 at 1:28 AM

But it's not about her divorce, it's about the fact he was a celebrity too. I'm pretty sure she got the same issue when she broke up with Hyun Bin for example. The fans of big actors are not really mature...

But I don't think her divorce didn't take main roles from her. But the actresses who had a baby don't get a lot of offers for main role after when the actors don't see any change.

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A.

December 17, 2022 at 9:09 AM

Most comments I read about her is because her acting sucks and she can't get rid of the cold princess face.
This role seems like it was made for her as the cold personna is actually needed.

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Brittany

December 17, 2022 at 11:41 AM

I'm excited too- I think the drama looks great! I don't have an opinion on SHG's acting. I'm mostly just here for Lee Do Hyun.

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2 sooyi

December 17, 2022 at 4:13 AM

I've been under the impression that this was a psychological thriller due to the synopsis and the promo materials, so it's news to me this is labelled as a melodrama.

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3 LaurenSophie

December 17, 2022 at 7:50 AM

I agree that this looks very dark or, should I say, the characters all look to be largely unlikeable, making it hard for me to imagine why I'd spend eight hours with them. But I'm wondering if "The Glory" will be an artsier version of "Remarriage and Desires" which I surprised myself by really enjoying, even though it's a revenge melo and I don't typically seek those out.

"The Glory" certainly looks to have absolutely stunning cinematography. And for that reason alone I'll probably give it an episode or two just to see if it sucks me in.

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Diana Hansen

December 17, 2022 at 8:24 AM

or gets too emotionally draining for me. revenge for the sake of revenge done to an extreme sits wrong with me so I hope for some sort of redemption if you will? somehow?

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4 jillian

December 17, 2022 at 4:08 PM

I am intrigued by this trailer. I like SHK but I admit that she needs to branch out on the roles she accepts. So I was actually happy that she chose this. I too hope that this will be a hit or at show the audience a wider acting range to silence her naysayers.