A good revenge story
The Glory certainly knows how to hook you in.The production design is damn good. Although the drama doesn't name in which dynasty it takes place but from everything you can see from the clothes to the set pieces and locations, it's clearly the late Ming Dynasty. A really important point of the story that confirms this, it's the subplot regarding a powerful eunuch. The Ming Dynasty was known for how Eunuchs gained unprecedented power over state affairs. The fact the main story of The Glory centres, in part, on the aftermath of capturing all the followers of a powerful Eunuch who angered the Emperor, confirms this is the late period of this particular dynasty.
The cinematography outstanding. I love it when a drama uses light and shadow narratively, to expand the inner turmoils of a character's emotions, this is particularly effective when you are trying to destroy your entire family from within the darken rooms and hallways of their mansion on a bloody, snowy winter. This also makes The Glory a really pretty drama to watch.
Narratively speaking, the drama relies on short and exciting highs and plot twits to capture the audience's attention. Especially as it builds up to capture the root of the family's inner problems. This means as a whole, The Glory might not be as cohesive but overall very entertaining.
As for the performances, this is only the second time I have seen Chen Du Ling in a tv show or film and I am impressed with her. I think she has a talent to captivate trough her performance, no matter if she has to be calm and collected, or screaming bloody murder.
This was also my first time seeing a drama starring Xin Yun Lai and ,to be honest, it was rather disappointing. I am not sure if there was a particular description in this scripts or a director's decision but the he was simply emotionless 95% of the time, which made it very hard to connect with his character or even understand why should I even care for his revenge story. There's being poker faced, and then there's this. And this is not good.
In stark contrast, our main villain and the other family members are outstanding. Yu En Tai (FL's father) absolutely devoured this role by playing meek and slowly but surely showing his true colours; Wen Zheng Ron (FL's mother) is a goddamn shakespearean actress trained to perform in this kind of story as if she was born for the role; and Wan Yan (Concubine Zhou) was a wonder to watch as she moved swiftly among the many traps put in place by our lead.
Overall, I would recommend The Glory for most of the performances, the entertaining and production value.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Marvelous revenge story with a true old school villain
Before I start let me say that I'm refraining from a 10 bc of the bad editing and the second-thought romance (as per the two lukewarm kisses in total).Now, firstly, what a villain! He is evil without a reason but the survival of his arse. Everyone is fodder as long as he stays alive. He is the epitome of a coward, hiding behind everything that serves his purpose. A weasel, scheming and slithering trying to avoid death and repercussions sacrificing even his own baby! The father is a case study on his own.
The FL: her father's true daughter, a killer but with a sense for justice (thank God). She longs for family and a home but her love language is violence and payback and the ML gets to experience it every single day.
The ML:stoic, unemotional but only bc alas! he's dying like every decent ML. Only,he forgets his hero status and grabs the FL by the neck at the first threat to his family. Truly a pair made in torture!
The FL's mother: A storm. A typhoon. An earthquake. She dominates the screen, she humbles mere mortal actors and performs for the Gods! A revelation!
Hateful side characters: serve their purpose beautifully, proving how Mother the mother is and how the FL is mothering too.
Her bi*ches: Giiiirl, if she were a gang leader 4 women would be her generals. Her angels of doom! The 4 horsemen, sorry horsewomen,of the Apocalypse: An assassin, a tinkerbelle, a princess and a milf(good for her!). And then she makes her enemies part of her power ranger team because she's the suffragette of her time! Girl power for the win!
The love story:slowburn but with a constant love/hate edge. They never let go of their passion, if only it was realised into sth more steamy at the end!
The revenge: chef's kiss. He dies-OBVIOUSLY- but in a Hitchcockian way (a pity there was no curtain scene...)
The ending:Happy! And a supernatural one, with long dead people reunion. Some say the ML will eventually die bc he's next to the deceased at the end. Well duh! it's a historical drama set 300 years in the past. All of them will die and probably he'll go first because he's older. There, solved it. Personally I think he was put on the left bc it made for a more artistic shot.
Should you watch it? Yes, it's a condensed drama, meaning you get all the flavour in a tightly packed 30 episode duration. No fillers,no wasted time.Enjoy!
Was this review helpful to you?
MUST WATCH 2025 !!! CAN'T STOP BINGE-WATCHING
The Glory, it's been ages since I've watched a Chinese historical drama that makes me eagerly anticipate new episodes every day like this. Having watched nearly a third of the episodes so far, the film's appeal lies in its captivating script, beautiful cinematography, and solid performances. Chen Du Ling is my favorite actress, a standout actress with a cool and aloof aura. I find her quite fitting for the female lead role in the film. And of course, what I love most about her is her smart script choices, especially considering the Chinese film market lately has felt quite saturated and script quality often feels neglected.My taste in movies leans towards those with plenty of twists and turns, ups and downs, rather than a flat, predictable narrative. So, I'm confident you'll be hooked from the very beginning when you watch this film – something many historical dramas with dull plots fail to captivate me with from the first episodes.
The male lead is another reason I want to sing its praises. Despite his gentle appearance, his eyes and acting are powerful when needed, portraying an unpredictable and mysterious character. This is the kind of film that makes me immediately want to research the cast, director, and production team – it's just my habit when I watch a movie. It's similar to how I'm a fan of very realistic and down-to-earth family dramas like 'Romance in the Alley,' 'Go Ahead,' 'The Bond'... films that are filmed realistically, feel very true to life, and, most importantly, are full of interesting details, not overly fictional or fake, lacking depth, logic, or feeling too commercialized.
I've also noticed many people recommending this film alongside 'Blossom,' which was all the rage at the end of 2024. But with all due respect, I'm rating this film higher than 'Blossom' because, unlike 'Blossom,' I couldn't even binge-watch it from the start and ended up dropping it midway. I'm also a fan of British films, so I appreciate plots and fast pacing, whereas I find Chinese films often have quite lengthy introductions, and sometimes because they're based on adaptations, if you haven't read the source material, it can be hard to follow and you might give up early on.
But 'The Glory' (2025) ticks all my boxes. It’s incredibly engaging, full of intriguing plot points that aren’t confusing, captivating, perfectly cast, and beautifully filmed (although some dramas have really fake-looking CGI). In short, everyone, please watch this film right away! It’s truly excellent and well worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
Disappointed with this one
The Glory review:I watched it because I liked Duiling as a villain in Till The End Of The Moon.
But I am really disappointed with this series.
The couple doesn't has any chemistry (even as a villain her chemistry with her husband in Till The End Of The Moon is better than whatever this is) so if you're looking for romance this isn't for you because the couple is said to be in love but there's no evidence in their emotions that they're in love
The script doesn't has any logic like the female lead who is tortured all her life and doesn't has any high education suddenly has better medical knowledge than doctors themselves and is suddenly turned into a confident leader when she arrives in the capital. Like we're excepted to believe that? kinda looks like they tried to copy Blossom but in Blossom the female lead got educated in buisness and politics by her grandmother so that's way more believable than what they done in this series. She gets so many things without obstacles as a poor woman that even rich women doesn't gets.
The good things in this series is the styling which is very beautiful and the cinematography which is so graphic.
Acting isn't really that good the main actors did okay based on the script but nothing outstanding however I don't blame them for this, it's completely the team's fault.
The series does not has any kissing scenes.
Overall The Glory (2025) is a story based on rebirth however it lacks the character development and story telling so this series is somewhat of a miss for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
If we go back to the beginning, there are many interesting things.
First; Mr. Zhang says he loves his wife very much. However, with the words of a Shaman, he beats her and cripples her. Where is the love here?
Second; He keeps his wife, whom he loves very much, locked up in a separate courtyard. Supposedly, he is the ruler of the mansion, the one who has the authority, but he is in custody or in prison.
Third; Since this woman is the noble wife, she also runs the house and all the servants are under her command. They do whatever she says. In fact, her husband gives orders to the servants and they do not fulfill them. However, when his wife tells him, they all run and do that job. This is shown in the first scenes. However, later on, the woman suddenly becomes passive and everything the man says happens. The concubine, who gets strength from this, also defied the noble wife. She raided his mansion and searched his house. Suddenly, feet became heads and heads became feet. But the style is the same style, my wife is my favorite. She is the crown of my head. You will say, there is insidiousness. The man acts insidiously. He puts his weight behind it when necessary. Shouldn't he always show this insidiousness? It is necessary. Sometimes insidiously is overlooked.
Fourth and in my opinion the most important is this; The girl who is given up for adoption is abused, beaten and oppressed in the place where she is given up for adoption. As a result, just when she is about to be sold, she resists and kills her foster family. She runs away. A friend of hers also helps her and she returns home. After this character returns home, she becomes a lady and defies everyone. She makes plans. She disrupts the plans made for her. She comes up with ideas. She develops tactics. She even plots. She makes instructive statements and actions to the children of noble families who call themselves her own. I wonder if this girl of ours received her university education in a place where she was beaten, crushed, abused and marginalized every day. Did she learn to read and write? Did she go to school? How could she turn into such a character? These things happened in a way that I did. It didn't happen. It damaged the story.
I don't want to write more. It's getting too long. They ruined a good series with such nonsense. It was simply passed over. A series with 9 points dropped to 7 points in my eyes.
As for the actors. There was no harmony between the leading actors. The male actor was younger and acted with one face. He is inexperienced. I think the director told him to do it like this. He was very stiff in some parts. The female actor was more experienced and better. But they did not have scene harmony. They did not make a good couple. They may be compatible outside, but they were not in the series. The star of the series I saw was Wen Zheng Rong. She gave a lesson in acting with the role of the crippled mother. She was great. I hope she gets an award for this performance. I liked the veteran actors. He Hong Shan, Yu En Tai (Although her facial expression did not change at all), Wang Yan, Huang Hai Bing, Jinna Fu were the actors who caught my eye. I think the series would have been dull without them.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The storyline is predictable with no standout moments, relying on clichéd tropes and illogical twists. Key plot points, such as confidential conversations overheard by a child, crucial evidence opened publicly on the street, and hasty marriage arrangements, treat the audience’s intelligence lightly . The female-centric narrative is inconsistent, framing the heroine as "empowered" yet heavily dependent on male support, reinforcing patriarchal undertones instead of genuine female empowerment . Emotional interactions lack rationality, with the heroine easily forgiving a female villain who repeatedly harmed her while remaining overly guarded against the male lead who protected her. Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
The Glory - chen Du Ling At Her Finest!
When Chen Du Ling usually acts in a drama, she is kind of hidden away behind other actors. In The Glory, she takes the lead and runs with it. Zhuang Han Yan (Chen Du Ling) is dressed in the finest outfits. She has a large chip on her shoulder, that seem to make her seem that she is crazy; she might be after the terrible life with her foster parents. Her feet and hands look like they are weathered, red and frostbitten. At times Chen Du Ling seems like she wants to kill the world. She has been hardened over her seventeen (17) years of life. Her stepmother (her father's second wife) almost had her life ended byZhuang Han Yan (Chen Du Ling). Her mother acted like she hate her only daughter / child, but eventually came around. Zhuang Han Yan made some great friends, who helped her out in times of need. She considered her only real friend as her only family for many of her previous years and beyond. Zhuang Han Yan, her stepmother and her half sister reconciled at the end. They trapped the poisonous father outside the house and the stepmother killed him in the tunnel system under the house. Zhuang Han Yan got married and became one of the wealthiest women in the capital.This drama was exciting and mysterious at times. I watched it twice.
Was this review helpful to you?
Beyond Expectations: This Unassuming Drama Truly Delivers!
I went into this drama blind, purely based on some intriguing clips I stumbled upon on Twitter. Seeing a decent number of episodes available, I thought, "Why not?" Little did I know I was about to be completely blown away! My initial curiosity quickly morphed into obsession, all thanks to the magnetic Xin Yunlai as the quiet, strong, clever, seemingly indifferent yet deeply loving Fu Yunxi.From the very first episode, I was hooked by Yunlai's intense gaze and powerful presence – seriously captivating! 😍 I adored the contrast between his fierce, aloof exterior and his tender affection for his daughter and Hanyan. The way their quest for revenge unexpectedly blossomed into something beautiful and worth fighting for was just chef's kiss. I ended up devouring this drama, even caving and buying the express package because I simply couldn't wait to see what will happen to these characters I'd grown to love.
Honestly, Xin Yunlai's portrayal left such a profound impact on me that the post-series blues were real! I even found myself diving into his past work – the man is just so beautiful and endearing. 🥰
So, if you're craving a drama with a compelling revenge plot and an epic enemies-to-allies-to-lovers journey, look no further. This is a MUST-WATCH (and definitely rewatch 😉)!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Showing women's empowerment
It's incredibly engaging to watch. Each episode keeps you hooked and curious about the problem, why that person did such a terrible thing, who the mastermind is, and other secrets.The two main characters have great chemistry and the acting is exceptionally good. I initially only tried watching it because the two main characters were visually appealing, but the storyline and production really captivated me.
I personally really enjoyed it. This drama showcases the strength of women, and I was deeply touched by the hardships women faced, especially in an era when women were severely oppressed and found it difficult to speak up. Love it, overall, this drama is a 10/10.
Was this review helpful to you?
My Review of The Glory (雁回时) ?
This might honestly be one of the best historical dramas I’ve ever watched. Chen Du Ling’s acting was absolutely top tier—her portrayal of Zhuang Han Yan was both heartbreaking and inspiring.One of the things that stood out to me the most was the mother-daughter relationship. It was so beautifully written and so painfully real. I loved how they showed the deep bond between them, but also the distance the daughter desperately wanting to be close, while the mother kept pushing her away. It felt like a constant tug-of-war between love and pain.
The scene where it was revealed that the mother hadn’t put Zhuang Han Yan’s name in the family register completely broke me. 😭 I cried so much because it felt like she was about to lose her mother all over again, just when she had finally found her. That moment captured so much raw emotion and was one of the most unforgettable parts of the drama for me.
What really impressed me was how Zhuang Han Yan endured so many hardships, yet still stood tall. She’s strong, resilient, and refuses to let her painful past define her future. Watching her journey gave me so much admiration for her character.
And I can’t forget to mention the OST The music was stunning and carried so much emotion that it elevated the drama even more. Every time I hear 剪 (Cut) by Li Mofei and Jila Shilin, I start tearing up all over again. The way that song feels like a dialogue between mother and daughter is such a unique and beautiful concept—it perfectly expresses how a mother’s love can remain silent, but everlasting.
Overall, The Glory left a deep impression on me. It wasn’t just entertaining, it was moving and unforgettable. I truly believe it’s a masterpiece worth watching.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Revenge theme dramas with female centric focus always snatch!
Gosh, what a ride! I love revenge dramas, so this was a real treat for me, especially with such an engaging plot full of plot twists that make us unable to take our eyes off the screen and amazing characters.- Story:
As I said I think the story were really engaging and interesting! This is a kind of drama that we end up speechless in each episode because it always have some kind of plot twist in the end. Unfortunately I do think we had some draggy episodes (EP19-23) but fortunately it gets better again after EP24.
- Characters/Acting:
The characters here are amazing, especially the female characters! Du Ling, our female lead, completely nailed this drama and her acting as Han Yan was amazing! Han Yan is also an amazing character! She’s strong, smart and cunning. Han Yan’s mother was also an amazing character and kudos to the actress who also did an excellent job portraying this character! Also kudos to Ru Yi’s actress who made us hate her but then simpatize with her later. In general this drama is mostly a female centric drama which most female characters shine and have important parts in the story.
But of course the male lead is also important to the story. Yun Lai’s acting, our male lead, was criticized for a lot of people and I do think he could be better but it didn’t bothered me that much especially because he had chemistry with the characters. Also I enjoyed his character a lot! Yun Xi, as Han Yan, is also intelligent and cunning, and his dynamic with her was sensational. In general I feel like the dinamic and bond between the characters were really good and emotional here.
- Romance:
I think this is the only thing I ended up a little disappointed. The dinamic between the main leads are so good that we want to see even more of them, especially romantically, but unfortunately we don’t see much. It’s only an appetizer here which it was a little disappointing. I think in general their relationship is a rollercoaster, and they alternate between enemies and allies practically until the end. It’s kind of a red flag relationship which although both of them will help and cherish each other, they also lied and hurt each other a lot in the process.
- Cinematography/Direction/Soundtrack:
I think the cinematography and direction here was good! I heard that it was a low budget drama but it didn’t felt like that to me at all, it wasn’t that noticeable. And the soundtrack was excellent oh my god, it made the scenes even better, the lyrics and emotions matched perfectly!
So yeah, this drama was really good for me! If you like revenge theme dramas or female centric dramas I really recommend this one!
PS: I’m already expecting more dramas of this writer because I loved “The Double” last year and this year he gave us “The Glory” who was also amazing for me so I’m excited for his next projects as well!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
one thing i always appreciated abt cdramas is that they never hesitate to wipe out someone’s entire family and it always has a good weight to it too. im all for preventable tragedies and usually i really thrive on them but rxw dying here was imo a misstep. considerably soured my experience watching ngl i considered just dropping it then and there and honestly they never managed to get the story back on its feet after her death. girl and killing off chen momo was a step too fucking far i tell you that. truly this drama hit its peak during the lantern festival.ruan xiwen was definitely their strongest character she was INCREDIBLE to watch and so unbelievably gorgeous. all the women were so lovingly written to the point im scared it might set my expectations too high for any dramas i watch in the future.
romance was top notch though. they dragged that shit out until the last second exactly the way i like it. in fact the dynamic was so up my alley i got scared. you know when ppl start complaining there’s no romance anymore they’re just scheming and plotting and hanyan just wants revenge :/ it’s about to get real good. i knew i was in for peak when i was halfway through and they have said a total of maybe 3 truthful words to each other. i have also had the opportunity to learn that my fav straight people dynamic is apparently chen duling and men in fur coats hell bent on killing themselves. and they have a clerith kinda situation going on too.
overall up until shili stop it was great no notes and after that it became a bit of a chore to finish ngl… though the latter part had some good stuff like WOMEN and POWER OF FRIENDSHIP and 周姨娘 running around w knife. and HORSES of course.
one does have to wonder though. am i cursed to never get chen duling making out preferably on the ground in some mud and it’s raining and they’re both bleeding and
Was this review helpful to you?
