The Glory

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.

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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!

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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

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Twists and turns

Buckle up, this is a wild ride through a crazy family's shady dealings, orchestrated by the female lead's father, the sniveling and conniving Zhuang Shiyang. He decision to murder his father in order to save his own skin sets off a huge ripple down to the next generation, entangling his wife, concubine, their children and his in-laws into a messy web of over-the-top plot twists, which require a certain amount of suspension of disbelief but in their own macabre way deliver some amount of shock entertainment.

At the center of this melodrama is female lead Zhuang Shiyang and male lead Fu Yunxi, who happens to begin this tale as her brother-in-law. Theirs is not an easy romance - even as they join hands in search of justice (or is it revenge?), there is a seemingly endless back and forth between them that may leave some romance lovers out there unsatisfied or frustrated. I enjoyed the tension between them, but some more emoting from actor Xin Yunlai would have sold the romance better.

Hoping to see Chen Duling in more complex female lead roles - she's perfectly cast in this as the shrewd, seemingly cold Hanyan. The rest of the supporting cast do their best with the extreme script (some will love Yu En Tai as the Daddy Zhuang, some will hate the crazy eyes haha), but it's the little girl as Fu Lingzhi who steals the show for me.

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TO FIND MY HOME

Just wrapped up The Glory and wow... this one crept up on me in the best way.

This isn't your typical palace drama packed with endless betrayals and over-the-top romance. It's a quietly intense revenge story that simmers beneath the surface—and once it clicks, it really pulls you in.

The story centers on Zhuang Han Yan, the third daughter of a powerful noble family who was basically tossed aside and left to fend for herself in the south. After 17 years of surviving under brutal conditions, she returns to the capital—not as a victim, but as someone who’s ready to rewrite her fate. Her goal? Reclaim her identity and expose the corruption that destroyed her life. Along the way, she partners with Fu Yun Xi, an upright court official who sees her potential—and slowly, something deeper starts to bloom between them.

WHAT I LOVED
1. Character growth that feels real
Han Yan starts off reserved and almost fragile, but you quickly realize she’s sharp—every move she makes is calculated. Chen Du Ling really grew on me; she doesn’t play Han Yan with loud dramatics, but with quiet strength. It’s refreshing to see a lead character who plays the long game, and actually learns from her pain rather than being consumed by it.

2. The vibes are immaculate
The cinematography is stunning. This drama is beautifully shot with natural lighting, detailed sets, and a muted color palette that fits the tone perfectly. The costume design? Elegant and understated. Everything looks expensive but not flashy—it sets the mood so well.

3. The slow-burn romance
There’s no swoon-heavy love story here, but the relationship between Han Yan and Fu Yun Xi is rooted in mutual respect and shared goals. It’s subtle, mature, and honestly more realistic than most drama romances. Xin Yun Lai plays Fu Yun Xi with calm intensity—he’s steady, observant, and clearly drawn to Han Yan’s strength.

4. Writing and plot
The plot is layered and well-paced (though slow at the start). There’s political maneuvering, secrets unraveling, and a deeply satisfying revenge arc. If you're a fan of smart female leads who get their wins through brains—not brute force—this one's for you.

What Didn’t Work as Well:
Some side characters felt underdeveloped, especially compared to how fleshed out Han Yan and Fu Yun Xi are. Would’ve loved more depth in a few of the antagonists.
Lead chemistry is very chill—if you like passionate, shippy moments, this might feel a bit too restrained. But personally, I liked the understated approach.

A quiet gem with rich storytelling, a strong female lead, and a beautiful visual aesthetic. It’s not trying to shock or thrill you every second—it’s here to unfold. If you’re into smart, emotionally grounded dramas that reward patient watching, The Glory is 100% worth your time.

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Plots are twisting and how many shocks would you like?Yes??

From the jump, they hit us with that "It's nothing like you've seen before" vibe, and honestly, it was a whole new experience.
FL, She's a master of strategy, slick and smart, and I'll never forget that smug little grin she throws when she unveils her master plan. You just know something huge is coming, and it's got that cold-blooded, calculated energy, all while looking like the innocent white rabbit.

ML? Yeah, he's got a few red flags, but we'll let it slide because he helps FL get her well-deserved revenge and finds her "happy family."
Now, the villain , oh wait FL’s dad, my goodness, top-tier villain right there. He nails that “clueless, loving father” act so well, you almost start questioning if they’re secretly twins.
And can we talk about He Hong Shan? At this point, I’m kind of tired of seeing her as the spoiled brat villain sidekick, but let’s be real, she does it too well.

Every plot twist hit me so hard, I might need therapy and a 3-week vacation to recover.
But still, it was brilliantly written, kept me on the edge of my seat, and left me craving more.

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A sad and beutiful story about women

I don't really know what I was expecting before watching this drama, maybe another story about the power struggles of a wealthy household, maybe an enemies to lovers with great chemistry and intense romance, maybe revenge and deceit; and while I did end up getting some of that, that's not all that there was, that wasn't the most compelling part of this story.

The beating heart of this drama were the women, their struggles and pain, their dreams and ambitions, the suffering that they had to endure just because they were women, just because a man had their eyes on them.

I don't want to give any spoilers, so I can't dive too deeply into what I mean, but if you want to watch a drama that has something to say about women and their condition, I think you'll find that The Glory is a perfect choice for you.

Sadly, I can't give it a 10/10 because, while the romance is not the focal point of the story, it still is a part of it and sadly I didn't like the romance at all. I wasn't invested at the beginning, it managed to get me invested for a bit but then it lost me again. I think the chemistry wasn't there. I don't want to spoil anything but I also hated the development of the relationship and especially the pacing.

If you are looking for a good romance, I don't think this the drama for you


The worst part of the drama was in my opinion the ML: I never cared for him and I felt like the acting was extremely poor. Maybe with a different actor I could've empathised with him more, cared about him more. Or maybe he just wasn't as a compelling characteristic as others.

There were a few moments where I wasn't sure if I wanted to continue after an interesting plot had ended, but I think the drama did a really good job at introducing new and interesting elements that kept me interested in what was going to happen next.

I think if we had to divide this drama in 3 sections (1-10; 11-20; 21-30), my favourite section would be for sure the second, then the first and lastly the last 10 episodes. I don't think they were bad at all, but I don't think they were as strong, mainly because a few things that annoyed me happened and highlighted some of my issues with the romance in this drama.

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Badass FL & ML supportive of each other relationship - well served

There are several moments where she's to agressive towards ML for no reason and stabs him for in the argument. Besides that her character would be 10/10. But making her super smart and then assaulting the men that is obviously the only one on her side is quite dumb. So there are several minutes in the show like that, that are completely out of character. Because they want us to believe she is smart and dangerous. So this is maybe a spoiler but still. For me that a bit spoiled a fun.

Good things:
- there are no repetitive scenes over used in most of drama
- no xanxia, no wuxia, no exaggeration
- characters are believable
- no palace schemes
- plot twist is really good

ML & FL
- good chemistry, but not even one kiss. They should have added at least insinuation they've kissed. It feels to much friend-zone
- ML is wow. If you were in trouble, you would want this guy around
- FL is probably the strongest in C drama, but a bit red flag for my taste.

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a story of women and revenge ?

finished 9/10 🌟
(long review)
I had a tremendous personal journey with this drama 😅
Between my work, waiting for the episodes to be translated, and avoiding spoilers... finally! I can say I've finished it!
Now let's get to the important stuff ⤵️
Overall, the story was very good.
It's NOT a romantic drama at all, so if you're looking for that, I recommend you skip it.
This story is 100% focused on its main protagonist and his journey through lies, secrets and dangers to find what he loves.
Chen Duling is an actress I'd only previously seen in TTEOTM, and while she never stood out to me, I feel like she nailed this character and gave a magnificent performance. 👏
Xin Yunlai had seen him in TLOSL as a secondary character, I really liked how he acted here... although his wardrobe was criticized and the fact that he doesn't have the "face for the historical ones" I feel that he brought out his character and he did it very well. 👏
SPECIAL MENTION TO:
Wen Zheng Rong 👏👏👏👏👏
A tremendous actress, my goodness, a supporting character who captured my heart 💓
That woman deserves all the recognition in the world.
Xiwen's character took me on a great journey full of emotions.
I still suffer with her fate. 😭💔

What I didn't like about the drama:
The last 10 episodes were kind of mediocre for me.
I think the excitement of the first part of the plot was lost a bit.
The ending left me unsatisfied. I think these endings open to interpretation are in trend, but the truth is, I hate it.
I still enjoyed it, and it'll be a drama I'll remember fondly. 👏

Wonderful work. 🙌

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Trilling, Compelling and Gorgeous - The Glory

A very richly detailed Revenge drama. From costumes, make-up, music and story, this show is mystery finely layered with elegance and balance. All key characters are multi-dimensional and complex, with individual character arcs that push the story narrative effectively. It keeps the pace and tension effectively balanced so the audience doesn't get too anxious but remain engaged to see what happens next. I particularly loved that the lead characters grow and change in response to events in the plot. They develop from their mistakes and outcomes. Wen Zheng Rong is brilliant and gives a master class in acting as Ruan Xi Wen.

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