This review may contain spoilers
ALL YOU WANTED TO KNOW BEFORE WATCHING!!
Using only the vaguest starting points from Louisa May Alcott’s novel of the same name on which it is based, writer Chung Seo-Kyung forged a bold path with her tale of dizzying adventure and hair-raising suspense.Given the series’ huge reception, one hopes that it will serve as a wake-up call for a conservative industry that still sticks to outdated gender norms.
Adventure and suspense are words that are typically reserved for male-led stories in the Korean market, but Little Women gave us a story dominated by strong, inspiring, and richly characterized women, the likes of which have seldom been seen before.
Following the tribulations of the poor Oh sisters, In-Joo (Kim Go-Eun), In-Kyung (Nam Ji-Hyun), and In-hye (Park Ji-hu), the series ultimately gave viewers exactly what they wanted, but the journey to get there was never predictable and often rousing.
Writer Chung took advantage of the structure of Korean soap opera dramas (also known as makjang), which move at breakneck speed and are peppered with shocking reveals, to give us a story stacked with emotional highlights.
Knowing what we want and how to subvert our expectations, Chung plays us like a fiddle.
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The Glory Season 2: A Blossoming Story of Revenge and Redemption
The second season of The Glory takes the story of Moon Dong-eun to a whole new level as she finally gets the revenge she has been seeking for years. The show is directed by Ahn Gil-ho and features a talented cast that includes Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Im Ji-yeon, Park Sung-hoon, Yeom Hye-ran, and Jung Sung-il.The story follows Moon Dong-eun, a young woman who dropped out of school after being severely bullied by her classmates. While her bullies went on to lead happy lives, Moon Dong-eun spent years planning the ultimate revenge. She becomes the homeroom teacher of one of her bullies' children and sets her plan in motion.
The season is packed with exciting twists and turns as Moon Dong-eun's revenge plan unfolds. The show does an excellent job of developing each character's story and bringing out their emotions. The antagonists are portrayed as mad and cruel, but the show also highlights their victims' grief and their helpless pleas.
Moon Dong-eun's character development in this season is remarkable. She brings out more emotions and deals with challenges with ease. Her far-sightedness and intricate planning are commendable, and her journey from a cold-hearted woman to a character with emotions is awe-inspiring.
The cast has done justice to the well-written script, and each character has a story that cannot be ignored. Lee Do-hyun, who plays Joo Yeo-jung, brings out some of the most unexpected twists in the show. Im Ji-yeon's portrayal of the antagonist, Park Yeon-jin, is also commendable.
In conclusion, The Glory Season 2 is a must-watch for Kdrama and thriller lovers. It is a satisfying revenge story that will keep you hooked from beginning to end. As Moon Dong Eun says in the show, "I didn’t grow up to be a good person. But one day, one spring, I will fully bloom." Watch the show to find out how she blooms and achieves her revenge.
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Dear Hongrang, this is not just a review—it’s a confession.
This drama has everything. And yes—LEE JAE WOOK.You could stop right there and that alone would be reason enough to watch it (especially if, like me, you’re weak for his historical roles where he’s the quiet storm of yearning, the warrior with eyes full of ache). But what I thought would just be another watch for my favorite actor turned into something much deeper. I binged it in one go—and it wrecked me in the best way.
There’s action. There’s mystery. But the thing that struck me hardest—and what sets Hong Rang apart—is how beautifully it draws the line between yearning and obsession. One liberates. The other suffocates. And the contrast is portrayed with such nuance that it lingered with me long after the screen went black.
I hadn’t read the original novel. I went in blind, letting the story unfold on its own terms—and that made every moment hit harder.
Lee Jae Wook’s character is written with such depth. His yearning is quiet, subtle, slow-burn—and it hurts. There’s a scene where the tears silently fall from his eyes, and I won’t lie—I broke. I don’t cry easily. But when he cries? I’m gone. And those last episodes? Full emotional devastation. I mean it—my eyes physically hurt from how much I cried.
Then there’s Jae-yi. A woman of fire and fierce resolve, bold even when it lands her in trouble—but never once does she regret it. She grows, she learns, she fights back. And when she finally stands up to that vile excuse of a stepmother? I cheered.
(Side note: I refuse to waste breath on that so-called father. Trash in human form. The actors did their jobs so well I wanted to throw toast at my screen. Yes, toast. I now hate that toast. That’s how deep this goes.)
Now to the infamous love triangle. Enter Sim Mu-jin.
At first? I didn’t care much. He didn’t hold my attention. But then the layers peeled back. And what emerged wasn’t love—it was possession. The kind of obsessive claim that says, you’re mine whether you want it or not. As if she were a prize, not a person. And let me tell you: that contrast? Between his twisted obsession and Lee Jae Wook’s soul-deep yearning? Chef’s kiss. Chilling. Brilliant.
Oh—and yes, I had my guesses early on. I figured out who the painter was, but I did not see the supplier twist coming. If you know, you know.
And finally—that scene. The one where he lays his head in her lap. That moment shattered me. In that quiet, aching moment… something struck me.
Out of nowhere, my mind whispered: Is it better to speak, or to die?
That question didn’t come from the drama—it came from me, because of what it made me feel. And in that moment, I knew my answer.
Hong Rang has officially carved a place in my heart. Not just as a favorite drama, but as a feeling. It’s the ache you can’t explain, the silence that says everything, the kind of love that waits. And in the end, it’s not just something you watch—it’s something you feel.
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This review may contain spoilers
[spoilers??] one: high school heroes – eugyeom. just. eugyeom.
okay listen.the way they portrayed eugyeom??? INSANE. i’m sorry but i’ve never seen anyone show those tiny shifts in expression so clearly—like full-on fighting mode one second, then blank, tight, emotionally locked down the moment his father shows up. it’s not just acting. it’s feeling. and i felt that.
that whole part where he’s filling out the “what’s your dream?” form and just hides it under the books when he hears the door??? yeah. that broke me a little. it’s so subtle but so loud. the panic. the instinct. the habit. the silence. the way he just... shuts off.
like yeah, he has dreams. but he’s been trained to either ignore them or feel ashamed for having any at all.
and idk if this is too personal but... the dad dynamic? way too real. like people from the outside might praise his father for being "so involved" or "working so hard for him" but all i see is a man trying to achieve the things he couldn’t when he was young. he’s not helping eugyeom live. he’s trying to shape him into something he wanted to be. and you can feel that weight on eugyeom’s chest in every. single. scene.
and that bit where he tries to choke himself at night?? people might say it's “too much” or “out of place” but honestly, if you’ve ever lived under that kind of pressure, if you've felt that silence and fear, you know. it’s real.
i used to watch dramas to escape reality. but this?? this drama dragged reality right back in. the way i literally flinch when his dad shows up, or when he pokes eugyeom's forehead with his index finger??? i wanna break that damn finger.
but that scene where he finally fought back… maybe it wasn’t the moment, but something cracked open. it felt like the start of him choosing himself. even if it wasn’t directly about his dad, it was a shift. he didn’t freeze. he fought.
and i hope—no, i PRAY—we get to see him rise from here. i want him to get mad. to speak. to breathe. to finally live.
also me: relates to eugyeom on a spiritual level
also also me: never fought anyone lmao (missed that part of the arc but spiritually i was throwing hands ok)
AND KANG YOONGI???
this guy is chaotic GOOD. pure punk energy. funky little gremlin with a heart, and i love him for it. definitely emotional support punk of the squad. 10/10, would adopt.
i’ll probably yell more when i finish the series but for now??
i’m invested.
i’m ready.
let’s go be heroes.
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Blood, Betrayal, and the Softest Glances — The Double is Everything
First things first: NO. MISUNDERSTANDINGS. BETWEEN. THE. LEADS.This alone makes The Double an absolute favorite for me. The trust, the push and pull, the chemistry—oh my god, the chemistry—had me giggling and curling my toes with every intense glance and subtle touch.
The female lead? Strong. Strategic. Capable.
She’s not your average damsel—she suffered (like really suffered) and came back sharper, colder, more determined. Just as the phoenix rose from ashes, she rose from ruin, fiercer than before. I’m not a screen crier, but the losses she endured on her path to justice? Yeah, I cried. Not just one tear. The kind that quietly escapes down your cheek because you’re too stunned to wipe it away.
The male lead—Duke Su (lol)—aka Xiao Heng… he is IT. Strategic, capable, intimidating in a court full of snakes—but also soft, so damn soft when it comes to her. Watching him fall—like really, fall—for someone he once considered a mere pawn? It was delicious. Amusing is the word. I was amused, entertained, slightly obsessed.
Yes, there are characters that made my blood boil. No, I won’t name them—they’re not worth it.
And the pacing? THANK YOU to the drama gods.
No drags. No pointless filler. Just tight, twisty writing, layered politics, slow-burn romance, and a journey that kept me up past 3 AM telling myself "just one more episode" until I saw that scene:
Xiao Heng, bloodied, lips holding that pendant .
Episode 40. Worth. Every. Second.
And yes—I have a massive crush on Xiao Heng. Not sure about the actor (yet), but the character? That man is a strategic political war machine who turns into a goofy-ass lover boy when he’s with her.
~He got the boyish look I like in a man. 🖤~
Romance, rivalry, revenge, betrayal, identity twists—it’s all there. And it’s done right.
If you're into slow trust-building, mutual pining, and intelligent characters who don’t waste time on dumb misunderstandings, you need to watch The Double.
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A Drama That Hits Where It Hurts and Heals Where It Matters
I don't even know where to begin because this drama didn’t just tell a story—it lived in my head, rent-free, taking over my thoughts, my emotions, and my ability to function like a normal person. Every episode had something that hit me straight in the heart, whether it was making me giggle uncontrollably or cry until I couldn’t see properly.This isn't just a romance. It’s about them. Two people with wounds, regrets, and history—navigating love not as a fairytale, but as something raw, messy, and painfully real. And yet, in all that, there’s tenderness. There’s patience. There’s Sang Yan, who, for all his teasing and bravado, is so painfully gone for her. And Wen Yifan, who deserves softness after everything life has thrown at her.
The way they look at each other? The way they hold onto each other without saying much? The way he believes in them even when she hesitates? It’s the kind of love that feels like home. The kind that makes you believe in love again.
Even when things got heavy—even when past wounds resurfaced—their relationship wasn’t about dramatic misunderstandings or unnecessary angst. It was about choosing each other, again and again, in the quiet moments, in the loud ones, in the in-betweens.
And now that it’s over? I feel empty. The good kind of empty. The kind that lingers, that makes you want to rewatch, relive, and hold onto every second a little longer.
If you haven’t watched this drama yet, let me warn you: you will be ruined. But in the best way possible.
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