Moon Dong-eun Could Have Chosen A Different Ending To

Writer Kim Eun-sook wrote two endings for Moon Dong-eun. Each ending gave Dong-eun a different character arc. In this video essay, I take a look at where The Glory leaves Dong-eun at the end of her journey.
My Newsletter! thedramanotes.hopp.to/newsletter
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ ✦
► do I have a podcast? 🤘
Yes! Dramas Over Flowers:
thedramanotes.hopp.to/dramaso...
► am I on socials?
Instagram: thedramanotes.hopp.to/instagram
Twitter: thedramanotes.hopp.to/twitter
Tumblr: thedramanotes.hopp.to/tumblr
#theglory #songhyekyo

[@angelaholmes8888]

Yep dung eun hadn't changed her views when she was on that roof but i also think she still blamed herself for what happened to so hee even though she got justice for her

[@newjeansfan238]

Oh you're right! i didn't think about that at first. For thos scene, i thought she will jump because i thought she has strong belief in her principes, didn't accept to be loved fully then it could be what you said, a minute of thinking about herself, consolation, self-love, hope with a dialogue to give to her youngerself would be the must! Than the mom to ask to help her son

[@bossbabypaints]

wow this is such a well spoken video about this, I actually didn't think about so many of the points you brought up here.

[@TheDramaNotes]

Thanks Anika. ☺

[@phycon-gs9ol]

I loved the drama, but just like you said I found the ending too jarring. The appearance of Yeo-Jeong's mom felt like a complete deus ex machina and the reason for Dong-eun to live being another revenge plan was quite an interesting plot choice. I like that 6 months later she finally comes to terms with it, and accepts that her life can be more than just revenge, with friends who love and support her journey. However, dealing with the trauma by herself on the rooftop would have been icing on the cake, and would have made this drama a complete 10/10.
On a side note, I would love a Taxi Driver Avenger style remake with Dong-eun. Add Kim Do Gi in there as well if you want, I am eating it all up.

[@TheDramaNotes]

Ha. I wanted that Taxi Driver season as soon as I thought of the example. 🤣 I hope Song Hye-kyo chooses to do more revenge dramas in the future, especially ones where she can get her hand dirty. 🤞

[@newjeansfan238]

Even this date scene would be better if Yeo-Jung asked for another date, she would accept, he will wait, she will be on the rooftop, it could create even more suspense if she will come to him again. And a sad ending will be possible if she suffers from depression, it could be a more powerful scene if she jumps with sad thinking even with love, life can't be beautiful. I know some People who have depression, even a youtuber who is a mom suicide herself because of depression, this illness that can't be saved just by love, being loved.

[@TheDramaNotes]

That would have been a darker story than Kim Eun-seok wanted to write, but I agree that an ending where even love couldn't change her mind because of the mental state she was in, would have been very effective. Essentially, we needed to have an ending where Dong-eun makes the choice for herself. Does she want to keep living or stop here? Having someone else come and give her a reason to postpone the decision would have been okay at the midpoint of the drama but not at the end, where we needed to see her arc complete.

[@newjeansfan238]

@@TheDramaNotes yes agree with you 😀

[@sgwordy2122]

Could not agree more! I found it so jarring when she left the date (???) and then was on the roof??!!! It just did not feel like that’s where I was being led as a viewer.

[@TheDramaNotes]

I'm still trying to understand the purpose of that scene. Throughout the show, adult Dong-eun never showed any desire to end her life. It always felt like she'd paused her life for revenge, and suppressed any thoughts of what came after so she could focus on it. But there's a difference between that and wanting to end it all. The latter is a very active and immediate desire. So, it completely threw me when she seemed to have planned the date with the intention to go jump off right after. 🙈

[@nirmalakankaria5561]

I agree... She should have been the one to save herself.
Also, did you finish reply88?

[@TheDramaNotes]

Yes I did! Loved it to bits. ❤️ Got an idea for a video while I was away from CZcams that I'm gonna work on now!

[@nirmalakankaria5561]

@@TheDramaNotes will wait for it eagerly 😄😄

[@nirmalakankaria5561]

@@TheDramaNotes i have started a re-watch of Reply from episode 5.