minj99
Black Dog falters after its promising opening
I warily watched Black Dog. On one hand, I am a fan of Seo Hyun-Jin, and tvN is a reputable network, but the show is led by a relatively rookie writer & director. The school setting is niche but not novel. The introduction is mere inches from melodrama. Yet, Black Dog starts with a surprisingly open and honest discussion of the main lead’s struggles. Unlike Sky Castle’s overt drama, Black Dog takes a more realistic and understated portrayal of life at Daechi High School.
Black Dog progresses with this steady approach until the last quarter. The story seems to peter out as major plotlines are resolved (or dropped) because the balance of the plot is thrown off. New plotlines emerge that do not have the same level of subtlety, and it breaks the sublime immersion created until that point.
Story:
Honestly, I almost passed on Black Dog due to its seemingly bland premise. I wrote it off as a bad Sky Castle impression. Even episode 1 left me with a raised eyebrow until the big “reveal”. Then, Black Dog shows its strength, clear and emotional storytelling. The progression and growth of the main lead is felt with each episode, and it must have been too fast for the writer. The story basically begins a second season (I will not elaborate for fear of spoilers). Unfortunately, Black Dog ends with a “not-as-good Season 2 disappointment” that viewers are all too familiar with.
Acting:
I am 100% biased with Seo Hyun-Jin. Although I favor her roles in romcoms, The Beauty Inside and Another Miss Oh, she demonstrated her range with the first season of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim. Black Dog leans towards the latter, and Seo Hyun-Jin is responsible for delivering emotions rather than laughs. Furthermore, she does it via the subdued character with conviction, Go Ha Neul.
Shoutout to Lee Chang-Hoon (actually in Sky Castle). He owns a more mature role in Black Dog, versus his roles in One Spring Night and Something in the Rain. Ye Soo-Jung also makes me turn my head after her 180 transformation from Search: WWW. Overall, I am a fan of how the entire cast expands their acting range with Black Dog.
Music:
The backing tracks of Black Dog are a bit vanilla. It makes sense to not overshadow the many subtle and emotional scenes with overly dramatic songs. Though the music pairs nicely with the drama, it does not have impact on its own.
Rewatch Value:
I went from skipping Black Dog to being surprisingly optimistic. Again, it’s disappointing to know Black Dog fails to deliver to my renewed optimism. It may be a more enjoyable watch to less seasoned drama viewers, hopefully, but know that kdramas have much to offer, beyond Black Dog. I look forward to the growth of Black Dog’s director and screenwriter due to the promising signs in Black Dog.
Black Dog progresses with this steady approach until the last quarter. The story seems to peter out as major plotlines are resolved (or dropped) because the balance of the plot is thrown off. New plotlines emerge that do not have the same level of subtlety, and it breaks the sublime immersion created until that point.
Story:
Honestly, I almost passed on Black Dog due to its seemingly bland premise. I wrote it off as a bad Sky Castle impression. Even episode 1 left me with a raised eyebrow until the big “reveal”. Then, Black Dog shows its strength, clear and emotional storytelling. The progression and growth of the main lead is felt with each episode, and it must have been too fast for the writer. The story basically begins a second season (I will not elaborate for fear of spoilers). Unfortunately, Black Dog ends with a “not-as-good Season 2 disappointment” that viewers are all too familiar with.
Acting:
I am 100% biased with Seo Hyun-Jin. Although I favor her roles in romcoms, The Beauty Inside and Another Miss Oh, she demonstrated her range with the first season of Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim. Black Dog leans towards the latter, and Seo Hyun-Jin is responsible for delivering emotions rather than laughs. Furthermore, she does it via the subdued character with conviction, Go Ha Neul.
Shoutout to Lee Chang-Hoon (actually in Sky Castle). He owns a more mature role in Black Dog, versus his roles in One Spring Night and Something in the Rain. Ye Soo-Jung also makes me turn my head after her 180 transformation from Search: WWW. Overall, I am a fan of how the entire cast expands their acting range with Black Dog.
Music:
The backing tracks of Black Dog are a bit vanilla. It makes sense to not overshadow the many subtle and emotional scenes with overly dramatic songs. Though the music pairs nicely with the drama, it does not have impact on its own.
Rewatch Value:
I went from skipping Black Dog to being surprisingly optimistic. Again, it’s disappointing to know Black Dog fails to deliver to my renewed optimism. It may be a more enjoyable watch to less seasoned drama viewers, hopefully, but know that kdramas have much to offer, beyond Black Dog. I look forward to the growth of Black Dog’s director and screenwriter due to the promising signs in Black Dog.
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