‘A Good Day to be a Dog’ story so far: The protagonist, Han Hae-na (Park Gyuyoung), accidentally kisses her colleague Jin Seo-won (Cha Eun-Woo), triggering a curse that transforms her into a dog from 12 am to 6 am every day. The only way to break the curse is for the same person to kiss her while she’s in her dog form. However, Jin Seo-won is afraid of dogs, so Han Hae-na tries to help him overcome his fear. Meanwhile, her protective sister Han Yoo-na (Ryu Abel) keeps coming up with schemes to end the curse as soon as they can.
Titled “Overcoming Trauma”, episode 5 of “A Good Day to be a Dog” focuses on the issue of school bullying, which is a major problem in South Korea. Seo-won intervenes when he witnesses Ji Won, a student, being bullied. Despite his efforts, the perpetrators initially escape consequences. Opening up to Hae-na about his own experiences with bullying, Seo-won seeks her assistance in bringing the culprits to justice.
Departing from the series’ light-hearted tone, this installment explores the darker theme of how well-connected individuals oppress the vulnerable. A section in the episode takes a horror or vampire fiction-like turn, as History teacher Lee Bo-kyeom (Lee Hyun-woo) decides to teach a lesson to one of the bullies. Lee Bo-kyeom’s mysterious actions heighten intrigue, leaving non-webtoon readers eager for more details about his backstory. Lee Hyun-woo skillfully transitions between the sunny, sweet, and adorable facets of Lee’s character to darker, intimidating streaks.
The episode maintains a good pace, offering a refreshing shift from the usual romantic focus. There’s evident progress in the evolving romantic feelings between the leads. And while the bullying sub-plot offers interesting perspective, the solution to the problem is far too convenient in the series given its fantasy and exaggerated elements. Besides, the students show no remorse over their despicable action and the bullying chapter is closed without much ado, with the focus back to the lead’s Dogerella troubles.
Episode 6 – “The Transfer Student” – ramps up the supernatural elements in the show and introduces Min Ji-a (Kim Yi-kyung), a new character rumored to be a shaman. Ji-a, who can accurately read people’s faces and hands, becomes popular among students. The story soon seamlessly transitions back to the comedic tone, focusing on a school trip. Hae-na’s desperation to break the curse intensifies, especially with the increased risk of exposure during the trip. She takes the help of Seo-won’s nephew, Choi Yul (Yoon Hyun Soo), and their scenes together add a layer of humor to the edition. The school trip brings forth both romantic moments and challenges, including a near-death experience for Hae-na in her dog form.
From romantic interludes to horror-inspired sequences and comedic moments, “A Good Day to be a Dog” navigates through varied moods with smooth execution. The background score plays a pivotal role in enhancing these transitions. Historical flashbacks peppered throughout the episodes add an intriguing layer to the characters’ past lives, further engaging the viewers. The chemistry between Park Gyu Young and Cha Eun-Woo continues to evolve, with adorable onscreen moments. Cha Eun-Woo adorably exhibits Seo-won’s gigantic crush on Hae-na, and there are some comically moments where he gets jealous over her interactions with the history teacher, who she originally wanted to date.
Overall, “A Good Day to be a Dog” maintains its whimsy and charm, offering a unique narrative that keeps viewers hooked with each passing episode. The evolving mysteries and character relationships contribute to the series’ delightful watchability.
You can stream A Good Day to be a Dog on Viki.
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