STORY
I love the heaviness and complexity of the drama. The painful story of those from the village and their secrets and especially to Yeo Na and Joon Ho’s tragic love. It's been a while since I have cried so much in a drama. Like seriously, this drama just broke me, I was a crying mess. Like that particular scene when Kim Hyun Mi finally realised her son and she was frantically asking Yeo Na about you know who and then she just collapsed in the garden, yelling at the sky, asking why? It felt like someone just ripped out my heart.
I love how the story line progressed and the connections of the main characters, how their lives in some way intertwined. Although I’m not usually the biggest fan of dramas that kind of run the same circles with the main characters, I love the twists and the shocking secrets within the drama. From Kim Wook’s past, Yeon Na’s death, Joon Ho’s story and Mr. Jang’s painful past.
Even though the drama was heavy on the emotions and suspense, I love the little and light funny/witty scenes, especially from Mr. Jang. Even though I was not expecting romance in this drama, there were some pairings that I wished would have worked out but that's just the romantic in me.
I also love how bittersweet the ending was. I wouldn’t say it's a sad ending but it's a very realistic one. That at the very end they have to say goodbye and that loose ends of their story lines are somehow closed. There are three things that really pained my heart at the end, it was with Wook’s Mom, Mr Jang’s daughter and the closing of Joon Ho’s storyline. Especially after finding out about everything and he just broke down in his room and said he couldn't breathe. Oh, I just broke down with him.
It was sad that they have to let go but since they are living, life must go on for them and that they continue on helping those who are in the village despite everything. I did have a few questions that were left unanswered at the end and I kind of didn't notice it until I rewatched it again.


CHARACTERS
Kim Wook is a con artist with a conscience and he is really good at it, like a modern day robin hood, along with his two other friends Jong Ah and Nam Guk. He is a child at heart and a really good man who always tries to do the right thing. He has a temper (that turns out he inherited from his mom) but has a really soft side when it comes to children. He is really loyal to those he cared about, especially to Nam Guk and Jong Ah.

Jang Pan Seok is the old guy who lives in the mountains. He connects the village and the real world by finding the bodies of those who are in the village so that they can cross over. He is the only human in the village (before Wook arrived) but only Thomas and Detective Park know that he is human. The story with his daughter was really sad.

Shin Joon Ho is a good and ambitious detective, although he does have a bit of an attitude. His fiance went missing just a few days before their wedding which was really heartbreaking, well his life is very heartbreaking with all its secrets. He is a bit distant to his mom after she disapproved of his fiance.

Lee Jong Ah is Kim Wook and Nam Guk’s techy friend. She is smart and has this girl next door vibe. I think she is the youngest out of the three musketeers and obviously the smartest. She is really good with computers and technology which was a huge help to Wook in their cons and on finding the missing.

Choi Yeo Na is Shin Joon Ho’s Fiance. Days before her wedding, she had a fight with Joon Ho and before they could ever reconcile she got a knock on her door and she was kidnapped and killed.

Thomas is like the foreman in the village, he was also the first one to arrive in the village when he died during the Korean-Japanese War. He is really good with his hands and the person that most of those living in the village rely on. He is also the first person who usually sees those who just arrive in the village since the “door” is in his cafe.


CAST
I’m not really familiar with Go Soo since I haven’t seen his works yet (I think?) but I’m familiar with some of the cast. Of course I know Ahn So Hee, like any second generation kpop fan knows who she is (lol) and I really enjoyed her on Train To Busan. And she is also my favorite member in Wonder Girls, so… (lol)

I didn’t recognize Heo Joon Ho (Mr. Jang) at first but have always felt that he was somewhat familiar but when I looked through his profile on MDL, I was quite shocked and wanted to hit my head for not recognising him, like he was one of my favorite characters in Kingdom, he played Master Ahn Hyun.

And then there is Ha Joon who played Joon Ho, my favorite character in the drama. I find him really cute and his acting was good. I haven’t seen any of his work but will definitely try to add Black Dog on my watchlist.


FINAL THOUGHTS

I love the suspense and the set up of the drama. The storyline is compelling and the pacing was good and the acting was great. This is a really good drama and I expected nothing less from OCN. and I really appreciate the more realistic and mature ending of the drama.

Would I recommend this? YES! This is definitely worth the watch, it has the storyline, set up, acting and pacing.