This is the kind of school drama we (or at least I) needed. Black dog, the dog that no one adopts at the shelter, or the dog that is left behind, or the dog that is unnoticed (I nearly cried at that close up shot of the little puppy). It's the dog that silently waits to be recognised. Much like the teachers at schools who struggle behind the scenes to make the magic that is a school year (senior year, in particular), work. So maybe, Black Dog is more a workplace drama but irrespective of the name or genre, it is the heartwarming story of one Go Ha Neul and her life as a teacher at Daechi High.

It's not just her who is the Black Dog, though. It's all of the College Advisory department- the loud and gruff Park Seong Soon, kind and perceptive Bae Myung Soo and the charismatic Do Yeon Woo. It's also Ji Hae Won who's been under contract with the school for six years and those who are permanent fixtures at the school. Black Dog is their story. It centres around teachers and tells their story- stories that are unheard of by the walls of the school.

By showing teaching in a new light it prompts us to think. How many of us knew what happened behind the screen in the staff rooms and departments? As students, our only perspective of those who teach was as a teacher- a homeroom teacher, a maths teacher or a social sciences teacher. Beyond that they were also as human as any of us with likes and dislikes, dreams and aspirations. Even excluding those, it’s probably not as easy to be a teacher as they all make it seem.

Case in point, Go Ha Neul, who struggles from day 1 to be the kind of teacher she saw as a student and realising it’s not as easy or rosy as she thought. She is new and a bit naive but is worldly enough to accept the challenge and face it head on. My most favourite moment of her will be when she realises that teachers can be wrong as well. Seo Hyun Jin, whom I’ve long disliked, aces the role so well that she might have as well been Go Ha Neul her whole life.

Go Ha Neul’s relationships with those around her also deserve a special mention, though these pertain more to her character than to the story. Be it her open adoration of Seong Soon, or her camaraderie with Myung Soo, Yeon Woo, Yi Boon and her students, or her guilt-ridden gratitude and friendship with Young Sook, there is an earnestness that’s endearing and inspiring. Her perseverance, determination and effort are laudable. And when she exchanges couple-teddy bears with her favourite person, it’s just plain adorable.

Black Dog’s biggest strengths are its characters- they are flawed, and hence relatable. The world doesn’t just have teachers like those in the College Advisory team. There are people like Song Young Tae, Han Jae Hee and Ha Soo Hyun as well. Likewise, there are students who are unlike Goo Jae Hyun or Jin Yoo Ra. Black Dog makes an effort to include all these little things and incorporates them fittingly into the storyline. The back and forth storytelling narrative also keeps things from becoming boring.

Black Dog wouldn’t have been possible without the stellar performances of its cast. They are all natural and in their element. There is no romance, but plenty of chemistry and honestly, Myung Soo’s suggestion in the final episode should have been given much earlier. The music, clothing, colour palette and cinematography all contribute together to the gentle and soothing feel the drama aims to give. The twinkle in Ha Neul’s eyes every time she’s happy is just the cherry on top of everything.