4 Things We Loved & 2 Things We Hated About The Premiere Of "A Good Day To Be A Dog"

The wait is over! The highly anticipated MBC K-drama adaptation of the webtoon “A Good Day to Be a Dog” by Lee Hye has arrived. Ever since the announcement of this project, many fans from both the original webtoon and the main cast have been eagerly waiting, counting on the days to finally see on screen Cha Eun Woo and Park Gyu Young as Jin Seo Won and Han Hae Na, respectively. There are definitely many things to look forward to in this drama; not only is there the interesting fantasy plot but also the chemistry between the leads, who previously worked together in a TV commercial and left many wishing to see them working on a bigger project together. Fortunately, it came true in this K-drama!

Without further ado, let’s delve into the main things we definitely loved from the first two episodes of “A Good Day to Be a Dog” and some things that were a little troublesome along the way.

Warning: slight spoilers ahead! 

LOVED: The perfect mix of comedy, romance, and fantasy

The story has a fresh and interesting plot! Though this is a romantic comedy with fantasy in it, the fantasy elements aren’t that exaggerated, nor does it seem to be that ridiculous to the point where the whole drama is a joke. And though the romance is not that present in the two first episodes, there are certain moments where you can clearly see there is some interest from both the male lead Jin Seo Won (Cha Eun Woo) and female lead Han Hae Na (Park Gyu Young), such as the first kiss they share that starts the whole mess, or when Seo Won holds Hae Na’s head before she falls while dozing off.

The perfect mix of all these elements makes the episodes fly by, making you want more. Since the main point of the show is breaking the curse that makes Hae Na turn into a dog, we will surely see more scenes where these two will be getting closer and closer. Something to add to all this are the slight notes of mystery that hint toward the history teacher Lee Bo Kyum (Lee Hyun Woo) along with the emotive story behind Hae Na’s uncle, who sadly turned into a dog permanently.

LOVED: A quirky female lead with a big secret

As Han Hae Na herself said it, everyone can have secrets of their own, and in her case, that secret is a curse that has run in her family for generations, turning them into a dog whenever they kiss a person. And it’s not only figuratively—they truly turn into a four-legged animal, at least from midnight until dawn. This heavy burden has made Hae Na struggle a lot when it comes to relationships, and it is probably the reason behind her somewhat odd personality around men. Nonetheless, this doesn’t mean she is not an attractive, cheerful, and dedicated teacher who tries her best every time.

However, when she knows her ex-boyfriend is getting married—and to none other than her best friend—she succumbs to the alcohol and makes a grave mistake: she has her very first kiss in 28 years. The problem? She confuses her long-time crush Lee Bo Kyum with Jin Seo Won, the man who apparently hates her to the core. As desperate situations require desperate measures, she will use all of her charms and tricks under her sleeve to make Jin Seo Won kiss her again, this time while in her dog form. Will the road to breaking her curse turn into a seemingly impossible mission, or will it not?

LOVED: The cold yet kind male lead who is afraid of dogs

It is no secret that Cha Eun Woo is one of the most beloved idol-turned-actors of many, not only in South Korea but across the globe, which is why it’s no surprise regarding the great expectation surrounding his comeback drama. His role as Jin Seo Won is definitely something to look forward to as his charismatic and cold appearance gives Cha Eun Woo the chance to display all of his handsomeness and charms.

However, what will really make you swoon is the cute and kind side of this character, which mostly appears when he is teased or startled, or even when he is a little drunk. Something to note as well is the depth within his character since he has a harsh past, not only due to what seems like a trauma regarding dogs, but also due to being a victim of bullying himself. As the plot continues, hopefully we’ll get to see more scenes where he shows more of his caring nature and to also see how his past is resolved while he helps Han Hae Na break her curse.

LOVED: It is perfect for puppy lovers

Dogs are amazingly loyal, intelligent, and loving creatures that deserve kindness and companionship as do all animals, and though it is not the first drama that depicts humans turning into animals, this is one of the few dramas that gives a bit of a glimpse into what animals have to go through in today’s world. If you have a pet at home, this is your cue to enjoy this drama together.

As a dog lover myself, hopefully this drama can give a little bit of perspective about relationships with animals, since the male lead seems to have suffered from a traumatic experience with a dog. It also gives the chance to talk about how traumas and fears can become something that have the power to control our life and how we should have the chance and the help to overcome those fears.

HATED: The past life cliché

It’s not exactly something to be hated, especially as we get to see Cha Eun Woo as a handsome guard in ancient Korea—however, sometimes it is kind of predictable that the main leads knew each other in their past lives—or in their childhood in some cases. But since it may have something to do with the curse that has made Hae Na’s family suffer for so many generations, we will have to see how this past life connection works for them. For those who have read the webtoon and have further insight about this, please notice that in any adaptation there might be some variations in order to make the drama more appealing or easy to shoot. Also, beware to not spoil anything about the plot for those who still don’t know about it!

HATED: It is planned to have only 14 episodes

There is nothing to hate about these first episodes of “A Good Day to Be a Dog,” but it is noticeable that like some other webtoon to K-drama adaptations such as “A Business Proposal” or “See You in My 19th Life,” this drama is planned to have fewer episodes than most K-dramas. Though some people might see this as a way to make it fast-paced, for others this could mean losing part of the detail in the story, or in any case that the plot could be greatly changed. It is undeniable that some comparisons will surface when you have a previously completed work, in this case the webtoon, and also when another project from the same author has already been adapted to a K-drama. However, based on the premiere, this new show has everything it needs to be a big success. For now, let’s hope this drama continues with the good work and fulfills all the fans’ expectations.

Start watching “A Good Day to Be a Dog” below: 

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Hey Soompiers! Have you watched the first episodes of “A Good Day to Be a Dog”? Are you excited about Cha Eun Woo and Park Gyu Young’s new drama? Let us know all about it in the comments below! 

Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, and BOL4.

Currently watching:  “A Good Day to Be a Dog.”
Plans to watch: “Hello, I’m at Your Service.”