Coroner series premiere: What is the meaning of the black dog?
The Coroner series premiere introduced us to the main characters and a black dog
The Coroner series premiere did not disappoint. It was an excellent introduction to the main characters, setting up a working relationship between Jenny and Detective McAvoy that offers the hope of goodness to come. However, there was one big thing that isn’t going away anytime soon. It’s all about the black dog.
Considering the title of the episode is “Black Dog,” it shouldn’t be that surprising that a literal black dog showed up. It was there at the swimming pool when Jenny’s husband died, and she saw it again at the end of the episode on the stairs.
What is the meaning of the black dog? It’s likely some sort of death omen.
Superstitions around black dogs
Throughout history, a black dog has been linked to evil and superstitions. People believed that the dogs were hellhounds, those sent by the devil to drag people to hell.
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Even in Greek mythology, it’s a black dog that guards the gates of the Underworld. Cerberus, with his three heads and sharp tail, makes sure the souls can’t escape. British folklore is full of black dogs being dark omens.
With that in mind, we can assume that this black dog in Coroner is a sign of darkness still to come. At first, it was possible that it was there to collect Jenny’s husband’s soul, but why is that dog still there at the end of the series premiere?
Is it an omen for Jenny? Does she feel like someone is after her? Considering her husband had a gambling problem, it’s certainly possible that he had loan sharks on his back. Could those loan sharks now be after Jenny since there was no money to pay them? Or is it just the reminder that the house is about to be foreclosed and Jenny’s life is completely upended right now?
There’s also the possibility that she just has this new connection to death. Seeing someone die and not be able to revive them, even though she’s a doctor, would knock her. She saw the black dog after her husband’s death, and it looks like this is the first time. Now she has a connection to the dead in a way that nobody else does. She wants to solve their cases, and it’s like she wants to save their souls at the same time.
The black dog could be there as an omen that her work isn’t finished yet. This is her path now, to save the souls of people through solving their crimes.
One thing is certain: That black dog is coming back on Coroner.
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What do you think the black dog means for Jenny? What did you think of the Coroner series premiere? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Coroner airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.