Love Is Like a Cat (2024)

A Different Perspective

I wanted to write this review because i think I watched this drama with a different perspective than most people, I understand why some people didn't enjoy this drama but for me this drama started the day after I lost my dog and going into it I didn’t realise that this drama would have a very heavy dog focus (I assumed it would be cat focused because of the title, that's on me being an actor watcher & not reading anything about the plot before starting it) and because of my experience I think in some ways I might’ve enjoyed and appreciated this drama a lot more than I initially might have done given my circumstances. though as a Mew and JUST B stan I think I would’ve enjoyed it either way but who knows. Was this drama the best I’ve ever seen? No but in some ways I think I healed alongside Uno during this drama and for that I’m grateful. it gave me an outlet for some of the pain & grief I had yet to process especially in episodes 9-11 when Uno experienced a similar situation that I did, and in some ways I was jealous of Uno for getting to do some of the things that I couldn’t so I got to live through those moments for a short period of time. Though I have to admit I do think I enjoyed this more because of the Uno & his story with dogs rather than the BL element, it was nice don't get me wrong but that wasn't what really what grabbed me when it came to the drama. They were cute though and I did enjoy some of their moments together but I think I saw the BL part more of a sideplot than the actual plot of the drama.

My experiences aside this drama is an easy watch, the episodes are short, so it's not like a chore to get through if you're not particularly enjoying it.

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Disappointing

I find too often they use celebrity's with known names rather than trained actors with talent. This series falls prey to no story or substance just a known actor who has only made one film with merit. Please do not cast a show around the celebrity status Mew is a great model maybe even a good commentator as far as I can tell he is not an actor that can carry a series In the last big project with Mew, everyone loved Gulf he was endearing & his chemistry with Mew was on point. Also kissing in a BL is not required especially dead fish kisses If the acting is good enough and it usually is in Korean & Japanese BL's (especially Japanese) you do not need to try physical tactics to engage your audience

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A story of healing, love and the fusion of two opposite worlds

No one can resist the charm and cuteness of pets; Regardless of whether it is a parrot, rabbit, dog or kitten, they win your heart and little by little they end up being part of the family. Most human beings enjoy spending time with their pet, which is not surprising since while you indulge in the moment, your brain feels happy and secretes "the happiness hormone."
'Love is Like a Cat' (사랑은 고양이처럼), also known as 'Sarangeun Goyang Icheoleom', the romantic comedy from South Korean director Kwon Nam Ki ((권남기), revolves around Piuno (Mew Suppasit - 'What The Duck ', 'TharnType' and 'TharnType2: 7 Years Of Love'), a well-known Thai star who doesn't like animals, and her romance with Lee Dae Byeol (Chu Jimin, known as JM, from the South Korean idol group JUST B), the director of a pet daycare.
Every time he crosses paths with an animal, Piuno remembers a traumatic episode he experienced in his childhood that makes him not want them around. Pets do not awaken that feeling of love or tenderness in him. He suffers from zoophobia. He is aware that this phobia is considered an irrational act of human beings, but he cannot help it.
It has been suggested to him that his "illness" can be treated with professional help, since he can find the necessary support to overcome the trauma and gradually manage to coexist with the animals. But he has not paid interest to the matter, thinking that it would not be of much use to him, and he has moved on with his life.
However, when he finds himself threatened by those who wish to see him brought down, there is only one thing he can do to save his reputation and his career: work at a pet daycare in South Korea.
Putting aside his severe dislike for animals, Piuno begins working alongside Dae Byeol, who will help him find ways to overcome the trauma that first inspired his hatred of animals. This is how he will end up appearing in a reality show set in a pet cafe in Seoul.
But these will not be the only surprises that the protagonist encounters: as his heart begins to soften, unexpected feelings begin to arise for the young owner of the daycare center. What will happen between the cold and enigmatic actor who doesn't believe in love, and the outgoing and romantic pet daycare owner when their lives intersect?
Lovers of the BL genre in general, and of Mew Suppasit, in particular, will be pleased with the reappearance of the renowned Thai actor, singer and producer in a romance drama between two boys of the same sex. On the other hand, JM, his co-star, shows his youthful charms and the dreamy aura of the idol, as well as his talent as an actor, in this, his first appearance in a drama.
In addition to the aforementioned actors, on screen we will see GeonU, also a member of JUST B, also in his acting debut, playing Gi Min, one of the pet daycare workers; and Kim Kyoung Seok ('Hot And Sweet' and 'Someday Office'), as Jun Hyuk, a friend of Dae Byeol and one of his biggest followers. These secondary characters play a very important role and contribute intensity and complexity to the conflicts.
With a seductive cast, in addition to wonderful chemistry, the direction, cinematography, writing, music and staging transport the viewer to a dream and fairy tale universe in which everyone involved, including the Animals, especially dogs, contribute their own, to achieve a series capable of marking a milestone within the genre, as it escapes stereotypes, and shows human beings with their nuances and in various circumstances. The narrative maintains a good rhythm that enhances the emotional closure of each episode and the series in general.
All these details give an idea of ​​the story told to those who still do not know it, a narrative firmly based on the love stories between two young men of different personalities, countries, professions, languages ​​and cultures, but determined to sustain their idyll against all obstacles. , prejudices and cultural, linguistic or temperament divergences. One looks like a dog, while the other looks like a cat.
What an actor lacks because he is new to these issues, the other provides, due to his extensive experience. It's fascinating to watch the couple navigate their uncertain feelings. One of the main reasons audiences will admire the series is the simplicity and relatability of the story, as well as the good visuals.
Although slow, the romance gradually intensifies, allowing 'Love is Like a Cat' to show one of its greatest strengths. With the ability to create many tender moments between the two young people, I would like to see them flirt in the garden of the animal nursery and kiss in the sunny corner of the clinic room, under the knowing gaze of their friends, including those of four paws.
Every affectionate interaction, through beautifully polished images, would be appreciated by the BL fanatic public.
Dae Byeol is a well-defined protagonist. He knows his work and loves animals. He is sincere, responsible and faithful to his friends, both those who bark and the others who accompany him on this journey of taking care of pets and falling in love with a famous television star. His qualities create a memorable character with nuances. His charm emerges once the performer gains confidence in the role he plays. Just then the couple's chemistry strengthens, going from being a little embarrassing at first to building a more comfortable and deeper relationship.
In comparison, Piuno's backstory will also draw the viewer's sympathy with high marks. He likes it more and more, especially when he overcomes the somewhat mysterious, reserved, fearful attitude when encountering the animals for which he has always felt rejection, when leaving behind the weight of the circumstances that forced him to move away from his comfort zone, and when you begin to adapt to the people, the language, the customs, the culture of a foreign country.
The series explores the couple's bond physically, emotionally and spiritually. When I think about how Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol started the story of "strangers to friends and friends to lovers", both of them, side by side, went on an eventful journey. They overcame personality clashes, misunderstandings, and even cultural and language differences. Best of all, there's a lot of cute BL content.
One of the strong and striking points of the series is the fusion of two worlds. Piuno and Dae Byeol come from two different countries and cultures. Their universes will collide when their paths cross. Everything that separates them will not be an impediment for the two main characters to get closer, fall in love and begin a journey in search of happiness.
Each episode aims to ensure that the viewer is not disappointed, that they remain hooked, that they have a closure that lives up to expectations. The technical and artistic teams worked to achieve it. The arc of the characters, their development, as well as the events and conflicts, are very coherent.
The script, the depth of the themes addressed, and the aesthetics with which they are presented, the attention to detail to be as realistic as possible, the convincing performances, with a cast made up of established and young actors and actresses, determine, among others , the elements that mark the success of 'Love is Like a Cat'.
'Love is Like a Cat' is a story of healing and love. In addition to the entertainment factor and the fun and tender interactions between Piuno and Lee Dae Byeol, the series tells a story about overcoming trauma, opening your heart, and falling in love.
The inclusion of the adorable animals will provoke a positive reaction from pet lovers and the general public.
This is one of the four joint Thai-Korean BL projects from Hanyang Studio, from the same WeTV Original production, 'Peach Of Time'. The remaining dramas are 'Eccentric Romance', 'Wuju Bakery' and 'The First Love Manual', scheduled to premiere in 2024.
This collaboration between the two countries demonstrates once again that BL series defend the correct formula to sustain and consolidate the genre with the aim of satisfying an audience that craves authentic and moving love stories.
Personally, I liked the way the plot was executed, subtly exploring the characters' personal stories.
This romantic comedy is designed and taken from the script to the images with the potential audience being fans of the romantic genre in general, since love is universal and knows no genres, as well as fans of romances between boys in particular, and makes it clear that its objective is to portray love, acceptance, self-discovery, sexual diversity, the search for happiness, the influence of reality shows on viewers, the perception of the image of actors and idols by the public. , the pressures of the entertainment industry on artists, the challenges that come with being a queer person in today's world, themes explored through the dynamics of the characters.
Conceived to move people and involve audiences, through the main story and secondary plots, the series proposes to generate controversy about other dominant, current and universal elements, such as the tumultuous relationship between father and son, the love of animals and how they influence children's behavior, workplace camaraderie, sexual exploration, positivity, self-validation, and maturation issues. There are cultural debates and topics related to veterinary medicine and animal adoption, which helps make all the stories relatable.

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Could Have Been So Much Better

When I first started watching this show, I was very excited to see a Korean-Thai crossover BL series, especially with Mew in it. But as much as I wanted to enjoy the show, it was disappointing, to say the least. There was no plot, no chemistry, no romance, no anticipation to watch the next episode and I really didn’t care about what will happen next. If you are watching a romantic drama, you can ignore all the emptiness if the romance, chemistry, and interaction between the two main leads is toe-curling but unfortunately, that wasn’t the case here which ruined the show. It felt forced and awkward, even the confession part, I didn’t feel anything watching it.

Read the complete article here-

https://the-bl-xpress.com/2024/05/24/love-is-like-a-cat-series-review-ep-1-to-12/

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Cheap mess

Mixing Korean and Thai BL could be an interesting road to follow, mixing Thai drama with Korean clean execution - could work. But this just doesnt.

The story as it is laid out felt promising: aloof celebrity with trauma and abandonment issues, a rich dad in the background, cute dog-loving poor Café-owner, a Vet, ruthless moral-less filmcrew... But the story as it progresses does nothing with it and it is frustrating and annoying without a satisfactory outcome. Was there supposed to be a second season? So many plotlines go nowhere, eg. the secretary (?) with the reporter or the relationship with the father.
The aloof Uno because of past trauma with a dog (and I don't believe the justification for that trauma is enough for that kind of longterm issue with it) is afraid of dogs. And then he spends just a day with one and everything is great! Come on, there was so much potential of slowly resolving that problem with the help of his future love interest. As it is, they fall in love inexclicably and far to quickly, I did not see any sparks. He is just mildly interested in the trauma-thing and mistrusts him (rightly so) and suddenly they are in love.
Some scenes make no sense considering they know they are being filmed. Granted, they think they are save after 9 pm, but that would need some prompter like checking the time. Uno doesnt seem the type to devulge past heartbreak just like that. The story with the Ex-boyfriend that is supposed to be the reason for the café owners introverted character is like an afterthought. It lacks detail and integration to make it convincing.
The sets are a laugh. The so-called dog café is clearly an empty commercial building and no one bothered to decorate. Couldn't they find someone to sit aroud drinking coffee? No surprise that enterprise is close to going bancrupt, no atmosphere, no costumers AND no dogs! That is just lazy filming.

The treatment of the dog, both in reality as well as in fiction is questionable. In several scenes, the sheperd is obviously uncomfortable and does not want to be there. In fiction, they stress multible times that the dog is in constant serious pain - and then they pull him around another whole day for their egoistical I-dont-want-to-say-goodbye-yet feeling. It rally bothered me to think that during the Bonding-Moment in the sidecar the dog is really suffering every minute. Love for the animal would have been to make the hard choice quickly - as the vet and the dog-lover should know.

Acting is a bit weird due to the language barrier. You have to look past the very improbable trope, that several people can perfectly understand the other language but not be able to speak any of it. In Unos case that makes no sense, he was abandoned by his father when young and he grew up in Thailand. Where and why would he have learned Korean that well? But well, that is how ist was set up.

I dont get the relevance of the title, I dont think Uno is cat-like at all.

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No chemistry and WHY THE FUCK MEW GOT INTO THIS SERIES?

Honestly I have high expectation on this series. I thought it would be a good series judging from the promising trailer. I wouldn’t say it’s a bad series since I do enjoy them but somehow the chemistry is missing. I dont know if it’s because of K BLdrama has this kind of pattern but the romance is boring. I only stay because of Mew’’s acting. I used to dislike him because of the rumours but hell with them!! He is such a good actor, i dont understand why people hating on him??!?? And also, the series plot is weak but its not an eye sore. I actually found it to be fun. :) anyway, i wont rewatch it but to give this series a low rating is really unfair. Please watch it and judge by yourself

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It's nowhere near as bad as everyone says!

I don't entirely get why this has got SO much hate. I wonder why some BL fans expect high quality productions because, let's be honest, we're not really here for cutting edge directors or excellent scripts...we're here for the cuteness! Well, I am at least.

Yes, it's weird that there is a dog cafe with neither dogs nor customers. Yes, it's weird that the Korean characters can understand but not speak Thai, and the Thai guy can understand but not speak Korean. Yes, its weird (and a bit of a shame) that it takes half the series for the MC's to properly interact. Yes, it's weird that a vet in his 40's who wears Laboutin shoes has a 25 year old flatmate who he's clearly in love with. Yes, it's even more weird when you find out said vet looks exactly like the 25 year old's ex-boyfriend. And yes, it's weird that it's called Love Is Like A Cat when that phrase only appears as the last line in the last song at the end of the last episode. But who cares?!

The MC's are gorgeous (particularly Daybyeol) and work well together, Uno really develops as a character, and the CEO steals the show. There are some funny moments - Uno trying to bat away robot dogs while wearing cat ears springs to mind; sad moments - I even shed a tear for the poor doggy even though I'm really not an animal person; and adorable romantic moments - Uno's press conference...and that's plenty for me to spend a mere 3 hours of my life on.

Is it brilliant? No. But once you get past the weirdness, it's really quite enjoyable. If you're a BL watcher who doesn't expect HBO level productions, give it a go.

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Total disappointment !

The story in itself is pretty bland, to say the least. But i definitely think that if done right there could've been many situations for the main leads to bond. The story itself was more centred on the trauma of the ML rather than the romance. The romance is just kind of... there without any sort of build up. It's a slow burn but there is absolutely no tension or chemistry between the two leads. Calling it an "enemies to lovers" story would be an insult to the trope. And the entire thing with Uno's father and sister was unnecessary and took up the time they could've used for more intimate scenes between the characters. If you're going to half-ass the storyline why even include that part?
Now if we talk about the acting... I have no words left for Mew because why does he act like an absolute rookie? Throught the entire show he has put up the same expression. Otherwise the other actors were actually pretty good.

All in all, the only good thing about the show is the ending music.

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I Had High Hopes...

The first time I saw the poster of this series, I was surprised to see Mew on the poster. I had high hopes on this series. I am somewhat disappointed on this series.

First and foremost, the title of this series is "Love Is Like a Cat" and I didn't see a single cat on the span of 12 episodes. I was confused by the title the moment I knew that it was a dog café.

Speaking of the dog café, I expected more dogs on the dog café, we all know, to those who have completed the series, that we have only seen one dog on the entirety of the series. I was also disappointed with that. I was a little bit excited to see more cute dogs. :>

But the plot, for me, is good enough. With a different title and more dogs, the series might be better. :>

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