BLISS RATING: ★★★★
“Families in their time and ours may not look the same. But it is still a family. And our son is waiting for us to accept his family now.” – Quote From Cat For Cash
To be honest, I was somewhat surprised by how much I really enjoyed this series. Not only was it entertaining, but it was also quite wholesome in the classic sense of that word. By the time you finish watching this series, you just feel good all over. It will bring a smile to your face.
Ironically, I do not think it was a very strong BL; if I am being honest, I thought that was the weakest segment of this series. Equally, the characters who shine in this series are ALL the supporting players as they completely dominate both the acting and the story’s appeal. I found them to be so memorable.
Meow (Fresh Arisara) owns a cat café and had to borrow money to continue the operation. Her debt collector is a handsome young man who has a severe allergy to cats but falls in love with the cats and the café. Tiger (First Kanaphan) begins to spend more and more time at the café and befriends Meow. She is also trying to mend the strained relationship with her son, Lynx (Khaotung Thanawat). Lynx has kept his distance from his mother as he feels as if she loves the cats more than she loves him. Over time, he has learned to dislike the cats and the café.
Meow suffers from a significant medical condition and before she passes on, she would like to transfer her family’s inherited gift to another family member. However, fate has determined otherwise and as she is dying, she manages to whisper something into Tiger’s ear—he was visiting and comforting her at the time. The magic word she shares enables Tiger to understand what cats are saying to each other. This special ability has been in Meow’s family for generations, allowing them to comprehend feline communication.
While the BL saga between Tiger and Lynx is certainly the main emphasis, it got lost in the more heart-warming and tender substories around each of their individual lives, at least for me. Lynx has a stepbrother named Leo (Satang Kittiphop). In spite of the fact that their ties has been strained over the years, this series does a great job of mending their relationship in a way that is both endearing and authentic. The story also does an exceptionally good job of having Lynx begin to see what and how his mother’s life was worthy and how deeply she had loved him as her son. Perhaps a lesson learned too late but it gave Lynx a sense of closure and piece of mind that what he was doing was a legacy not only for his mother but because he truly began to see the love she had for these cats was real and genuine and they, in turn, had for her.
Who really S.T.O.L.E. this series? As mentioned, the real ‘stars’ of this series are the supporting cast and of course the cats. There are so many side stories and are interconnected to one another, moving the whole storyline along in a genteel and down-to-earth fashion. You may find yourself becoming more vested in the goings-on of the other characters than in the merging of the relationships between Lynx and Tiger. And who is the glue to all of this is Meow played by Fresh Arisara. She not only personifies a motherly character, but she also projects a character who is steady, loving and so sincere. We can feel her love not just for her cats but for all who encounter her. The story is really an unfolding of her life and her love. She comes across as an individual who has integrity and sincerity. She becomes real. Fresh’s portrayal of Meow both in human and spiritual forms is quite touching and tender. This series literally belongs to her, really.
There are also several other tender interactive stories not just with human characters but among the cats themselves. One attribute that makes this series stand out so much is the fact that, while a fantasy, it felt so convincing, as if this was happening. The blending of the cat conversations with the action scenes was flawless and seamless. The story honestly does an exemplary job of making you feel the warmth of the intrinsic emotions they were obviously trying to solicit. Forgiveness, acceptance, devotion, tenderness, worthiness, loyalty, companionship and other human emotions and qualities that give us character. More importantly, it also showed us how to deal with loss and regret. It teaches us to grieve and feel its pain but be able to discern how it is a part of the reality of life. Letting go of aspects of grief that keep us trapped in pain becomes easier with support from loved ones or our furry friends.
Ironically, where the story falters is with the love connection. It felt wooden to me. It got so contemplative in its approach to finding itself that it actually forgot to find the very thing it was looking for. I could not honestly feel their connection. For me, it never seemed to have gotten deep and only remained on a superficial level. Something felt ‘off’ or ‘missing’ in their union. A spark or intensity that just was not there. It felt more like a bromance rather than a real genuine love partnership or bond. The lack of spontaneity and the deficiency of truly seeing who the other really was with flaws, blemishes, foibles, seemed so evident. We see it in others but never in them. It is just too ‘cute’ of a relationship whereas everything else around them is full of flaws.
From a production perspective, this is nearly outstanding. The cats were adorable and frankly having been a co-resider with a cat (one NEVER owns a cat), they were remarkably behaved. The ‘cat voices’, however, I found to be grating and just not suitable/matchable for the cats. I just wish the voices had been gentler in tone and quality.
This story is all about fundamentals rather than messages. Am I worthy to carry on my mother’s legacy? How do I deal with death? Did my mother love me? Was I a product of love? How do I let go of the guilt and pain of not being there when she died? Can I ever live up to my mother’s legacy? Can I love?
These are just some of the fundamentals that are gently and beautifully unfolded in this sweet story. It flows more like a shallow brook running along the rocks rather than a raging river. It is a nice, pleasant change from the usual cliché-driven tropey standard series. Likeable and agreeable and I shall remember more about the overall story than the BL portion.
This is a very good series but not a great BL. It did not wow me at all but the story surrounding the cats certainly did.
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