There are shows that are ridiculous, there are shows that are riddikulous (of the magic variety), and then there is Welcome – which does not really fit squarely into either category – and yet, dear readers, I had an enjoyable time watching it.
Welcome is one of those dramas with one of those crazy premises that fit squarely into Kdramaland territory and nowhere else. A cat becomes a man and moves into the house of his future love interest? Um…should we call the police? Also, do all men become cats as handsome as Kim Myung Soo because, if so, then I need to take a trip to the pet store.
In Welcome, Sol-ah, a woman in her 20s (played by Shin Ye Eun), dreams of becoming a webcomic designer though she is stuck in a boring graphic design company unable or unwilling to go for her dream. Part of her problem is that she has been pining for the same person for years which gives her a bit of writer’s block when it comes to her webcomic aspirations.
Enter Hong Zo, a literal cat (played by Kim Myung Soo and a cute white cat named Baegi who was a fluffy ball of adorableness). Sol-ah happens upon this little Hong Zo cat and brings him home with her. Little does she know, this cat can turn into a man. Yes, it is strange for the cat as well who also does not know what is going on.
Through a series of interrelated and yet precariously connected events, the MAN Hong Zo ends up living with Sol Ah at the same time as CAT Hong Zo lives with her. Yes, he is technically living with her as a cat and as a man. You see, Sol Ah thinks MAN Hong Zo is actually her father’s girlfriend’s son who travels a lot and is back in Seoul for a limited time, so he is staying at his mother’s house that Sol-ah is currently house-sitting while her new step-mother takes her father to the countryside for some rest and recuperation. Whoo, that was a lot of information for one sentence, but stay with me.
Through having CAT Hong Zo live with her, Sol Ah starts to get renewed inspiration for her webcomic and her life in general. Through MAN Hong Zo living with her, she starts to see her worth and no longer pines over her long time one-sided love interest who practically pretends that she does not exist (which is hard to do because the house that Sol Ah is house-sitting is right across the street from her one-sided love interests house which doubles as his coffee shop and leather works studio; yes this show is crazy like that).
I enjoyed the cast of characters which was filled with young newcomer actors whom each had an adorable storyline of their own. The main love interest trio was rounded out by Lee Jae-shin (played by Seo Ji Hoon) whom I adore in everything he does. But my favorite part of the show had to be the second leads, played by a shy Yoon Ye Joo and an outgoing Kang Hoon, both newcomer actors for me. Their love story was just so cute and innocent and was also a long time one-sided love affair. Though in this instance, the man had no clue that he was being pinned on for so long, by Ye Joo’s character, and welcomed (teehee) this cute, shy ball of attention with open arms.
Welcome will not be for everyone.
Shoot, it might not have even been for me on a normal day. But if you are looking for a light show, and hankering for an excuse to take your brain out of your head and sit it next to you while watching a drama, then this show is for you. It is light, breezy, has no traumatic events at all, and is basically a warm cuddly cat that just wants to snuggle.
So go on and pet it.
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Written by Avione Lee
