On the one hand, balls of hair a little clumsy and touching, endowed with an unconditional love for human beings. On the other, silky and elegant creatures, endowed with a strong Machiavellian potential. And always this insoluble cleavage which divides humanity in two: the pro-dogs against the pro-cats. Netflix did not dare to take sides.
The platform put online, at the beginning of June, Cat People, a new documentary series in six 30-minute episodes about cats. July 7 is season 2 of Dogs, with four 50-minute episodes of doggies, which was offered to subscribers. These shows share the same producer, Glen Zipper, and a desire to prove that cats and dogs are just as much man’s best friend – no offense to horses, otters and other guinea pigs.
But if the expression “to be like dog and cat” is so well anchored in popular language, it is not for nothing: you have to choose your side. It’s one or the other, a matter of affinities. 20 minutes, listening only to his courage, referees the match between Cat People and Dogs. (No animals were harmed in the writing of this article).
First round: the choupinours potential
Cracking in front of these adorable furballs and dying to adopt one (even if you are allergic to it), is still the primary objective of any good documentary on the subject. And this is a bit the weak point of Cat People. The gaze focuses less on the kitties than on the passionate cats who live alongside them. Touching stories certainly, but much less overwhelming than the hypnotic gaze of a baby cat. We would perhaps have liked a series a little more attracting, with a higher percentage of kittens on the screen.
Regarding Dogs, the program is also interested in the relationships that some people can form with mutts. They tell their lives there through those of their four-legged companions, and inevitably, we also come out with the idea that life would have more flavor with a magnificent Golden Retriever by his side (keep in mind that a puppy is not the solution to your problems). Without forgetting a fairly satisfactory quota of sequences of fluffy puppies at will.
One point for Dogs.
Round two: the fun potential
It was a given, but yes, you have to get used to the idea that cats are much more entertaining than dogs. And this is perhaps all the more the case in Cat people, where their two-legged companions outright steal the show. Like Moshow, “The Cat Rapper”, a rapper who raps about cats and with his cats, called “Dj Ravioli” or “Lil ‘Parmesan”. Each episode gives to see stories each crazier than the next, sometimes with a little touch of rather fascinating unease.
Dogs is much less entertaining. Starting with the particularly slow editing and a bit cucul. Then the subject, of course. We’re not going to lie to each other, dogs are friendly, full of love and touching awkwardness, but when it comes to lol, cats box all the same in another category.
The point of course comes down to Cat People.
Third round: the potential for tears
Criterion met for Dogs, which, in each episode, offers stories of overwhelming friendship between men and mutts. Like Butler Blue III, a bulldog mascot of an American university who is retiring when his master has to undergo a kidney transplant. So yes, we can not blame the program for lacking pathos … But it is at least the guarantee of shedding a little tear and forgetting for a few minutes his miserable little life.
Yes Cat People is clearly not in the same dramatic vein, the series is no less moving. We particularly like the Japanese artist Sashi, who finds meaning in his life by making 3D portraits of cats. It may sound bizarre yes, but his work is worth the detour and his existential quest is particularly touching.
We still give the point to Dogs who gives everything to make people cry.
Verdict
It is clear that the victory goes to Dogs. The recipe is effective, even if we can blame it for a certain lack of originality. Which is not the case with Cat People, much more captivating, even making us forget its too little cuteness. We finally give him two additional points, for his crush, and for the fact that he proves that we are never disappointed by cats.