Can This Love Be Translated?

Romance was good, mental health stuff not so much

I love the leads and was really liking their kindling romance....but I didn't like the split personality aspect at all. Obviously, this isn't real life nor is it based on real life, but IF someone you knew started showing signs of multiple personalities, you'd probably contact or advise they see a mental health professional (which, granted this topic was touched on, but only like three times). This could've been a great way to shed light on/normalize/highlight DID in the k-film industry in a super healthy way! OR in a realistic and not-so-healthy way....instead, we had something in between, where we didn't exactly recognize an actual mental health issue and sort of made light of it using romance...does that make sense? I'm not entirely sure how to put my feelings into writing, but the whole alter aspect felt icky.

Also, there were way too many surprise plots in the very last episode...and we never even got to see the reunion between Mu-hee and her mother!

BUT I really do like the translator and actress dynamic, that's a super cute and intriguing trope!

Read More

Great Series Despite some Flaws

My rating is 9/10

Review

Can This Love Be Translated? is a very good romance with a unique twist on a mental health aspect. It is well acted, tugs at your emotions, and has a satisfying end. There is a lot of chemistry between the leads, and the pace of the love story is believable. Many other reviewer also highlighted the natural, strong chemistry between Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung as one of the show’s biggest strengths, noting how it elevates the emotional core. I would recommend this one, might watch it again in the future, and do not think there are any major flaws that would lessen enjoyment. The performances, especially Go Youn-jung’s dual work, and the overall emotional payoff keep it highly rewatchable for fans of thoughtful, heartfelt romances.

For a series about translating, it was pretty amazing when there were whole scenes of dialogue between Joo Ho-jin (main guy) and Cha Mu-hee (main girl) where their conversation did not lead to the conclusion they drew. Like they had this discussion at one point and it was like “oh we’re together now,” and I was like how did they get that out of what they just said?And there was a time he broke up with her because of something she said, but myself and my daughter watching with me had no idea what she had said that upset him so much. And it wasn't just he didn't get that damaged side of her it was really just the words they said to each other did not add up to what they both took away from it. Some other viewers have also noted the frequent misunderstandings and “lost in translation” moments as both a thematic strength and occasional source of frustration in the pacing.

This is definitely a “she fell first but he fell hard” story. Mu-hee was lazer focused on Ho-jin from very early on. Even when he was somewhat mean to her to drive her away. But, once Joo Ho-jin understood Cha Mu-hee and decided he liked her, he was completely all in.

The other thing I really did not like was the 2nd romance. It made absolutely no sense. The first time we really see them together it was as if they had interacted before, so their sudden liking of each other was confusing. It didn't help that I never liked that 2nd female character (Shin Ji-seon). The way she played the two brothers’ hearts. The way she rejected the older brother because of what seemed like one conversation she didn’t like where he did not seem that excited about the wedding. I thought her relationship with Cha Mu-hee (main girl)’s manager (Kim Yong-woo) was way too soon. He was essentially a rebound relationship. And what did he see in her? I never understood it. A number of other reviewers have similarly found the secondary couple underdeveloped or sudden, with some feeling it lacked organic buildup compared to the main pairing, while a few appreciated it as a lighter contrast. But me and my daughter who watched with me - just did not have any positive feeling for that 2nd couple. I felt irritated every time they got screen time.

Speaking of Kim Yong-woo, he was surprisingly unmanager-like. He basically left Cha Mu-hee (main girl) to her own devices most of the time. He was a parachute hire—basically got the position because he was part of the family that owned the management company. So he wasn't a seasoned manager but even just by observing other managers around him (like Hiro Kurosawa’s manager), he should have been more hands-on.

It was a huge surprise that this wound up being a little about multiple personality disorder (I know they don’t call it that anymore, but that is what I learned when I had my psychology training). But I seriously did not like it when that character wound up being her mother. Who supposedly looked identical to her. It made more sense it was something she created to deal with the trauma. Since the other personalities are typically versions of the person with the disorder they would naturally envision versions of themself. It did not have to be some osutside character. And why have her parents live? That was a weird writing choice. They lived but her father never wanted to see her and her mother went somewhere and the father knows despite the fact she tried to kill him. And then Cha Mu-hee (main girl) goes and sees her. Why? Who would go see a mother who tried to poison them? And we don’t even get to know what happened in that interaction—she is just back. Many reviewers have mixed feelings on the Do Ra-mi reveal and the trauma backstory. Some praised Go Youn-jung’s powerful dual performance and the mental-health exploration as a clever, accessible device, while others found the late pivot to some weird connection with her mother illogal. I found it jarring, abrupt, and tonally inconsistent with how that character was built earlier on. That said, Cha Mu-hee (main girl) showed huge growth. Integrating her second personality on her own was impressive—something that usually takes intense psychological help from someone experienced with dissociative disorders.

The Aunt and Uncle were just horrible, and I was glad Joo Ho-jin (main guy) called them out for their treatment of her. It was like all the blame for the incident was placed on the innocent child. The parents just went off and did their thing and the child was treated like she had done something wrong.

I liked Hiro Kurosawa. In the beginning he was just straight-up mean—the balloon thing was a cruel trick, and she hadn’t done anything to him to deserve it. Of all the characters, he seemed to have the most emotional growth. I would have been okay if Cha Mu-hee (main girl) wound up with him, although it made sense she wound up with Joo Ho-jin (main guy). Joo Ho-jin (main guy) knew all about her and accepted her anyway. But Hiro was part of what gave Mu-hee more confidence.

I like the way Ho-jin talked to Do Ra-mi like a separate person after he figured out what was going on. He credited Do Ra-mi with helping him understand Mu-hee to the extent he said “since we are going to break up anyway.” But, because of that, it made the seperation trope disappointing and the fact that there wasn’t something more permanent for them in the end.

I liked that Mu-hee was the bridge between Ho-jin and his mother. It reflected how much she loved and understood him that she was able to mend that relationship.

But what was it in this show with older women and younger men? His mother with the younger guy and then the 2nd romance was an older woman and a younger guy. Were they trying to scratch some cougar itch fantasy? I think age-gap romances in that direction rarely work. I think it is hard for most women not to see younger men as son-like. I don’t know. You just don’t see it a lot but it was a lot in this series. It felt really unnecessary and the fact that it was two couples in the show was a bit strange. Like they were trying to make a point.

I loved the Do Ra-mi character. The zombie movie she was in looked like a show that would be an enjoyable watch. Loved that Hiro Kurosawa nicknamed her zombie. It was like he saw that part of her that was Do Ra-mi. His ego was definitely taken down some notches and he became more likable from his interactings with Do Ra-mi blended with Mu-hee. That is what was interesting. Usually around him she was a blend and never fully one or the other.

Loved that it seems Hiro and Mu-hee remained friends. And thought that was really cute. Because he fell in love with her despite the language barrier. Other reviewers have also frequently praised Do Ra-mi as a standout—calling Go Youn-jung’s portrayal electric, chaotic, and scene-stealing—and appreciated Hiro’s growth into a genuine friend rather than just a rival.

One thing that felt underdeveloped was the reality show they were filming. It didn’t act a whole lot like either of them were big stars, even though they both were. I also felt we didn’t get any real emotional payout regarding her career. Did the reality show elevate Cha Mu-hee (main girl)’s career? Did it help break the zombie stereotype and open up other roles for her? We see Hiro Kurosawa extending into an action role, but nothing really about her progression.

Even with these flaws it remains, overall, a strong, emotionally rich watch that sticks with you. It gave me serious "Heal Me, Kill Me" vibes and I loved that show too.

Read More

Got me out of my loong kdrama slump.

this literally got me back into watching k-dramas . after the beginning of 2025 I lost the interest that I had in k-dramas and mostly just rewatched some of my favorites but then I just stopped. it was kind of annoying to see all of the cliches and basically the same type of acting and/or stories. even though there were some interesting k-dramas coming out I felt like very few couples had the perfect mix of chemistry/good acting /interesting plot.
So after 7 months i decided to give it a try with this one and honestly i don't know if it's because it's been so long, but this literally got me hooked from the first episode all the way to the last one.
The choice of the actors was so perfect and nothing can change my mind, the scenes were BEAUTIFUL in such a cinematic way, the story was so interesting, so simple and so complex,the amount of characters and their stories were so well written that i almost felt like part of their world, the main character were acting like real ADULTS, it could be argued tho that the MFL was "too persistent" on persuing the man, but I think it was a perfect amount of yearning over someone that has seen hidden parts of you, that obviously cares about you but still doesn't wanna show it, maybe because he's scared or because he's not over someone (unfortunately we cannot choose who we fall for! and I personally, being 21, know it very well).
I like it how it's not the usual nonchalant guy that never talks and the awkward and shy girl that looks away and talks quietly.
I already loved both the actors separately,but together they were was such an unexpectedly amazing combo.
I would've preferred some scenes to be without music, because in my opinion sometimes silence is louder and deeper than any other thing.
It was such an insight in mental health,mental illnesses and unresolved traumatic events and i feel like that explains at 360° the main female lead and her personality.
I love these "realistic" type of stories when they're so well done and honestly i cannot wait for time to pass so i can rewatch it. I don't usually rewatch shows that i feel like i liked just because of the plot, that's because knowing how something goes/ends makes everything else boring, but when they're acted so beautifully, the scenes are so well written and it really feels like a COMPLETE STORY I just can't wait to rewatch their performance.

Read More

The cinematography is truly beautiful, with many stunning shots and natural lighting used to great effect in these picture-perfect Canadian and Italian settings.

The two protagonists are adorable, touching, and funny. The first episode is meticulously crafted. And with all this double-dealing about the translator who translates while answering or answers while translating faithfully, we don't know where their relationship ends.

Stop being so cute ! It's illegal. He's always serious but secretly seduced ; she's sincere and kind, not afraid of her feelings. Episode 7, with the writer friend who struggles to get these two back together, is extremely touching... And the whole series should have stuck to that. Because that's a good half of the episodes, after which we get lost in something else. The quality of the writing disappears, in my opinion. I could have given it 4 stars or more if the writers had simply stuck to this touching romance.

It's a shame, then, about these obsessive delusions surrounding visions and personality changes ! I hated it. It ruins all the magic of the series. Nobody acts like that. And too often Cha Mu-hee/Go Youn-jung ends up in embarrassing situations, with her innocent face, at the mercy of others mockery. And then there's her story with her deceased parents, it wasn't worth dragging it out for so long. We understood it from the first hint.

In the end, it must be said that you can watch one episode per day at most. Not much really happens. Do not exceed the recommended dose.

Ps : The movie that made her famous looks incredibly bad. Poor Do Ra-mi.

Read More

After watching the drama twice, I can finally give my honest review:

First, let’s talk about the story. It’s simple but effective: a broken heart, mysterious visions, the relationship between her and Ho-Jin, and in parallel, the tension and confusion created by Do Ra-Mi and Ho-Jin. I also loved the hilarious dynamic with Hiro, especially since he has no idea about Mu-hee’s double personality and the language barrier between them (he’s Japanese and she’s Korean). I really got hooked on the theme of the story, even if it could have been improved in some ways.

The OSTs are just amazing. They’re perfectly placed and so touching. Seriously, well done!

As for the characters, I think they all have great chemistry together funny moments, tension, romance… I loved their acting. I already knew most of the actors from their other series and movies, so I wasn’t surprised by the quality they delivered.

In short, I recommend it!

Read More

Yearning, tension, misunderstandings and a slow burn worth waiting for

I actually really liked this drama.
I got a bit lost about half way through and I had to rewatch scenes and read up explanations, but once I readjusted my expectations of the drama, I started to properly enjoy it. I went into the drama knowing I loved the two leads, so excited for a drama with them both. I was expecting a typical drama, cheesy, funny, nothing out of the ordinary. But it’s very different. I did like it though, it was something a bit different, and went deeper than I expected, focusing on trauma, family relationships and taking on the message that everyone speaks their own different language, and emotions and context can really impact how you communicate.

I loved the cinematography, and scenery of Korea, Japan, Canada, and Italy was so beautiful. There were LOTS of misunderstandings but i felt like these were justified as they went towards the message of the show, they weren’t only there for drama. The yearning, tension and slow burn was so painful to watch, but also something i love in romance stories.

A very interesting drama that is nothing like things I’ve watched before. Now I’m off to watch the cheesiest lighthearted drama I can find!

Read More

BAYILDIM

ARKADASLAR uzun zamandir bir kdrama beni bu kadar icine cekmemisti. Gercekten beklentimin ustunde cikti diyebilirim.

En basta soyleyeyim dizi bana gercekten “hissettirdi”. Yani sadece izleyip gecmedim, sahneleri yasadim gibi oldu. Uzun zamandir boyle hem duygusal olarak etkileyen hem de gorsel olarak tatmin eden bir sey izlememistim. Ozellikle sahnelerin cekilisi, o atmosfer, renkler falan baya guzeldi. Boyle sakin ama etkileyici bir havasi vardi.

Romantik gelisim yine yavas ilerliyordu ama bu sefer rahatsiz etmedi. Tam tersine bu yavaslik seni hikayenin icine daha cok cekiyor. “Ne olacak acaba?” hissini surekli yasiyorsun. Diger dizilerdeki gibi uzatilmis gibi degil daha cok merak ettiren bir ilerleyisti. O yuzden beklemek sinir bozucu degil aksine heyecanliydi.

Karakterler konusunda da bence dizi cok iyi bir is cikarmis. Ozellikle Kim Seon-ho’nun canlandirdigi karakterin daha kapali, duygularini icinde yasayan yapisi ile Go Youn-jung’un karakterinin daha acik ama kirilgan hali cok iyi dengelenmisti. Aralarindaki iletisim sadece konusmalarla degil, bakislar ve suskunluklarla da veriliyordu. Bazi sahnelerde hicbir sey demeden bile ne hissettiklerini anliyorsun ve bu bence dizinin en guclu yanlarindan biri. Sadece “ask hikayesi” degil, ayni zamanda iki insanin kendi duvarlarini yikma surecini izliyorsun. Bu da hikayeyi daha anlamli yapmis.

Bence dizinin asil vermek istedigi mesaj da buradaydi. Yani sadece “ask” degil, insanlarin birbirini gercekten anlayabilmesi meselesi. Hani bazen ayni dili konussan bile karsindakini anlamiyorsun ya, dizi tam olarak bunu anlatiyor. Iletisim sadece kelimelerle degil, empatiyle oluyor. Kim Seon-ho’nun karakteri daha cok icine kapanik oldugu icin kendini ifade etmekte zorlanirken, Go Youn-jung’un karakteri daha acik gibi gorunse de o da aslinda anlasilmak istiyor. Yani iki taraf da farkli sekilde “anlasilmama” problemi yasiyor. Dizi de bunu cok guzel ve dogal bir sekilde gostermis.

Kisacasi, uzun zamandir izledigim en iyi kdramalardan biri olabilir. Hem duygusal olarak tatmin etti hem de izlerken hic sikilmadim. Boyle dizilerden sonra digerleri biraz bos gelmeye basliyor acikcasi. Gercekten cok begendim ve kesinlikle aklimda kalacak dizilerden biri oldu.

Read More

Firstly everyone agrees that the cinematography is absolutely amazing. Every shot was so beautiful. The scenes, the videography, chefs kiss.
I loved the actors too. They did a great job.

What I didnt like was the how they went about it with the plot.
I think it would have been better if they focused more on using Do Ra Mi to "get revenge" on the ones who raised Mu Hee. She just showed up on the christening and thats it. They were child abusers and they deserved to go through hell. Dont even get me started on her father. What kind of disgusting parent is he that abandons his own daughter??

This story had so much potential for speaking up about child neglect, bad parenting, etc. But I feel like it didnt do enough on that part. But then again it was maybe because it tried to be too many things at the same time. There were so many characters where i felt like it just showed me enough to make me curious but then it didnt satisfy that curiosity to the end. For example with Ho Jin, I felt like they needed to shed more light in that situation with his mother. She was horrible to him and you expect me to believe that all they needed to say to each other was a simple sorry?? I wish all of these plot points were much more expanded on. That way the lesson from each of them would hit harder.

But I do have to say that now that I am reawatching some scenes I am understanding more and more Ho Jins feelings and Mu Hees feelings so I do think it deserves a rewatch.

Read More

Does the translator really know how to translate love?

I confess I had to watch it twice to get a better understanding. The first time I watched it, I thought the part about her illness was a bit forced, but the second time I watched it with a more open mind, and I loved it. I think what gives this drama its charm, besides the romance and chemistry, is the fact that we have another character without needing to add yet another one. This means seeing the duality that a single character can represent really fills this story, and I think the tension between the characters throughout this drama only draws us closer and closer; we almost want to be part of this story just to finally see those two together.

Read More

Great story had potential to be drama of the year

Ok I really enjoyed it. The leads had amazing chemistry and the acting was really good. One of the best dramas I’ve watched this year ngl. I also loved the second lead and kinda rooted for him. The concept was great and unique about the leads not understanding each other even tho they speak the same language. I also liked the concept with Do Rami ending up being her mother which was kinda surprising I didn’t except it at all. I believe that that storyline was wrapped up fast and we should have learned where her parents were. I also found the fact that they were alive kinda dump ngl and that it came out of nowhere. On the romance it was great and I love slowburn and it was done really well. I also loved the second lead couple and which I usually don’t. The only think that annoyed me was Do Rami at sometimes but yet tho I hated her character she was important. I also liked how the second lead went from hating her to falling for her it was cute. I also liked hearing so many different languages and saying many different countries it was fun. Overall I great drama I highly recommend it :>

Read More

To be loved is to be seen and understood

What a show! The cinematography alone was breathtakingly beautiful, at times the show resembled a painting. A true visual feast!

I really enjoyed the story, and the complexities of the characters, how each layer unfolded, and how the leads learned to understand each other beyond language. Hiro asked Ho Jin if things had gone differently, if it wasn’t for the language barrier between him and Mu Hee. But, as Ho Jin points out, even though Ho Jin and Mu Hee speak the same language, they didn’t quite understand each other at times. Despite learning Korean, I don’t think Hiro understood Mu Hee as a person; her fears, her anxiety, her self-sabotaging ways throughout the show (which sometimes felt too relatable). She needed reassurance, a pillar, stability, someone who understands *her*, who looks beyond what she says to understand what she *needs*,*wants*, *means*. She needed someone to read in between the lines, and despite his initial frustration, Ho Jin did exactly that. He looked beyond her words and saw her person.

That is not to say that he didn’t need reassurance too; they both had attachment/abandonment issues. But I just loved Mu Hee’s earnestness in her pursuit of the male lead; she was endearing, awkward, and daring in the best way. Ho Jin, on the other hand, was gigatron-master-yearner 3000, and Kim Seon Ho bodied the character so well—but he does romance so well anyway, so no one’s surprised!

The second couple … was kind of just there. Their development was weird, and the chemistry lowkey non-existent. I don’t see why they had to become a couple, but it was nice that Ji Sun and Ho Jin got their closure; it was also nice to see the manager-actor relationship between Yong U and Mu Hee! They felt like siblings, which I liked. Mu Hee meeting her mother happened off-screen, which is a bit of a bummer… I would have liked to see how she faces her, and finally frees herself from her past, but the fact that she finally found the courage to face it in the first place was nice enough! This seems to be unpopular, since everyone wants a show of its own for this character, but I never warmed up to Hiro. Despite its meaning changing over time, I didn’t like how he kept referring to Mu Hee as “Zombie”, and he was weirdly mean to her in the beginning of their partnership for the reality show. I also found it hilarious how none of them ever thought about using a translation app while communicating… they really lowkey did not care to understand each other lol.

The show took so long to see the light of day, and here I am finishing it in a couple of days … I had a great time watching it; the leads had great chemistry, I was constantly rooting for them; the cinematography was fantastic, and so was the music.

Read More