This review may contain spoilers
Starts out Quirky & evolves into convoluted confusion I did not find likeable
So despite all the negative things I will say about this drama, I did find it entertaining until 3/4 way through episode 6-where it stopped being novel & cute & interesting. here's why:The female lead is not only needy, but can't restrain herself from constantly doing cringy, obsessive things. She won't accept rejection but then sabotages herself when she finally gets positive reactions to her efforts . The guys are supposedly attracted to her sunny disposition, but "sunny" does not really showing up all that often.
The male lead's default face is "bemused" & the rest of the time his expressions seem out of sync with what's going on.
By the middle of episode 6 I got annoyed & disgusted with the story line as the lead's feelings for each other get sabotaged by themselves .
Up to this point we have a guy who likes his calm well ordered life and keeps trying to keep the looney chaos bringer out by communicating clearly that he does not want her in his life.
The writers want us to see this as a "screwball comedy" as they give us a female lead who fluctuates between selfish demanding persistent to damsel in distress "cuckoo for cocoa puffs" debby downer.
So despite all the negative things I will say about this drama, I did find it entertaining until 3/4 way through episode 6-where it stopped being novel & cute & interesting. here's why:
The male lead's default face is "bemused" & the rest of the time his expressions seem out of sync with what's going on.
By the middle of episode 6 I got annoyed & disgusted with the story line as the lead's feelings for each other get sabotaged by themselves (?) It seems the explanation for why this happened & keeps happening is convoluted & confusing.
So into the middle of Episode 7, things even out, (which didn't make sense ) but then suddenly we are given yet another detour ,So frustrating ! Really a whole lot of drama zig zags around spastically
with build up to what could be meaningful moments that just get ice water dumped on them. My interest is strained it's just not satisfying .Whatever charm kept me watching has has worn off. I know there is a happy ending, but there is so much about the plot & a good many characters that I don't like, that I don't think it's worth it.
The plot jerking me around is super annoying.....
SO I do the thing I feel driven to; skim through the next episode trying to find an indication that this feeling of discontent won't last, & then I find myself skimming through the next two episodes because what little I've seen is even less appealing & disappointing.
so spoilers as to why I'm dropping this, & hacking my once rating of 6/10 to a 3/10
Female lead is schizophrenic- due to some trauma she had as a child-which might be interesting, but she's playing around with the male lead & second male lead's hearts & they are rightly confused. It's not all that amusing. Her kissing two men does not "sell" you on her sincerity for one man in the end.(I mean ,if her subconscious prefers another guy, or she simply likes being promiscuous, then how much do we trust what she thinks are true feelings ?).
That both male lead & 2nd male lead find her fascinating is inconceivable, it certainly didn't convince me & it's sad & pathetic watching them care about her.(anyone who ends up with her will be miserable & that's on them!)
Female lead's manager has some heart fluttering moments with his girlfriend, but she's yet another woman not worth the time, but at least HE knows how to deal with things (grab & kiss solves things every time !)
It doesn't seem fair that the second male lead gets strung along only to open his heart to being rejected. It also feels sad knowing that the male lead will end up choosing a girl that will be a pain in the butt for as long as they are together...are we supposed to be happy for them ? These are bad romances & not worth the time
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
So I really wanted to watch this drama as all the teasers gave very cheesy and fluffy romance kinda vibes. But boy I was in for a ride. While yes the ML helped her overcome her trauma and become stronger. but I feel the show totally undermined psychology as a science specially in parts where the doctor said (or what Netflix translated to) that everything is good with your brain and current medical science cannot explain the hallucinations you are seeing. And also the ending where her parents were apparently still alive was just cruel to the FL. They were better off dead.
In some parts of the drama I ended up crying as well,
Was this review helpful to you?
an overall very positive review
I finally finished this drama and it took me longer than I expected because it's the kind of drama you need to watch very carefully and attentively to enjoy every detail. This drama wasn't my most anticipated of the year but it ended up surprising me. I knew the chemistry between the leads would be good because I like them both, but I didn't expect everything else to be at the same level or to be able to keep up with them.I must say, this drama is beautiful in every aspect, from the cinematography to the OST, and it's one of the few kdramas that hasn't disappointed me in terms of writing. Everything seems to fit together perfectly and nothing feels forced, especially when it comes to the languages.
I really didn't expect to enjoy this drama so much for some strange reason but I'm glad I was wrong. As I always say this is just my opinion, and I definitely think you should give it a chance and judge for yourself.
Was this review helpful to you?
In the words of Jisoo: NOT BAD BUT NOT GOOD
I neither hated the plot nor could enjoy it properly. I didn't watch it one go, I watched it slowly but I really felt there wasn't a need of 12 episodes, it could have been finished in 8-10. The concept was different and I wanted it to be little more enjoyable but was just average. Confused me a little but the acting and chemistry was good enough to hold on to it. I really really loved Go Youn-jung and Seon-ho's chemistry. Really was adorable. And Muhee was such a relatable character- clumsy, flustered easily and innocent. 😚 This was truly unexpected. I only watched the teaser and didn't watch the trailer, so on the basis of teaser I expected a fluffy kdrama but this was so much more. I think it is a good one time watch.Was this review helpful to you?
Expertly, thoughtfully, beautifully crafted storytelling
Just finished this drama. I committed to not watching more than 2 eps in one sitting and I'm glad I didn't rush through what ended up being a visually gorgeous, spiritually profound story about how much effort and patience it actually takes to make love work. The result was such a well-earned happy ending, it's right up there with my most well-earned happy ending of all time, Hometown Cha Cha Cha. (Thanks, Kim Seon Ho, for both!)The storytelling was superb. To me the most enduring and endearing part of this drama was how Ho Jin -- even though his defenses were way up -- recognized Mu Hee was in a state of emergency, and instead of running away, he leaned in. How many sleepless nights did he chaperone and protect her nutty alter ego? And in return? She taught him how to understand Mu Hee. He knew he was learning a new language that came from Mu Hee's personal trauma, and it was going to be daunting. This is definitely fairy tale territory and so well done.
That's why Mu Hee tries to explain to Hiro that even though he was the prince she'd always dreamed of, she knows that only one person is capable and brave enough to take on her trauma and meet her at her most vulnerable.
The other characters' stories didn't disappoint, either. Even some of the peripheral characters were endearing.
Acting was superb (and these roles were not easy), casting was perfection. In spite of feeling like the English subtitles were often way off (ironic for this drama, right?) this is a 10/10 for me.
Was this review helpful to you?
Welcome back to K-drama land sisters!
After getting lost in Chinese dramas for the last 2 years, "Can This Love be Translated" has managed to redirect my attention back to k-dramas again.This is an appreciation review for my15 year obsession with Korean dramas and commend this drama for pulling us hallyu viewership back to finding something worth watching again.
I was not aware that Hong sisters had so many anti-fans. I am a follower since Master's Sun, they do quirky-funny very well , DoRaMi is their signature style for heroines - over expressive, a bit neurotic, a bit excited hinging on anxiety.,. of course FML (Go youn Jung)doesn't compare to Gong Hyo Jin however this is a good attempt by her specially as Dorami.
ML and 2nd ML (Kim so Hyun and fukushi sota) are both amazing, both softly endearing, both speaking so much with their eyes. I already like KSH, however Fukushi Sota left a lasting impression and has gained a new fan.
I loved the multilingual writing covering both Japanese and Italian. I read a few reviews about Japanese dialogues not being written in the right context and I think this is an important critique for future dramas. Like I want something that has the trifecta of Korean, Japanese and Chinese being used fluidly (writers are you listening??!!) .
Overall, beautiful landscapes, lovely chemistry bw FML, ml and ml2., some good music. Some bad editing in between but salvaged towards the end. This love was translated rather well!
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
Hmmm... A lot of fast forward but good comeback for KSH
So, I just finished "Can This Love Be Translated?" and I have a lot of feelings! I watch a lot of K-dramas, and sometimes you can guess what will happen next. This one had some of those familiar moments, but it also did some really unique things that stuck with me.The Good Stuff:
The Main Couple's Chemistry: The two leads, Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, were amazing. Their romance didn't feel rushed. It was a slow build based on quiet understanding, which felt very real. Kim Seon-ho can say so much with just his eyes!
A Unique Story Twist: The coolest part for me was how the show handled the female lead's mental health. She has a dissociative disorder, and the show made her other personality, Do Ra Mi, into a real person that the male lead could talk to. It was a powerful way to show her struggle and made their relationship much more interesting.
It's a "Feel-Good" Watch: Despite the heavier themes, the drama has a warm heart. The side characters aren't annoying, and you really root for the main couple to find happiness.
The "Hmm..." Stuff:
A Few Predictable Moments: Yeah, there were some classic drama tropes. A big misunderstanding keeps them apart for a bit, and you just want to yell at the screen for them to talk it out!
The Ending Fell a Bit Flat: This was my main issue. The show did a great job building up the female lead's past trauma. But the way they solved it in the final episode felt too easy, like a quick fix. I wish they had gone with a more realistic ending about healing, which would have been braver.
The Parents' Storyline: Specifically, bringing her parents "back to life". For me, it didn't help and felt unnecessary. It took away from the powerful, real healing she could have had on her own and with the male lead's support.
Lastly, the breathtaking landscape - OF COURSE!
Was this review helpful to you?
Beautiful, but not yet perfect
So, I understand why some people didn't like it as much, but for me, this series was (nearly) top-notch (at least until episode 11. I'll finish watching it tomorrow).First of all, what I didn't like:
- The strange jumps/changes between scenes. Sometimes it was really hard to grasp the context of a scene. It got really confusing. You'd ask yourself: “Why did that happen? What's going on? Where is this person suddenly and why?” They ofted showed the context needed after that scene happened.
- The second couple was rather random. Too fast-paced for my taste, but it was okay.
- FL's behavior was strange at times. Some people said she was stalkerish, which I can kind of agree with, but at the same time, I don't. I guess her mental health issues were to blame. Hence, it's not that bad.
- They did not do enough research on FL's alleged disorder. Some things really don't make sense. For me, that wasn't a reason to drop the show, but it might make some people feel uncomfortable. Personally, I didn't think it was that bad tho.
What I liked:
- The chemistry between the leads was superb.
- BEAUTIFUL cinematography.
- I loved the storyline and personally, did not find it boring in the slightest. ( Just confusing at times)
- Do Ra-mi made the story so much better. At first, I was concerned that I would not like her part in the stroy, but she indeed was needed here.
Yes, negative points were made, but given that I (almost) finished this show within 3 days and was excited to continue watching all day, I'll give this show a 9 out if 10.
Was this review helpful to you?
Be prepared for a psychological shift
I started this thinking it will be some fluffy nice interpreter and actress drama. Oh boy was I wrong, as someone who binged this in a day I can guarantee you'l love it. I couldn't stop mainly because I wanted to know what was happening.I won't even comment on the acting at this point because we know these are just great actors. But everything about this drama was just spot on for me. I loved every detail from the life altering accident making her famous overnight or maybe haha six months but like I am really amazed by that psychological perspective being added.
Was this review helpful to you?
Lost in translation, found in feelings
Can This Love Be Translated? is a quietly captivating drama that draws you in without relying on flashy twists. Its strength lies in restraint, allowing emotions, silences, and unspoken tension to do most of the work.The chemistry between Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung is palpable and effortlessly natural. Every glance, pause, and shared moment feels intentional, making their slow-burn romance deeply engaging rather than rushed or forced. The casting is spot-on, with both leads perfectly embodying the emotional depth their characters require.
Beyond the romance, the drama excels in its direction and writing. The storytelling is layered and thoughtful, using dialogue rich with subtext while trusting the audience to read between the lines. The pacing is measured but absorbing, staying true to the drama’s introspective tone.
Visually, the cinematography is soft and intimate, complementing the emotional weight of the story, while the OST is subtle and well-placed, enhancing key moments without overwhelming them.
Overall, Can This Love Be Translated? is a gripping yet gentle watch. It's one that proves love isn’t always loud, but when done right, it can be quietly spellbinding.
Was this review helpful to you?
Hong Sisters' old dramas are better!
As someone who watched Hong sisters' drama since Sassy Girl Chunhyang era, watching CTLBT feels nostalgic: the signature character set up & plot of the writers.CTLBT feels like The Greatest Love + Master Sun.
On eps 2, I was teary because of this nostalgic vibes. I also love "dark" vibes on A Quite Woman filming /scene. I am so happy for first 6eps.
But unfortanely after watched 12 eps, I feel something off. My Girl, The Greatest Love, You're Beautiful left long lasting after taste for me. I was also very emotional when I watched those dramas. I still listen to those OST till now, & I always recall the emotion back then.
But unfortunately I didnt really feel something emotional around eps 9-12. Why did suddenly I loose my empathy for the protagonist? Why all the problems seems like only decoration, that definitely would having happy ending? The OST is also forgettable compare to Hong Sisters old dramas.
My mind actively analyze why. I think the problems come from script structure & dialogue. The script failed to build depthness of the trauma of each character. The triangle love suddenly became main couple part + second couple part + Hiro part. The narative logic like: the manager moved to JHJ's house, but he never met CMH. Etc.
Now I am going to sleep. Seems my mind will still busy to analyze after that.
Edit:
I've just woke up LOL
Now I realize another factor. The title imply about human translation & interpretation: from missunderstanding become understanding & empathy; from hate become love; from stranger become lover.
But the script itself didnt really do that. Only missunderstanding. The main couple barely having deep & meaningful conversation. Dorami only tell FL secret, & ML do sacrifice in silent. Until last eps, FL didnt know that SFL is her manager's fiancee. Etc.
In example, the growth of FL rely on scenes when "she closed her eyes", suddenly everything come to resolution. The problems-resolution & characters development in this drama rely on editing!
I can compare this drama with Run On (a drama who also potray translator life) who really do great job about human communication: light, funny, but also deep & meaningful. Audience can see the growth of the character.
The charms that are absent from CTLBT.
Was this review helpful to you?
This review may contain spoilers
mukbang scene between Kim Seonho and Go Younjung made me stay
lets start from things i like:of course the cinematography and places! the production team went all out with the budget. Now i have a set of places i want to go to when im going to Japan, Italy, Canada and Spain. Also the actors are all soo pretty, esp Go younjung. she has that boba eyes for sure. moving on to the characters, i'm surprised to root for the second ml. it's cause sota fukushi played it really well! His korean accent wasnt stilted or awkward, and he got charming chemiatry with gyj. I was thinking maybe if she met him first, she would like him better lmao ALSO THE KISS! omg my firat mukbang in 2026 rofl
things i feel lukewarm abt: the sudden love lines in supporting characters. why would there be love linr between pdnim x assistant? idc about their scene at all. and his mom marrying without telling her own son? weird but whtv
and lastly, what i dont like abt this drama is why would there be a sudden alter ego plot? It would be better if they stayed d
digging more into relationship between selebrity x non-seleb, how struggling would an introvert interpreter be dragged into her dazzling showbiz world, the obvious power imbalance would make such a DELICIOUS miscommunication that drive the plot REALISTICALLY. But they choose the DID path, in which even the mental illness wasnt even properly showcased and cared for in the end. i feel like her having alter ego is just for the sake of convenience to... what? we could se how pitiful her background is? to make her closer with the ml? thats just so bizzare to me. I almost dropped this drama if only i didnt see their kissing scene spoiler on tiktok.
Was this review helpful to you?
