Can This Love Be Translated?

Episode 1 First Impressions

Storyline 📝:
No comment yet, since Episode 1 only showcases the characters first.

Cinematography 🌇:
Man, this is where the show really stands out. I have never seen a rom-com with this kind of cinematography. The wide shots, especially when they are trying to find the restaurant, are outstanding. The close-up shots are on point, and all the camera work has meaning behind it.
It really goes back to cinematography textbook basics. There are no unnecessary shots, and everything feels calculated. Every scene is prepared precisely, from the rule of thirds to the overall composition. Nothing feels random.

Comedy 🎭:
All I can say is this, you had me laughing hard. Not the usual rom-com kind of laugh, but genuine laughter. The kind of joke where if someone said it in front of me, I would be rolling on the floor laughing 🤣. Comedy-wise, it is really good.

Overall:
Episode 1 does not try to do too much story-wise, but visually, it already sets a very high standard.

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Honest comment from a Go Younjung fan.

First of all, Kim Seon Ho and Go Younjung really excited me, and this drama felt very different to me; you know, considering the popularity of the screenwriters and the cast, it's impossible not to be excited.So I watched it as soon as it came out, and honestly, I didn't like the character of DO RA MI at all; it was better without her, and the romantic scenes felt very inadequate to me. I didn't like the lead actress's character either acted very childish and silly, which annoyed me sometimes, but it wasn't bad, watchable. I'd give this series an 8 because I love the cast ☺️☺️ Have a good day, take care of yourselves 🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

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EVERYONE SPEAKS THEIR OWN LANGUAGE .☘︎ ݁˖

“I keep seeing auroras.” (Joo Ho Jin, Episode 10)

This was everything and nothing like what I expected, and that is the charm of this drama. I found it to be one of the most beautiful and touching storylines and characters I have ever watched. This is not the light rom-com I expected, but something more layered and nuanced. Crazy how they fit it so well within the bubbly and realistic love story. The chemistry was crazy, the acting touching, and the cinematography was a breath of fresh air. No one does abroad shooting as a kdrama can do, in my opinion, and I loved how, from Canada to Italy, from Korea to Japan, we navigated such growth and change between these characters. I know this could not be everyone's cup of tea because some people prefer a straightforward rom-com, but I genuinely have no complaints. I locked in from the very first episode and could not think or stop, I was just so engrossed in these characters and their choices, their words and actions. The additional elements we discovered as the story progressed were so vital to the storyline, and I was so surprised when I realised that's where we were going with the story. This was more than your typical mental health and mental disorders being explored as part of a trope. Do Ra Mi added to the comedy aspect of this drama. Yes, Cha Mu Hee was funny, but Do Ra Mi was the star. Without her, this story would not have had the depth that I so crave in rom-coms, so that they don't fall flat.

I love all the characters, so many of my favourite supporting actors were there, and I am a firm believer that all the extended cast really makes or breaks a story and drama. The exes and their plot were not dragged, everyone was mature enough to deal with their situations in different ways, but that is human, no? Everyone has different coping mechanisms and different ways to go about things. I loved Yeong U and Ji Seon's storyline. Just when I was doubting writers to ruin things using Ji Seon's breakup, they pleasantly surprised me with a completely new loveline, and I loved it just as much as Ho Jin and Mu Hee's. Kim Seon Ho gives such nuanced performances, and his eyes could do all the work, he does not need words to convery feeling and emotions. As for Go Youn Jung, I have loved her for a long time, and I feel like this was one of her most complex and layered characters, and she nailed it. Hiro really came through in the show, as superficial as he looked at the beginning, I loved the gimpses to the real him and how getting to know Mu Hee helped him grow and get comfortable with rejection and facing new things.

Love really is difficult to translate. Everyone is so different, words and feelings have such different meanings for everyone that love seems almost impossible in comparison. This exchange between Ho Jin and Professor Kim is so beautiful and striking that I want to mention it:

“Do you know how many languages there are in the world, Mr. Interpreter?”
“I believe over 7,100.”
“Nope. Wrong answer. There are as many languages as there are people. Everyone speaks their own language. That’s why we fail to understand each other, hear things the wrong way, and end up hurting one another.”
(Episode 3)

Can This Love Be Translated made me laugh, feel excited and relate to the emotions and experiences of the characters. One of my most anticipated dramas, I am so happy and relieved that it exceededmy already stellar expectations. A 10/10. I hope everyone can enjoy it and love it as much as I did. It's a thought-provoking, quiet and mature drama.

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A great watch.

I finished binging the show yesterday, and felt like I must write a review for this one. I've turned on the "SPOILER" tag, but still mentioning it, just in case.

Let's start with some GREAT THINGS;

The Leads : Both the leads were great. I must confess that I am biased as I have been a fan of them for a while now. I was really excited when I learned they were doing this together. And they did not disappoint me at all. At no point through the series did I feel like the acting felt short. This is also true for the rest f the cast. Especially GYJ. She did a fabulous job. Her role was demanding, and she made it believable as well. Loved watching both sides to her in this role. KSH also did a great job.

The Communication : Honestly, there were many moments in the series where I was scared they would do the classic k-drama thing of not communicating like real adults and letting misunderstanding grow beyond reason. They did not do this. The leads often talked properly and shared their thoughts honestly (even if it was done in a comical way). This made me feel good. After watching so many romance dramas centered around 'miscommunication', I am not excited for more of it.

The Growth : This was a big win in the drama. Both the leads went through REAL growth. I am not even talking about the last episode. Even before that. Throughout the story. There were times when either of them did something which I would consider stupid and annoying, but the drama addressed it later on. The characters talked about what they did and why they did it. The communicated about their vulnerabilities. And in those moments was real growth for the characters. Both of them. If you are someone who would stop watching a drama mid-way cs it annoyed you, I would recommend sticking through with this one. The issues got resolved in a great way. So many times the characters bared it all and were courageous enough to be honest with each other. Loved it.

The Story : The basic story was great. I would not say perfect because they did maybe a couple of things which I am unable to understand why, but overall it was great. The first meeting, the connection, the 'fate bringing them together' aspect, them caring for each other more and more as they spent time together, their issues keeping them from being too honest, them still being stuck together and having opportunities to work it out. Everything worked for me.

Now let's get to somethings I did not enjoy;

The 'second lead' : I am here talking about the characters of "Ji Seun" and "Young U". I was not thrilled at their developing bond. I don't know if I missed something, but I believe that at the start the show was developing in a way that "Ji Seun" will be truly happy with her then fiancee. Even though they were having some troubles, I thought they were being portrayed as a couple which just clicks together despite the odds. The fiancee was shown to be an eccentric, and somehow only Ji Seun could understand him. Their disagreement and 'break up' also felt natural. Ji Seun was taking a stand for something she believed in. And it seemed like a great moment for the fiancee to take a step back, reflect on his mistakes, and grow as a person. I understand that Ji Seun doesn't owe him this time and growth, she is right to move on. But it just felt like the drama was going to show his growth, and then they just pivoted. Felt like this was a decision made later on and the story was altered.

Mu Hee's Parents : The plot line in the las episode of her parents being alive just felt wrong and as if it came out of nowhere. I feel like they did it specifically to give Mu Hee a reason to leave Ho Jin for a while. They made it seem like she had to do this to really get over her trauma, but it is not like the drama was being very realistic in her treatment along the way. They only had a few scenes of her with a doctor, and I remember only two where she actually talked about her illness. Throughout the drama, it was Ho Jin who helped her out with everything. And then out of the blue we learn that her parents are alive. That too in the very last episode. Just didn't make any sense to me. As by that time, I felt like she was already done. She had confronted her trauma, and gotten significantly better. Also the fact that they did not show any interacted between her and her parents. Just weird.

The "Separation" trope : Ughh. I hate this trope. I do not understand why dramas do this so much. Why do the leads who have already worked out their differences, been completely honest about their feelings, gotten over whatever trauma they had, still need to break up? I hate this trope. The break up in the ending episodes, only to get back together in the last 2 minutes. Why? It genuinely pisses me off. This show had to reason for them to go through with this. Both leads had shown significant growth where even if she had to leave, he could have joined her, or at least they did not have to officially break up. Both of them had become solid support pillars for each other, then why do this? If I could change one thing, this would be it.

Anyways, I've rambling on for too long. I hope this review helps you. Give this drama a try. I truly enjoyed it. And I hope you will too.

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Weird and Not Fun: In all honesty I hated it, but it had potential

Rating: 7.2
I just finished Can This Love Be Translated, and not too good. People we’re raving about this one and I did not see why… This one was weirder than I expected. I thought it’d be your typical Korean-Japanese romance drama , but it was totally different. *May contain minimum spoilers*

Story:
The concept of a Korean girl falling for a Korean translator was interesting and had potential. But here’s the thing: she has severe DID ( some type of multiple personality disorder with two personalities), and honestly, they should’ve given a heads-up about that. Honestly, it mostly felt like she was possessed — not really realistic and kind of distracting.

What I also found really unnecessary was the 1000 times they had miscommunications; like if you like him, you just like him, you had the chance to be with him. Why are you making it hard for yourself? I do understand it’s because the other personality is there, but on both ends, the ML and FL just made a difficult. I guess it’s supposed to be the struggles of being with someone who has mental and internal struggles, but I felt like if ML just took the bull by a horns in the beginning, it wouldn’t have happened, but also then it wouldn’t have been a show… So I just don’t think I liked the show or any show that’s like that for that matter.

The show was definitely marketed as a romance and did not mention any of the dark stuff they had in the show. I felt a bit played.

Watching it blind, some scenes were more frustrating than fun — kind of annoying, to be honest.

Characters:
I get that her “other” personality ( Do RaMi) was supposed to act like a devil on her shoulder, showing her childhood trauma and stopping her from falling in love. In theory, that could’ve been cool, but it just made parts of the show harder to watch and didn’t really add anything worthwhile.

One thing I did like was Joo Ho‑jin part in that he actually acknowledged Mu‑hee’s struggles instead of treating her different personality ( Do RaMi) like a joke and didn’t let her be in control of Mu-hee, I appreciated how seriously he took both parts of her rather than dismissing her or just laughing it off. He really stuck to the end.

A part that was kind of unrealistic was The Japanese guy falls for her even though they don’t speak the same language. He even learns Korean, which was kind of cute, but she didn’t make any effort to learn Japanese, and I get that’s her character, but it still felt weird and unrealistic.


Overall, it could’ve been a fresh, fun romance, but it ended up messy and more frustrating than enjoyable. Honestly, I wouldn’t really recommend it.

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Camp

“Can this love be translated” is a campy piece that you’re going to enjoy for reasons beyond its story. It has brilliant cinematography indicating a ridiculously expensive budget. They have managed to capture the most visually pleasing shots in Korea, Japan, Italy and Canada, showing us some overly edited, almost perfect imagery from these countries natural scenery, historical architecture, food and touristy charms and sites. Everyone has a very unique (read expensive) taste in fashion and female lead is basically a walking talking billboard.

“There are as many languages as there is human in the world”
The story has a good start by introducing two rather peculiar characters in an uncomfortable situation. Ju Ho jin is a translator fluent in Japanese, English and Italian. Despite knowing all these languages he is incapable of expressing his own feelings. He is avoidant person with a broken family background wishing for a drama free life (oh only if he knew). He makes a one day trip to Japan every year in a specific day hoping for something he knows wont happen because he will never try to do it. while our Fl, Cha Mu hui, is the anxious air headed D-list actor who acts first, blabbers second and talks third. She has a tendency to dance around what she is trying to say, just to suddenly close up right at the moment the conversation gets real. Her Japanese boyfriend ghosted her and she is determined to find him and demand explanations. Problem is she doesn’t speak Japanese and you can’t learn a language by stalking someone on instagram. Luckily she meets a translator kind enough to help her. These two speak completely different languages even if they both speak Korean.

The main concept here is miscommunications, forcing them to go back; reconsider their thoughts, see a different perspective and try again. Its an interesting concept and goes well for a while but unfortunately the story soon turns to a convoluted mess introducing many different concepts and ideas in a very sudden and confusing manner. What ruined the story for me was Do Ra mi. At first she was a TV character that shot Mu hui into stardom but later turned to Mu huis manifestation of her insecurities and anxiety. It was clear that Mu hui has some sort of mental illness causing her hallucinations and until now I had no problem with it. It was one the elements that gave this series its campy feeling. Then she seeks doctors help just to be told that nothing can be done medically which for me was the first red flag. Later on they turn this hallucination to an obvious case of DID where Do Ra mi turns to an alter ego of Mu hui, capable of taking control of her body without Mu huis knowledge. Now we are out of camp territory. This type of problem calls for some serious interventions which she never gets because everyone surrounding her is complete idiot. There are some responsibilities you would wish the writers take or some lines they wont cross. They cross many which I don’t have the energy to go back and recall all but just to mention some: They never use the name of the illness. The only reason I know this is DID is because I've seen it in another drama.
She finally seeks some professional help after Do Ra mi is gone. How did she get cured you ask?
Jo Ho jin takes on various jobs through out this drama that he has no business taking but the job of a psychiatrist was a step too far. And Mu huis mental disorder vanishes just by the power of a translators love and his relentless quest of translating all of Mu hui/ Ra mi incoherent blabbers? Without any professional help? How lucky. Some crazy stuff has been written here.

The main problem in this story is the fact that writers want us to believe it’s a deep psychological romance story with thought provoking ideas but cant even decide what Mu hui alter ego , Do ra mi, is supposed to be. Is Do ra mi a self-sabotaging alter ego trying to stop her from happiness and puts Mu hui in a safe path where there is no risk of losing? Or it’s the alter ego that says and does what Mu hui is too scared to do but makes her happy?
By this series logic, both are true. Do Ra mi explicitly tells Jo Ho jin to reject Mu hui when she come back and goes out of her way to flirt with Hiro. Later on she uses Hiro to make a situation where Mu hui and Ho jin can talk to clear some misunderstandings. One minute she pushes them apart, the next pulls them together.
So this woman is crazy enough to give herself a split personality but the split personality also has a split personality.

Beside its insensitive approach to mental illness, the romantic aspect of the story is quite problematic too. We are out to believe these two have finally found the way to translate each others languages but I find that hard to believe. The more the story progresses the worse their communication becomes. In earlier episodes they were trying ( to some extent ) to communicate. They were clear in their talks. Their different personalities was the cause of misunderstandings. “the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object” sort of problem. Somewhere along the middle they started to talk in riddles. You can’t tell me some dialogues couldn’t have been better written.
The main couple were the reason I kept watching in the beginning as I found every other character boring but found myself detesting their scenes in the middle. There is no actual positive progress ( I know many viewer will disagree ) and then BOOM they’re together. They are cute as a couple but the relationship is all based on nilly willy.
Hiro was a pleasant surprise. I like the character growth quite a lot.
Everyone else were annoying. Did not care about the second couple whatsoever.
Do not get me wrong. I enjoyed watching it while simultaneously questioning myself on why am I even enjoying it hence the big gap between the story score and overall score. If you are considering it, shut your brain off and take everything at face value. Know that its gonna be a feast for your eye.

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I enjoyed it...

When I heard about this series, I was really looking forward to it because it sounded fantastic. And I really enjoyed the first six episodes, it had a great atmosphere and the beautiful Canada? That was a real joy to watch. In addition, I also liked the dynamic between Ho-jin and Mu-hee, they made sense to me as a romantic couple. But then something broke and I felt like they were both acting really stupid? I got the impression that they wanted to pull more episodes out of the series, so they couldn't put them together so soon so that the viewer wouldn't get bored. But I started to feel uncomfortable at times, how cruelly Ho-jin pushed her away from her. On the other hand, I liked Mu-hee's split personality line, but I just found Do Ra-mi to be really stubborn at times. I enjoyed it a lot, but I definitely preferred when Mu-hee was herself. I expected a little more from it, but I can't say I was bothered by it.

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Characters That You Will Love to Love; Insane and Unnecessary Plot Point at the End

The best part of this show are the characters. The ML's character is finally a man who is honest all the time, never takes the easy way out by saying the fast and easy thing. SO REFRESHING! He is an example to all men and to all screenwriters. Add more characters who act like responsible adults, please!! The FL is emotion on a plate. This actress is known for conveying emotion extremely well. Her dewy eyes look at you like an 8-month old's and you want to give her everything she never had but deserves.

The romance between the ML/FL is like most of these Korean shows today: all longing and misunderstanding with little physical interaction until the end, much like the Chinese high-school-based dramas. The secondary characters are all great, including the secondary and unrequited romances. All people you love to love: fun, mature, reasonable, and inspiring.

SPOILER:
The story is complex and deals with mental health. Honestly, the description here in MDL makes absolutely no sense to me. As the FL's personality becomes more clear, it is a bit difficult. It takes a while to get used to her and figure out what is going on, but we have had other Korean dramas (quite a few) that include mental health struggles, so why be surprised when it is the female finally, and not the male? Are only men allowed to be complex?

BIG SPOILER:
The only thing that REALLY bothered me came at the very end of the show, so don't read on if you don't want to hear about this INSANE spoiler: Everything was smooth sailing into the sunset when we learn 50% through the final episode that the FL's parents are actually alive. WTF??? If she wasn't already crazy before this, how could finding out that your parents were alive and decided to leave you with the evil couple who hated you and disowned you at a young age not send you into a padded cell in the "nut house"? The real parents didn't love her enough to want to take care of her? Especially the father? WTF!!! It's not enough to have one set of evil step-parents, now she has a duplicate set? And then, the ML just agrees to let her go off to confront her father by herself and she comes back fine? She was barely holding it together up through episode 11 and now she can take on something like this? Just to fill up the last 20 minutes of screen time? PULEEZZE, screen writers, who up to this point have been pretty good, have some sense of pride in your work and don't kowtow to producers who feel that the ending "needs more drama." This plot twist is something that would take a full five episodes to overcome and is just way too much horror for one lead character to go through (outside of Chinese historical dramas, that is). Don't feel lovable? Well, now you have two sets of parents who don't love you. Deal with it--in less than 10 minutes with no further explanation and come home smiling. Unbelievable. Truly. The brown, swirly emoji on top of an otherwise tasty cupcake.

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Not just your average rom-com

I enjoyed this so much. At first I thought it was just a cute rom-com but I’m so glad it had way more depth than expected! Kim Seon-ho did such an amazing job, acting in multiple languages in the same scene - incredible dedication to the craft 👌 I’d only seen Go Youn-jung in Alchemy of Souls before so wasn’t sure what to expect. Her performance blew me away! I think it must be really fun for an actor to show more than one side to their character and she totally delivered. I also think showing her reaction to overnight fame was very realistic. Fab soundtrack too!

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