Can This Love Be Translated?

Strong leads, Great Chemistry

I was really excited to watch this drama ever since I heard Kim Seon Ho and Go Youn Jung were in it, and it honestly didn’t disappoint. Their chemistry was great and had me very excited from the first episode. The setting and shots of the foreign countries was also really beautiful, and made the drama have a different feel from others.

That said, I was pretty surprised by the direction the story took. I didn’t expect it to focus so much on another aspect instead of the interpreter and actress storyline, which was what I was most excited for. It kind of felt like two genres fighting each other, and I did lose interest a bit in the middle. I would say I enjoyed the first half of the series more than the later ones. The “will they, won’t they” part dragged on slighty longer than I liked, and got a little frustrating. I think I probably would’ve enjoyed it more if they had just focused on one main aspect.

While I was watching, I also felt that some of the cuts and transitions weren’t very clear. At times it felt a bit messy, jumping back and forth, and I wished it was clearer when things were happening, like if it was in the past, present, or months later.

Overall though, it was still a good watch. I really enjoyed the chemistry and the story as a whole. Kim Seon Ho and Go Youn Jung definitely carried the drama and made it shine in their own ways, especially when they were together. It’s a nice, slightly light-hearted drama to binge over the weekend if you’re into that like me!

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KIM SEON HO CARRIED THE DRAMA

I mean, I think they overcomplicated things from the beginning. Right from the start, the story felt a bit odd, lacking natural flow and depth.
Its almost like they wanted it to be poetic but... that couldn't land perfectly. Still, i consider the attempt to be decent.
The drama also felt like it changed genre mid way and went from a sweet romance to a psychological mystery. It was a whole lot of mess.
The star of the drama is DEFINITELY KIM SEON HO for me. His tiny expressions, natural charm and somewhat non predictable behavior made things interesting and kept me wanting more. He has a knack for making characters appear natural.
The main actress is..fine....despite the crazy writing and range her character had ON PAPER, her acting range seems limited. Its more or less the same doll ...naive...pure...somewhat fantasy heroine expressions. The scary lighting, makeup and expressions helped her alter ego character but I think that credit goes to the director, makeup artists and stylists more.

I can see PEAK JUN JI HYUN nailing this role in my mind and that's a thought I can't get out of my mind.

The second lead couple had electric chemistry because BOTH HAPPEN TO BE EQUALLY GOOD AS ACTORS. They matched each other's wavelength quite well but I DID NOT LIKE THE SECOND FL AT ALL as a character. Her dating style was extremely nasty and messy.
The story could have been better but Seon ho and the second couple made this drama journey a non regrettable watch for me.

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Trash. Fake kdrama. It is Hollywood with asian actors. A big STEAMING pile of script

This drama is a fake kdrama. it is a hollywoody Idiocracy mutt
FL and Hiro are excellent actors. ML sucks.
The drama is a BIG STEAMING PILE OF SCRIPT.
it lacks all elements of a kdrama - warmth, communication, inner work, redemption arc, sharing, family, lightness, humor, compassion, ...

it is about isolation, sleeping around, FL kisses 2ML, etc etc It is western isolation and miscomunication of egoistical ppl. And they re rich and feeling entitled.

The start of ep 1 gives the preview of what it is going to be like - a very TOXIC drama - an immature selfish FL and a very cold ML who covers up for her.
Then she had an accident and evrything changed and for like 2 episodes it looks like the drama might take off. It was fun to see different countries and actors from various countries. BUT IT WAS JUST A GIMMICK, to make up for lack of content and plot...

By ep 4 or so, THE DRAMA DIPS INTO DOODOO.
It quickly gets super boring as the characters keep getting stuck and nothing moves forward.
They never communicate. The dialogues are ... weird...
The drama time is taken by scenery and trivialities, instead of CONTENT. Nothing really happens.

BY ep ... 6? IT WAS DEEP DOODOO. I JUST FAST FORWARDED THROUGH EVERYTHING TO THE END AND IT WAS COMPLETELY CRAZY. I fast forwarded to the end just to make sure I did not miss a U-turn to sanity and could evaluate to the end.
The drama became completely totally crazy. Literally. It looks like a nightmare of someone on something. and actually a lot of it *is* a nightmare or anxiety memories and "hallucinations" - ML talks forever with the imaginary character of his FL, etc. IT IS LITERALY CRAZY

It starts looking very Hollywoody as everyone sleeps with everyone, seems like, ... FL kisses 2ML.... nobody communicates... and nothing is resolved....

THIS IS NOT A "NORMAL" KDRAMA AT ALL
this is ... a drugged nightmare about very unruly lives of several young people doing all kinds of things. IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH KDRAMAS

And I am really thinking this guy was 100% correct
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1_j6izmEX4 How Netflix killed kdrama

I was thinking - what is the goal of Netflix with releasing all 12 episodes at once? so that only Netflix drama is watched?

I think Netflix, Disney and other non-korean kdramas are a lot worse that Korean kdramas, they just LACK CREATIVITY
Disney's Made in Korea is a sinister brainwashing into the power of evil

This drama is ... ??? what is it?? A SENSELESS NIGHTMARE OF REALLY WEIRD PEOPLE

I this continues, kdramas will be dead very soon. Koreans are going to lose their creativity and freedom, they cannot address what they want but have to follow american $$$$ and do as their slave master says. kdramas will not be Korean, but american made with some Korean actors.just like this drama was. This is the death of Korean culture too

For someone tired of Hollywood cesspool, this drama could even look nice, but this is not a kdrama. It is ... a slightly less of cesspool Hollywood.

I feel like I wasted time to check this drama out, but I had to check it, before I made a decision NEVER to watch anything Netflix or Disney made ever again. THIS DRAMA IS A WASTE OF TIME.

you can watch a travel program yourself and see Canada, Italy, Japan, etc

and then watch some real kdramas, made by Koreans in Korea.

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Technicalities:

Th filming is WEIRD, they go back and forth in time and th whole drama has a nightmarish "look"
For the first several episodes, it was bearable bc there were enough "normal"scenes and it was not too difficult to pick up th plot.

I really liked the acting of FL actress and Hiro actor. Hiro is so real, it is fantastic! The actor totally nailed a Japanese spoiled brat. To the tee... . ML's brother is my fav actor from Discovery of Love and he did his part great too. I like the character of FL's manager and their relationship.

ML actor cannot act and is utterly boring to watch, the same face and demeanor from start to finish. ANd I remember seeing that exact ffacial expression and "acting" in another drama. Get him OFF.

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Kim Seon-ho is a Chameleon in Can This Love Be Translated? ???

I’m still trying to process that Joo Ho-jin and Kim Seon-ho are the same person. Seon-ho completely buried his bubbly, high-energy personality to play Ho-jin, and the result is a masterclass in subtle, grounded acting.
The real MVP move? The languages. He learned his foreign lines from scratch in just 4 months. He’s been praised by native speakers for his flawless accent and natural delivery.
It’s one thing to memorize lines, but Seon-ho captured the soul of a multilingual professional. His dedication is honestly unmatched. If you haven't started this yet, watch it for the romance, but stay for the incredible craft Seon-ho brings to the screen.

#CanThisLoveBeTranslated
#KimSeonHo
#JooHoJin

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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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