Can This Love Be Translated?

WHY is Thier bond so complicated

Likee Ioved the cast and Thier chemistry but what is wrong with the writer likeee they already had alot of complications at the start atleast if you made Thier life so complicated should have given Thier happy episodes and why whyyyy even after love at the last episodes Thier life could be this complicated likeeeee whyyyyyy meanwhile the co leads had better love life's likee for god sake we watch kdramas to escape realities compliance and yet you made it complicated it's unfair there should be another kdrama with this lead and that should be light weight and lots of happiness

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I kinda wanna watch the zombie movie instead

Most of it has been said in the other upvoted reviews. Started pretty well, then came the split personality plotline (which I get it, kdramas need the drama part). If it ended there, it would've been an "OK" drama, that you can watch if you like the actors or are in between better shows. But then came the last episode, the left turn there is really what annoys me the most. I'm one of those who find that the ending is paramount (quoting someone else). The zombie movie scenes are actually the highlight of the show for me. And Do ra mi ( movie character, not the other personality) is the most interesting character of the show.

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If “Potential Man” Was a Kdrama

I’m on episode 9 out of 12, so I’m aware I’m jumping the gun. But god,
god. Give me strength.

From the start, this drama’s description was misleading. I actually don’t know what I expected, really. The concept of a translator and celebrity teaming up on a long term project and getting closer was — and still is — very appealing, and as someone who enjoyed Run On quite a bit, I was excited to see another take on this topic. However, this show quickly devolved into a tangled mess of love polygons and poor depictions of serious mental health issues. To top it all off, they had the audacity to have Kim Seonho play a watered down, inconsiderate, dry-as-cardboard version of Hong Dusik from Hometown Cha Cha Cha.

Do Rami as Cha Muhee’s “alternate personality” is just… something else. Truly something else. I’m not going to sit here and try to say that the depictions of her mental health struggles is 100% inaccurate — at times, I think they did a good job at depicting Muhee’s anxiety and disassociation. However, they lost me when they started having “Do Rami” pop out like a Love and Deepspace LI. Genuine question — has no one outside of Hojin been paying attention to her behavior? Her impulsivity and sudden personality change is immediate grounds for an intervention and a lovely trip to the nearest in-patient facility. Or at the very least, a fucking therapist appointment. Seriously, why did no one suggest this to her upon waking up? Even without knowing her background, experiencing such a traumatic event, surviving, and suddenly being thrust into the spotlight is overwhelming! It’s life altering! Seriously, what is happening?!

Before they utilized Do Rami in this fashion, I was really loving how they used her as a negative inner monologue — a manifestation of all her insecurities and the “ugliness” she feels. I found it especially fitting that this personification ended up taking the face of her breakout role / the last role she played before her accident. It reminded me of how actors talk about the impact playing certain characters had on their psyche. This could’ve been absolutely brilliant if this stayed an internal and mental battle for Muhee and not… (gestures vaguely at the screen). It felt like a very cheap way to address how poorly she was doing. And yet another bullshit plot device to facilitate this ridiculous romance plot. Do Rami became a "voice" for whatever Muhee did not want to or did not feel confident enough to say, whenever it was convenient for the writers. She was thrown into scenes where there was unaddressed tension and gone just as quickly as she came. Never mind the fact that this is not how personality disorders work, it was obvious that they thought this was slightly comedic. Do Rami is the "crazy bitch inside [Muhee's] head" that can be toggled on and off like activating an ultimate attack for a gacha game character.

Speaking of romance — what are we doing here folks? I can excuse the cliché and maddening misunderstandings between Muhee and Hojin because this is a k-drama after all. However, whatever the fuck was happening with Jiseon and EVERY. SINGLE. DUDE. who was pining after her? God. It was liking pulling teeth. I actually didn’t mind her and Yongwoo at all objectively, but… why? I’m scratching my head. I hated this weird love… diamond? they had going on here. It took me out of the drama. I don’t understand why they wrote Hojin like this either. How do you see your crush dating your brother and almost MARRYING HIM and not immediately get turned off to every feeling you've had? Personally, I think my sibling’s partners are a no-no no matter what, but alas! Also, this might be an unpopular opinion, but I genuinely liked the chemistry between Hiiro and Muhee more than whatever was happening with Hojin and Muhee. Whenever the actor pair took the screen, it was like Hojin/Seonho was the second lead in his OWN drama. It didn’t help that Hojin was so flat and dismissive in many of his scenes. Sure, we got some moments where he showed genuine love and care, but it either happened when Muhee was unaware of what was happening (aka her coma) or in such a subtle way that it barely counted. So far, all I’ve seen is him flip flopping between giving a fuck about her and putting up a cold front, which normally wouldn’t be a problem IF HE HAD ANY DEPTH TO BEGIN WITH. We've gotten little to nothing about his background and motivations to even justify this behavior. He wasn’t even that nice to her when they originally met, either. And he doesn't seem that nice to his friends! I don’t get the hype at all. That being said, I’m not going to say that Hiiro doesn’t have his flaws and that his initial behavior with Muhee was acceptable, but they are/were clearly following the enemies-to-lovers trajectory that most k-drama fans would eat up if it was any other show. If you liked any drama where the male lead started out being mean as fuck to the female lead, I need you to shut up about the people who like Hiiro and Muhee, STAT!

Despite my long, long rant, I did enjoy the cinematic shots and music. I surprisingly enjoyed Go Younjung’s performance in this drama despite me not liking her in Resident Playbook or Alchemy of Souls S2 (specifically her role as Jin Buyeon, not Naksu). I also really enjoyed how it was clear Kim Seonho took the time to learn these languages. It sounded pretty legit, at least to me. The concept of filming a dating show around the world with two celebrities that aren’t that familiar with each other is something that I’d eat up in real life, so I’m going to need some variety show host to plagiarize this with some of my favorite idols/actors. Please and thank you.

I’ll be back with more thoughts when I’m done, which will be soon (hopefully).

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Translated Well, Written Thin

“Can This Love Be Translated?” is a mixed bag for me. Some things worked, some things left me with question marks about the intent behind them. I kept oscillating between ( ˶ˆᗜˆ˵ ) and ( ꩜ ᯅ ꩜;) ??
Overall though, I had a good time.

Story
It’s not a deep story. A struggling actress (FL) meets a polyglot (ML) abroad, gets smitten, and they part ways. An accident boosts her popularity, she signs up for a travel diary show with a foreign rising star (SML), lo and behold - the ML is hired as their translator. He is emotionally closed off, she is very openly interested, and after a lot of push and pull (plus some unnecessary secrets), they end up together.
Is there much substance? No.
Is it particularly engaging on its own? Heck, no.

Characters
Cha Mu-hee and Joo Ho-jin carry the drama. She’s insecure and prone to self-flagellation; he’s hyper-rational to the point of rudeness. She is smitten with him; he is not interested at all. This reversed dynamic is refreshing and a welcome change from the usual ML-chasing-FL trope. Both make assumptions, stick to them, and unintentionally fuel the conflict. Their flaws actually work for the story.

Hiro, unfortunately, is pure wasted potential. What could have been a genuinely compelling character is reduced to a forced love triangle that doesn’t even form a proper triangle. The third line barely exists. Everyone else, also unfortunately, feels undercooked. The secondary romance adds nothing, The emotional weight rests almost entirely on the leads, and the drama wobbles because of it.

Strengths
The biggest strength is the lack of tropiness. Refreshing, honestly. The cinematography and production are lovely, and the dialogue lands well even in translation.

Performances are solid. Go Youn-jung shines as Mu-hee, making her relentless pursuit endearing rather than creepy. Kim Seon-han’s Ho-jin is sharp and practical, and their contrasting personalities create charming chemistry (though Mu-hee carries most of it).

Weaknesses
Unnecessary plot points. Since there isn’t much story to begin with, the drama pads itself with twists and secrets to stretch across 12 episodes. The final twist is especially underwhelming. Ho-jin’s mother’s track isn’t irritating, but it begs the question: what does it actually achieve? And Ho-jin and Ji-seon’s confrontation toward the end…what was the point, other than ticking a romance drama checklist box? Eh.

Also, certain repetitiveness. It’s like they all have short term memory losses. The push and pull between the OTP as well as with Hiro, is the same rinse and repeat over and over again.

Overall
This drama wants to be thoughtful but settles for pleasant. It’s uneven, padded, and carried almost entirely by its leads. But as a laid back, low stakes watch for a lazy Sunday afternoon, it does the job.

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A Bad Trip

“Can This be Love?” was one of my most anticipated dramas this year. Unfortunately, it fell horribly flat.

Locations and cinematography are undeniably beautiful, but, as I’ve come to expect of Hong sisters’ dramas, characters lack depth. This is the third drama where Go Youn Jung chases her male lead, and it’s the most humiliating, unhealthy, and nonsensical. For me, theirs never felt like a true connection, but rather something imposed upon the male lead after persistent pursuit…It’s been a while since I’ve been this annoyed with a female character.

I also take issue with the insensitive depiction of Dissociative Identity Disorder. After watching a character with DID in “Had I Not Seen the Sun”, seeing it portrayed here as a cute—if inconvenient—personality quirk, feels problematic at best.

I believed “Alchemy of Souls” indicated writing improvement, but after this, I’ll go back to avoiding Hong sisters’ projects.

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Starts engaging, muddles in the middle and freefalls in the end with no proper closure for viewers.

LIKED:

- Go Youn Jung really pulled off the characters Cha Mu Hee /Do Ra Mi so good. Kim Seon Ho needs no introduction on how good of an actor he is and the way he acts with his eyes is beautiful to watch.

- The chemistry between both of them was exactly how it should have been that is not too intense, raw and passionate but slow and warm with both breaking each other out of their cages.

- Fukushi Sota was fun to watch especially his character being charming at times while other times him being a funny melodrama queen.

- Not going for the generic love triangle trope. Normally you would expect SML to be someone who keeps crossing lines and act all possessive and how badly he wants the FL but the drama did nothing of that sorts and gave us a green flag of a guy who despite being bratty sometimes knows his limits and when to back off. A total gentleman who you would root for his success in life.

- WS and YD's relation arc although fast paced and appeared for quite less time but was still fun to watch.

- The locations were beautiful and matched the vibe of drama. The costumes and dresses too were beautiful to look at.

DISLIKED:

- After looking at the trailer I wasn't expecting something out of the box but the same old generic korean romance drama so my expectations weren't too high to say the best and I am glad I kept it that way. It always baffles me how majority of korean dramas screw things up when it comes to mental health.

- The drama starts fun in start but in the middle of it becomes somewhat dull with generic arcs being pulled that we have seen many times before . The same old leads having trouble confessing, same old breakup for stupid reasons, same old living in agony. Thank god they did well with the love triangle stuff and kept it light.

- The final part of the drama was just TERRIBLE. The way FL's past and family arc is dealt with is just terrible and gives no closure to us as viewers at all. All this could have been done over episodes instead of rushing and shoving everything in the last episode. The generic breakup before leaving because one lead needs to deal with some shit all by themselves and then getting back together in last 5 minutes is just tiresome to watch again and again.

- Out of nowhere adding the twists that FL's parents are alive in the last half an hour was plain stupid. It was unnecessary if they think doing that would have been a good way of giving closure if anything it only makes thing worse.

- It was clearly visible writers had no idea on how to keep a proper pace of things over entire course and conclusion of this drama.

WISHED:

- I would have loved had they gotten together by E8 and then taken time to figure out the FL's past trauma properly with her healing from it slowly over last 4 eps. No need to add all the parents being alive after all these years bullshit in the end but showing her journey towards healing properly from all the pain her family caused, her parents death and her coming to terms with it is what I wanted to see in the last episodes.

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A puzzle

I must confess, the story is a bit of a puzzle—rather disjointed and wandering, as is often the whim of the Hong Sisters. I fear the fault lies in the introductions; we were promised one sort of acquaintance, only to find the show had a different character entirely. It left many of us in quite a whirl!

An unexpected story is no crime, but this one does feel a trifle scattered. However, what the narrative lacks in order, the production gains in splendid scenery. The cinematography is truly elegant, and Kim Seon Ho possesses such a natural charm that he could likely persuade any audience to follow him anywhere. Paired with a lead actress of such remarkable beauty, the screen is never dull to look upon.

It is clearly a "big budget" affair, and those who prize high quality and visual luster will find much to enjoy. For my part, however, the overall substance was not quite as captivating as the finery surrounding it.

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This script was not translated well.

i really wish i could give this kdrama a higher score because i love the original concept and the actors…but there are just too many things wrong with it. I had been waiting for this to come out for years and when it finally did, watching it was disappointing. Though I had signed up for a romantic comedy/drama piece about languages, i ended up watching something that is so stuck between multiple genres it can’t even be defined, and that’s not a compliment.

but first a less important reason to be disappointed: for a show supposedly about translating, the netflix subtitles do a horrid job of translating. yes of course there is a certain range of interpretation in between language but a lot of the time the main concept of what is being said was translated incorrectly. i was continuously yelling at my screen when i would hear one thing in korean and then something completely wrong on the subtitles. it wasn’t just up to interpretation it was a matter of correctly conveying the meaning of the original script. i blame netflix and whatever translator they hired. (should’ve hired joo hojin 😔) this is coming from someone who has spoken korean for 5 years and lived in korea, however im not a native or interpreter so take my words with a grain of salt.

now on to my main issue: the concept takes too many twists and turns that are never fully rendered. the elements are thrown in aimlessly to be fit together but none of it works. the genre change from romcom to kind of psychological mystery/drama while still holding on to romcom is not supported well enough by the script. However, this is not the fault of the actors. i actually feel they did a great job with the material given them, but the plot just has too many holes.

my first issue is that the concept of “i have multiple personalities (usually one evil one good) due to family trauma” is blatantly overdone and under researched frankly. The logistics of muhee’s psychological problem made no sense, emerged way too late in her life, and though i enjoyed the pressure that the hallucinations placed on her character the jump from hallucinations to complete body takeover was, honestly, unbelievable and felt rushed. i think one of the reasons it felt this way was because rami so frequently contradicted herself. One moment she appeared because hojin isn’t in her life? and the next she appeared because of her family? And she would try and separate hojin and muhee because she doesn’t deserve a happy ending, but then why does she set muhee up with hiro? You must pick one. It seriously seemed as if rami was merely an excuse to make muhee interact with the second lead because she wasn’t before. Or to add a tragic backstory. Seems the writers couldn’t pick..
And on that topic, rami’s character doesn’t even run away from muhee’s happiness as she claims to, she just causes useless trouble, drinking and spending her money. So clearly something is not aligning in the writing of the character. This made most of rami’s scenes feel forced and useless to the plot and romance. therefore episodes such as episode 9 when we only see rami it feels like there’s just zero plot, the entire hour is just do rami playing around with muhee’s life and nothing else is happening. Which I understand is somewhat the concept, she stems from muhee’s trauma and therefore isn’t necessarily good for her, but if i’m being honest everything do rami did made me want to throw a brick at my tv. she‘s rude impulsive and messy and worst of all it’s not even entertaining.

again, the whole plot just kept going back and forth, with few scenes to explain it. even though rami supposedly comes from her family trauma, there are probably three scenes with her family that are over 2 minutes long whether it be present or flashback. It felt like something was missing.

Theres also the excuse that muhee needs rami to do certain things for her or give her the confidence to do things, which is somewhat understandable, but even then that makes muhees character superficial. I don‘t want to root for a character like that, I’d rather root for muhee to find her own confidence.

Now, because of this useless character, the plot has taken 4 steps backwards, if do rami hadn‘t shown up in episode 7 the main leads would have gotten together and been happy, but instead by episode 10 they’re more awkward than they were before. it’s as if they forgot everything about the northern lights, their song, and the fact they already practically confessed to each other. the only thing keeping them apart is literally do rami. Which again, I understand to an extent, that IS the concept: her trauma is stopping her from being with Hojin. But it’s done incorrectly and too abruptly. So rather than make me sympathize for muhee’s pain, it just made me hate do rami. it‘s as if the writers just wanted to prolong the story by adding a new storyline but didn’t put much thought into exactly how it would fit together.

additionally a good twist is one in which the viewer likes the new concept more than the original concept but this just wasn’t happening for me. it’s okay to just have a nice romance especially one that had a concept as cool as what was presented in the first 6 episodes. Even by the first episode I was hooked line and sinker with such an interesting concept around languages, interpretation, and love, and it stayed that way for a good while. That’s why the switch felt way too sudden and left a bland taste in my mouth.

i have no problem with shifts but they need to be done right. when it comes down to it you can’t lie to your audience as much as you want twists to be shocking and surprising.

As far as psychological concepts go too, even if i was prepared for it, it sucks. again, poor writing, overdone concept, lack of research into actual mental health and psychological issues. if i could rewrite this script with a bright red pen marking everywhere i think went wrong and have it sent to the writer i would do it without hesitation. and most of it would be cutting do rami out of the script.

Finally onto the redeeming qualities and why i didn’t give this drama a 1/10
- Kim Seonho and Go Yoonjung’s acting was phenomenal and honestly saved the script. Especially the emotional scenes. Both actors have a great depth to their work and they fit together so well.
- the cinematography was gorgeous. no notes.
- the original plot, which, had it held up for the entirety of the drama, would have made it a 10/10 for me.
- the romance was exhilarating and despite its frustrating circular pattern kept me watching the show
- and on that note the chemistry between the characters! you can see them yearning for one another and returning back to the other despite any best judgement that tells them not to. even when they try their best to be separate they cannot stay away and that’s the kind of romance i want to see
- the japanese actor, sota fukushi, played his part so well and he also had a great emotional acting range.
- the use of so many languages. what a great concept. seeing kim seonho speak so many languages and it being used heavily in the script was a YES for me. Loved every second.
- The ost: What great songs!! seriously i loved how they fit with the story. And i definitely added them to my playlist. (except for the weird creepy music that played when rami was on screen, but that’s like one song)

Overall: if you like the show i won’t disagree with you, it is not a bad watch, but you cannot deny the writing is bad, superficial, and probably needed a few more weeks of editing. i think this show could have been something great if they had stuck with the original concept and gone with a heartwarming, amazingly cinematic romantic comedy that features multiple languages, drama, multiple countries, and a bit of cheeky humor. Even if they wanted to do it the way it is now just with a more cohesive plot then it could have scored way higher on my charts.

Still, i wont tell you not to watch it. if you’re into that kind of poorly written psychological writing go ahead and knock yourself out. if i had known before hand it would be that way i might have at least been able to accept its twists and turns. Rather its stuck between different genres and concepts, kind of like do rami, except just like her, none of it is logical at all. its like i bought an apple only to bite into it and find out it’s a mushroom. and i hate mushrooms.

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Would've been a 10 if they didn't ruin everything up in the second half.....

Despite its narrative shortcomings, Can This Love Be Translated? remains a drama that is difficult to dismiss because of how convincingly alive it feels. The strongest elements of the series are undeniably its actors, locations, cinematography, and music, which together create an immersive experience that often compensates for the lack of narrative structure.

The first half of the drama is nearly flawless. The chemistry between Ho Jin and Mu Hee feels effortless and organic, particularly in Japan, where their interactions appear so natural that it feels like these people genuinely exist outside the screen. The absence of heavy exposition or detailed backstory does not hinder the realism; instead, it enhances it. They feel like real professionals—a translator and a rising actress—crossing paths in real time, not characters being forced into a story.

The supporting cast further strengthens this realism. From Mu Hee’s manager and Ho Jin’s writer friend to the multinational group of friends seamlessly switching languages, every character feels as though they are living their own lives independently of the main plot. Even Ho Jin’s mother, who appears without foreshadowing, feels natural rather than intrusive. Hiro and Nanami also add depth, with Hiro subverting expectations set by his early confession and Nanami standing out as a particularly strong presence, aided by authentic casting and fluent bilingual performance.

Where the drama begins to unravel is with the introduction of Do Ra Mi. Her character creates narrative chaos without meaningful payoff. While Go Yun Jung’s performance is undeniably entertaining, the storyline surrounding Do Ra Mi is poorly organized and ultimately unnecessary. Her confessions, unresolved trauma, and abrupt exits feel illogical and underexplored, and the lack of communication between the leads only amplifies this frustration. As a result, the second half loses the emotional clarity and coherence that made the first half so compelling.

There’s honestly nothing left to say about THE Kim Seon Ho and yet, there always is. I feel both blessed and relieved every time I get the honor of watching him on my screen, taking on a new role, a new challenge. This is probably the fourth drama where he appears as a lead, and what stands out the most is how sincere he is in everything he does. Every expression, every line delivery, and even his kissing scenes feel carefully thought out and intentional.

I may be living roughly 2,330–2,390 miles away, and most of this drama was filmed outside Korea, but Kim Seon Ho somehow manages to make his co-actors feel safe, calm, and grounded around him. There’s a quiet reassurance in the way he performs—something that can’t be taught, only felt.

Next comes the most talked-about actress of recent times: Go Yoon Jung. I’ve been watching her since Law School, where she played a side character trapped in an abusive relationship. I never imagined that same actress would later become one of the most beloved and respected K-actresses of her generation. She’s known to be a little introverted in real life, but from the very first episode of this drama, it never felt like she lacked control or clarity over her character.

From sorrow to joy, anxiety to embarrassment—she nailed everything perfectly. And then came the real challenge: Do Ra Mi, a character who shares the same backstory and physicality as Cha Mu Hee but is completely different in mannerisms, speech, and emotional expression. Go Yoon Jung had to constantly switch between these two while maintaining a clear distinction—and she pulled it off seamlessly. Honestly, based purely on performance, she should probably be mentioned first… but I’ll admit, I’m a little biased toward Kim Seon Ho after all.

Up next is the wild card: Fukushi Sota as the second lead. An excellent actor who deserved far more screen time. His chemistry with both Mu Hee and Ra Mi was exceptional. I didn’t expect the enemies-to-lovers trope to work this well, but the moment Do Ra Mi kissed him, all his walls—and mine—started crumbling. I would’ve loved to see more of their sharp back-and-forth tiki-taka.

His Korean dialogue delivery deserves special mention. It was obvious how much effort he put into speaking those lines, and it paid off. I don’t usually enjoy Japanese dramas, so watching him act in a Korean production was genuinely a treat.

Lee Yi Dam left a deep impression on me after Daily Dose of Sunshine, and she once again proved that she’s an exceptional actress. Choi Woo Sung is also one of my personal favorites—someone I’ve seen across multiple dramas in a wide range of supporting roles, always leaving a mark no matter the screen time.

Lastly, a special shoutout to Lee Hyunri, who played Hiro’s manager, Nanami. Her no-nonsense delivery was incredibly fun to watch, and I was genuinely shocked when I heard her speak Korean so fluently.

Technically, however, the drama excels throughout. The OSTs are exceptional, each song clearly crafted with care and emotional intent. The cinematography and locations are among the drama’s strongest achievements. Japan’s melancholic beauty sets the emotional foundation, Canada heightens romantic tension, and Italy, though visually stunning, is sadly undermined by narrative distractions. Still, the effort to showcase culture, language, and global movement feels justified given the male lead’s identity as a polyglot, making the international settings feel purposeful rather than decorative.

The rating would’ve been a 10 if the second part of this drama were a bit more organized, unlike my thoughts. Half of this rating is because of the absolutely fabulous locations this show was filmed in; I would love to forget everything like an amnesia patient so I could experience it again, and the other half goes to the excellent singers and composers who made the OSTs and actors who participated in the drama.

In the end, Can This Love Be Translated? is a drama that shines in atmosphere, performance, and visual storytelling but stumbles badly in narrative execution. The first half is endlessly rewatchable and emotionally rich, while the second half feels rushed, unstructured, and unsatisfying. It is a drama that could have been exceptional but settles instead for being memorable, flawed, and frustratingly close to greatness.

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