2026 Kdramas

Yay. Another body switch. 

Everything about this feels so lazy and substandard. For instance, the writers have come up with the perfect formula to keep viewers entertained while sacrificing any type of quality. It's as though they just about want to meet a threshold with no desire to actually thrive in their chosen lane. This is not reminiscent of the older series; it's pretty sloppy with none of the essence. 

The title is incredibly fitting and not simply because the main protagonist navigates his day job as a competent translator, or the multicultural backdrop that allows us to border-cross seamlessly. It’s the words that get stifled, the silences that hang, the way they rummage through a mental inventory for the right words, the sensitivity to the creases and furrowing of brows. I think we underestimate the act of relating with one another and the tax on language to bridge the divide. 

I was fascinated by the female lead. She’s such a pulling force with no clear or discernible end in sight. Fantastically frustrating while brimming with a maximalist excess, with everything that makes life interesting. 

Update: That is what I would've said before venturing past episode 6. The initial premise was already so full, with what I felt to be endless possibilities. I can't tell if the writers are being bold in their risk-taking or if they're relying on tropes to guarantee a reaction, any reaction. I would've preferred they lean into the humanist/life aspect. Two scripts are vying for the viewers' attention: the misunderstood, clumsy love story between a couple in dire need of an interpreter & the psychological breakdown of an actress brought on by sudden stardom. It's greedy to have both serve as one, and it makes for chaotic toning.

Contrary to popular opinion, they were both worthy stories deserving of the small screen. You see the budding potential in episodes 1-6 and 7-11, respectively. They take what could seemingly be an unremarkable love story and attempt to add depth. Simultaneously, they explore the experience of an actor plagued by the presence of her own character. The makings were there.

The saving grace of this drama is the cinematography. You can feel the intentionality behind every shot. The lighting and colour grading feed you in ways the script tragically fails.

A+ review: https://kisskh.at/profile/heartinfootnotes/review/532164