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Great cast but inconsistent character
Overall, I enjoyed Can This Love Be Translated?. Visually, the drama was stunning, with beautiful cinematography that elevated even quieter moments, and the music fit the tone of the story well. The cast also delivered strong performances across the board — there were no weak links acting-wise, and that definitely helped keep me engaged.That said, while the premise was interesting, I had a few issues with how the story was written, particularly when it came to the male lead.
My biggest problem was how inconsistent and jarring his character felt. Throughout much of the drama, he is harsh, emotionally distant, and highly critical of the female lead. He repeatedly pushes her away, judges her reactions, and refuses to work through her insecurities with her — even though those insecurities make complete sense given that he was in love with another woman for years. Rather than offering reassurance or communication, he coldly criticizes her and repeatedly says he wants nothing to do with her.
What made this especially confusing was how abruptly his attitude changed once he learned about her serious mental illness — something that would understandably overwhelm or frighten many people. Instead of struggling with this revelation, he accepts it almost instantly and suddenly becomes someone who knows her deepest secrets and helps her cope. The shift felt unearned. Even then, he often still seemed reluctant rather than emotionally invested.
Because of this, I was never fully convinced of his love for her. This wasn’t an issue with the actor’s performance, but with how the character was written. The emotional progression simply didn’t feel natural, and it made the romance less believable than it should have been.
I also didn’t care for the final plot twist. It added nothing meaningful to the story and felt unnecessary — almost like a last-minute attempt to end the drama on a dramatic note rather than a satisfying one.
Despite these issues, the drama was still enjoyable overall thanks to its strong visuals, music, and performances. While it didn’t fully deliver emotionally for me, it had enough strengths to make it worth watching — even if some of the writing choices ultimately held it back.
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Wonderful chemistry, Good plot
I want to start by saying that I genuinely enjoyed this show. The chemistry between the two leads was wonderful, and I especially liked the younger sister’s character and her storyline. His family was also refreshing to watch, particularly how their dynamic evolved over time. Overall, I liked all the characters—there wasn’t a single one I disliked so much that it made me want to drop the show (which has definitely happened to me before).That said, it did feel like I was watching three different shows. The beginning was pretty strong: it felt like a serious, intriguing, slightly sexy drama. Watching her manage all her lies and navigate each obstacle was genuinely interesting, and when his side of the story was revealed, it made everything even more compelling. That’s when I was fully hooked.
The second part, though, felt like a completely different show. The male lead suddenly seemed like a different person, and the tone shifted into something closer to slapstick comedy. Even so, it was still entertaining enough that I kept watching.
Then there was the third part—which was honestly insane, though not in a bad way. It was very dramatic. At times, it felt like I was watching a telenovela, with every possible dramatic plot point happening all at once. Still, somehow, it remained entertaining.
All things considered, I enjoyed the show. There wasn’t a single episode where I felt like dropping it, and I watched it all the way through without regret. I don’t think I’d rewatch the entire series, but I could see myself revisiting certain episodes again, maybe a few years from now.
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