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Can This Love Be Translated? korean drama review
Completed
Can This Love Be Translated?
0 people found this review helpful
by andymrqch
18 hours ago
12 of 12 episodes seen
Completed
Overall 9.0
Story 9.0
Acting/Cast 9.5
Music 9.0
Rewatch Value 8.0
This review may contain spoilers

A visual love letter that gets lost in emotional translation.

It's a drama that dazzles with its high-level production. The decision to film on location in Italy, Canada, and Japan is not only an aesthetic triumph but also elevates the visual experience to another level. Watching the characters explore authentic tourist destinations brings a freshness and grandeur that few dramas achieve. Furthermore, the detail of including Japanese actors portraying Japanese characters (instead of Korean actors in disguise) demonstrates a respect for cultural authenticity that deserves applause.

The protagonists are complex characters, built upon traumas and emotional wounds they've carried since childhood. Both are adults with deep scars, and this premise promised a mature exploration of how the past affects the capacity to love. The soundtrack perfectly complements each moment, and the cinematography is simply stunning.

So far, so good. However...

The series promised a psychological drama, but it lost its way. The treatment of the protagonist's personality disorder felt erratic and, at times, exploited more as a dramatic device than as a sensitive portrayal. There were moments when her behavior veered into the illogical, generating misunderstandings that could have been resolved with a five-minute conversation. This constant lack of communication, far from building romantic tension, ended up being emotionally exhausting. There came a point where the overload of drama and frustration psychologically drained me as a viewer.

An interesting point was the introduction of Hiro, the Japanese character. His chemistry with the protagonist was palpable, and the enemies-to-lovers dynamic hinted at between them was so potent that, honestly, if it had been developed further, it might have been more satisfying than the main couple. His charisma and the narrative tension he generated overshadowed the central romance at several points.

There were also plot decisions that I found unnecessary, such as the protagonist's final arc searching for her mother, and other romantic arcs involving secondary characters that I personally felt were added and distracting, diverting attention from the emotional core of the story.

In general, this drama isn't a lighthearted, colorful romance drama. It's a story about wounds, insecurities, and how these influence relationships. Its technical execution is impeccable; the translator-actress dynamic, the reality show setting, the locations are dreamy, and the premise held promise. However, the handling of the protagonist's trauma and the communication between the couple, which at times becomes toxic, ultimately made the experience heavier than necessary. It's best suited for those seeking a visually stunning drama with moments of freshness, but who also have the patience to endure an emotional rollercoaster.
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