Reviews

Love Is a Language That’s Hard to Translate—and This Drama Captured That Perfectly

I went into Can This Love Be Translated thinking I’d just casually watch it, but I ended up completely emotionally attached. This drama made me feel things so deeply, especially with how it showed that love is its own language—one that isn’t always easy to understand or express, even when the feelings are real.

Every episode felt gentle yet powerful. The story didn’t need loud drama to keep me hooked because the emotions, the silence, and the small moments were more than enough. I found myself hanging onto every look, every pause, every almost-said feeling.

THE ACTING was easily 10/10. Every emotion felt so real that I sometimes forgot I was watching a drama. The chemistry between the leads was soft, natural, and incredibly touching.

The cinematography was also stunning. Every episode felt like watching a film—the scenery, lighting, and framing made even the quietest scenes feel intimate and memorable. The music was the perfect final touch, making certain moments stay with me long after the episode ended.

This drama has huge rewatch value for me. It’s comforting, emotional, and the kind of story you go back to when you want to feel understood. Can This Love Be Translated reminded me that love doesn’t always need perfect words—sometimes, it just needs to be felt

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I watched everything in three days.

It really made me obsess over the characters and the story. I also felt the storyline to be unique, and the characters really developed. Are they believable and could be real? No and I hope not in some cases.

First, the bad:

One of the problems the drama has is that there are too many story arcs; they really did every trope under the sun:
- Revenge
- Controlling Parent / Parents opposing the relationship
- Loss of virginity
- Ex comes back
- Loss
- Miscommunication
- 3rd act break

The other huuge problem the drama has, there's some scenes that touch rape. There's one particular scene that we see one of then top main characters do to another character (not the bottom main lead) that I really had to ignore and forget or I wouldn't have enjoyed this as much as I did. I also would love that the loss of virginity plot arc would have been dealt with much less coercion and in a much more romantic way. Yeah the top lead is a big bad ass guy, into snakess and all, and into bdsm stuff, but the bottom is new to all this.

There's also like the first 4 episodes I would say this drama was trying too much, throwing everything under the sun at the wall and see what sticks. Then it finds it's voice and things get better, production gets better, the stories get better. But you have to take the first 4 episodes more like comedy and really decide after if you're into it or not.

Now the good:

I really loooved the first main arc of the story. I always do. When they are falling in love, when we see characters go from point A to B, really develop. The second main arc it's usually when I drop stories, but this one made me stick to it, and that says something.

Chi Cheng actor really does a good job. I really liked his character. Quiet characters are usually very hard to portray. He starts the show loving snakes more than anything in the world. He finished being a dependable, trustworthy guy who loves his partner more than anything. He goes from being someone no one relies on, to be the home of somebody. He goes from being rude and angry all the time to be calm and content and happy.

Wu Suo Wei character is a bit of a mess. He starts being a loser, with a girlfriend that leaves him for being poor. The whole "he's fat and unattractive" scenes are laughable because, honestly, he wasn't. He lost his dad when he was young, so he and his mother had to work extra hard to succeed in life. He's not afraid to take odd jobs or risky opportunities and he's very cheap. He first approaches Chi Cheng to take revenge on his ex, but falls in love with him slowly.

The second main couple is also quite interesting. Guo Cheng Yu is the childhood friend of Chi Cheng. There's a messy story there where they used to be three friends, with the third friend being the ex of Chi Cheng, but I don't want to enter to explain here but the drama is good. He's a chef? has a company? I'm not sure honestly. But he's more kind and respectful than Chi Cheng with his lovers. And then there's Jiang Xiao Shuai, who helps Wu Suo Wei and becomes sort of his master. His story is quite sad and I really enjoyed to see a more soft and less dramy side.

Overall it made me feel inspire to write, so I can't rate this drama badly. I'm not sure I would rewatch in the future but just for the story arcs and plots is an interesting case study.

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Wang Guang Ming???

The series hasn’t ended yet, but I wanted to write a comment because something really bothered me.

The storyline of the Wang Guang Ming [Xiao Rou's husband] was unfair.
It was clear that they were living a true, heartfelt love story. Ending the relationship because of a simple misunderstanding and jumping straight to divorce felt very rushed and unjustified.

There is a contradiction, because the couple clearly love each other very much. Naturally, even after what the wife saw, she should know her husband’s character and know that he is not a womanizer. It would have been natural for her to forgive the misunderstanding.

This was the only really bad mistake in the series👎🏻.

Since there are only six episodes left, I hope the scenario will have them get back together, because their divorce storyline was a silly mistake in the script 😂

It was heartbreaking in episode 17 when she left him, because it was obvious that he loves her. He only hid the matter from her because he loves her and didn’t want to upset her over something trivial 🤍.
The end of his story was sad and unsatisfactory🥺.
[my rating is not final, because the series is not over yet]‼️

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"Awful" can't describe how atrocious the ML's acting was

Things I liked

1 The premise. It had potential that was ruined by the cast of the ML.

2 The FL. The reason is that she is beautiful and can act when the script helps her. The thing is though, that I've seen her in several other projects and I'm baffled about how different she looks. No matter how many times I watch her here I can't reconcile her image with how she is in later projects. I have no idea what happened but it's so weird. Other than a little expression sometimes it's like we watch a different person.

Things I hated

1 The ML. I'm not sure what other people watched but this was painful to watch and not only that but it felt somehow creepy to watch someone who looked like a child play a start and a romantic hero on top of that. His character was awful anyway, no development and just a yelling stupid immature person. Mean without reason and no chemistry whatsoever with the FL. You have to see the worst to appreciate what you have. He went on the top of my list of untalented ugly actors.

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Boring is the word

Things I liked

1 The premise. I thought it would be well-acted and interesting and since I love the trope I was ready to have fun. I didn't even smile once.

Things I disliked

1 The grandfather. I never warmed at him. I think it's the actor I disliked even more than the character.

2 The brother of the ML. I didn't connect with him and his issues, but that's probably because they didn't care to make me connect. Everything stayed superficial.

3 The ML. I thought he'd be great at first but I changed my mind episode after episode. I've never seen him on something else so I can't say if he's talented and didn't shine here or if this is his acting style. If the latter, he was wrong for the role. He didn't make feel anything either.

4 The FL. I haven't seen her either on another series but in this one she was completely wrong for the role. She wasn't cute or beautiful enough to carry the character so I ended up indifferent to her as well. All in all, a bland and uninspired script delivered by actors who did the minimum.

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A must-watch for the yearners

The way he yearns for her is just-. But the way so much of their misunderstandings could’ve been resolved with basic communication?? In the end it was worth the watch but I was frustrated at times (that lowkey made it better cause it was kinda realistic given their careers). I just wanna know what was in that damn golden envelope?? Iykyk but hey that’s about as much as I can give away without spoiling!! If you ever dated a Japanese guy then you know the lack of communication in this drama is so accurate and heartbreaking. Don’t worry they have a better ending than us heartbroken people <3 (it’s been a year someone send help)

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Fast-paced story marred by underwhelming Guqin performances | The utterly domesticated Prince.

"We should cherish the present moment instead of dreaming about the future." - Yun Yi

I have few words for this drama, not because it lacked substance, but because its natural flow left me in a state of pure comfort. It washed away any potential criticisms, leaving only a beautiful, relaxing story.

The story was compelling from start to finish, leaving no room for boredom or discontent. The introduction of the characters was handled naturally, followed by entertaining events and conflicts that connected seamlessly to the plot. Each story arc was developed over the right number of episodes, ensuring the story never felt 'draggy' and maintained a fast pace. Every episode was skillfully utilized; I never felt any part of the story was filler, as each was beautifully crafted to support the main plot.

The climax flowed naturally. Although it briefly seemed as though the antagonist might regain the upper hand—echoing earlier events in the story—the protagonist surprisingly learned from earlier events and planned ahead to counter their moves. This gave us an ending that felt satisfyingly hard-earned.

I admit the last episode felt like fan service, but I can't complain at all. I'm so grateful we got to see their lives after all the conflict, and were even gifted moments of them enjoying life with their kids.

The romance between all 3 CPs is so sweet. I love them all, especially the endearing chemistry between the leads, Jiang Xu and Ming Tan. However, the couple that captured my attention the most—and who I wish had their relationship further explored and shown—is Shu Jingran and Yun Yi. Their chemistry is undeniable; I would have loved to see them become more openly affectionate and vocal with one another. While I liked how their story ended, I wish we could have seen a 'years later' glimpse of them, similar to the scene with Zhang Huaiyu and Bai Minmin with their adorable son.

I know the "stoic-to-softie" trope has been reused countless times across every dramaland. But there is really something about Prince Dingbei/Jiang Xu that keeps him above the rest. He was introduced as someone blunt—tactless, even—aside from being unromantic. But what made his evolution more interesting was that it didn't happen over a short amount of time. He underwent a phase of pondering and getting jealous without the usual in denial stage, and I think that is what made him unique. I adore how he's become totally smitten. One who is clingy and totally smitten. A true lover boy. He's turned from a man of few words into a real yapper. Cute!

One thing I am truly grateful for is how they dealt with that trifling, insignificant concubine and her daughter (Ming Chu) almost immediately. I’m really glad we didn't have to deal with them after all the mess they staged. Although we still encountered Ming Chu during the main conflict of the story, I am glad they didn't give her much relevance to the plot and kept her bitchy-antagonistic persona instead of suddenly making her kind. I certainly hate her, but I also can't deny that I grew to like her consistency.

If there is anything I wish they had improved, it would be the Guqin melodies and performances. I’m not sure if I’ve just grown too accustomed to the overly edited, superfluous Guqin presentations in Xianxia dramas, or if this production's representation simply lacks vitality. Either way, the performances felt underwhelming. I find those scenes mediocre and uninteresting, especially compared to how the characters described them as 'great.' I wish they could have been more realistically impressive.

P.S. My favorite moment has to be the drunk scene in Episode 23. While Ming Tan is livid with jealousy, Jiang Xu is completely lost in his admiration for her, thinking only of how unique and wonderful she is. He expresses that, given the opportunity, he would court her repeatedly just to prove his devotion. He is truly head-over-heels and makes it clear that no one can claim him but his Princess Consort.

Story - 9.5, I truly enjoy every moment of this drama. If there is one thing I wish they had improved further, it would be the development of Shu Jingran and Yun Yi. The story plot would've been flawless if they had given us some life updates about them, the same way they handled Zhang Huaiyu and Bai Minmin’s story. Especially they are the CP—next to the main CP—that I got attached too. Additionally, I don't know what happened with the Guqin performances but they're totally unrealistic and boring. I can still remember how dismayed I was watching them.

Acting/Cast - 10, I am very satisfied with the cast. They executed their characters very well. In terms of acting...gotta give credits to Song Wei Long, Bao Shang En & Bai Shu. Love these 3 the most!

Music - 10, The music gets better and better as the show goes on. I was a bit unimpressed at first, but I noticed how the song choices and their placement slowly improved over time. It’s a beautiful set of songs.

Rewatch Value - 9.0, I love it, but not to the point where I can watch it again immediately. Maybe after a few years when I’ve forgotten the details about the story. Definitely a great watch, regardless!

Overall - 9.5, It was a good story overall. It would have been flawless if they had provided equal visual development and updates for Shu Jingran and Yun Yi, and if they had put more effort into editing the Guqin performances. Those were simply disappointing. You can’t present a lackluster act and then call it 'great' immediately afterward.

IF you find my review helpful please let me know.

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A Dark Psychological Thriller

This drama will keep you spellbound. It opens with Jiang Shuo being rescued from a graveyard pit, alive but stripped of his memories, as if he has returned from the edge of death. He is later arrested and accused of murder, yet a calm and incisive Dr Qin overturns the charge, revealing that the time of death makes the crime impossible. From this eerie beginning, Jiang Shuo, Dr Qin Yi Heng, and Yuan Mu Qing, the daughter of the formidable Marshal Yuan, are drawn together to uncover the truth.

Jiang soon reveals an unsettling gift: he can hypnotise others and enter their psyche. This power becomes their key to probing suspects and accomplices, with Qin accompanying him into these shadowed inner worlds. Each descent is perilous, for one wrong step could leave them trapped within another mind, unable to return.

As their investigation deepens, the murders multiply, culminating in their confinement on a remote island. There, alongside four others, they are presented with a chilling ultimatum: kill each other, and only the sole survivor may leave, rewarded with immense wealth. The game echoes a similar incident from a year earlier, one that may explain the mysterious disappearance of Qin’s father. Survival now depends not only on courage, but on intellect and restraint.

Gradually, a hidden hand emerges. A brilliant and malevolent mastermind named Liu Zhi orchestrates a web of revenge killings, manipulating others to murder those who once wronged them. He is always one step ahead, faceless and unreachable, slipping away just as the net tightens. Even more unsettling is the growing sense that Jiang Shuo is intimately connected to him. Both can enter the human mind, both understand its darkest corners. But who is Liu Zhi, and why is Jiang at the centre of his designs?

The drama thrives on this sense of mysticism. Although the ability to truly enter another psyche is fictional, it casts each crime in an uncanny, almost supernatural light. As Liu’s game escalates to threaten the lives of those they love, the tension becomes relentless, and his twisted, psychopathic nature is laid bare.

A clever final twist reveals an unexpected bond between Jiang and Liu. The only misstep lies in the ending, which leaves it unclear who ultimately emerges from the capsule as victor. I prefer a decisive triumph of good over evil rather than such ambiguity. With a clearer conclusion, this drama could have earned a solid 9 on kisskh, rather than its current 8.1. Personally, I would have given it a 10 instead of a 9.

Even so, it is a gripping and haunting watch, and I highly recommend it.

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Good and Bad, Highs and Lows

It's very tropey and contrived.

It's not a bad drama, but nothing blends well together, the characterisation for the leads isn't right, and instead of bringing something new or sticking to one story, it tries to do multiple things in one show. There's nothing that feels real or natural in terms of the romance either, and their relationship was rushed (no building friendship or romance), so it didnt feel like it was really going anywhere and I ended up disconnecting from the pairing. I also didn't like that the family issues weren't really dealt with.

What I did like... the lead's mum's relationship, ML's mother's awakening and healing, the mother team and the FL's place in it and relationships within that, and the FL's growth and the positive changes in her life.

I rated as high as I did because of what I did really like, and because there were some VERY good scenes, and some shows don't even have that, even some of the better shows that are consistent.

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Just a kelp in water

This has nothing but full of desktop wallpapers to choose from.

The anticipated romance? the sizzling chemistry? It's there but not there. It is bleak. Cha Mu Hee's personal trauma took over the whole plot that the writers forgot to actually write a proper development in the romance and give a chance for chemistry to actually spark. Instead it became an accessory for the sake of the promised romcom genre.
The only time I actually enjoyed it was the dynamic between Joo hyo jin and Do Ra Mi. Do Ra Mi's character has a better compatibility with Joo Hyo Jin's attitude. Yet with Cha Mu Hee, it's bland.

Overall the drama gave me nothing, it has a lot of potential to be interesting yet it didn't became anything. The writers threw away a great premise just to fall back into something generic.

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Sorry but good riddance

Maybe my review is overly harsh, but I was looking forward to this drama only to be super disappointed. Great acting, chemistry, aesthetic cinematography, and some angst/cute moments here and there but overall the writing and characters sucked.

Mumu is among the top, if not the top, of my list of most useless female leads. I’m not a fan of super cutesy types, but I tried to give the benefit of the doubt. But all she did was be cute. After going to Thailand to find her “brother” without any warning, I feel like she was just someone who was constantly spoiled and accommodated for. Her dad’s second wife and daughter were so kind to her, but I barely saw any moments where she would get close to them. They were all just coexisting but so close/courteous, it felt like a very convenient plot hole to skip over.

Everything else was ML taking care of her, doting on her despite his own worries, but also never telling her. She took a foundation language course, learned how to drive, but is all of a sudden super talented with drifting with just her dad’s verbal knowledge and one class to draw a heart. How she managed to survive and fund her cute clothes and everything else without a job (unless we count others conveniently paying or caring for her) I have no idea.

Everything else was cringey. I skimmed so much of the cliche plots, with the bad boy fighting and racing. The drama really dragged. They had finally started dating around ep 15, then we find more details on why ML is still doing dangerous activities despite not needing the money anymore. The communication was so one-sided or indirect, everything being hidden to “protect” her or “for her own good” was also annoying and dragged the conflict on even more. The mixed signals, lies, and push and pull were also annoying.

The FL was only less naive, useless, and cutesty post break up, but it was disappointing to see how a breakup and separation would really lead to her growing up. It was really all the little things in this drama. It totally makes sense for JZ’s doc to breaks patient confidentiality (unless that’s different in China) to tell her about his condition and give her his medical records. He wasn’t going to tell her about his pain otherwise. Again with the communication. Also it totally makes sense for her to help with his rehab.

15 ep to date, 5 ep of whatever they did dating and racecar and investigation bs, and the rest are post breakup/reunion/reconciliation bs. “Proper” communication probably happened around ep 25. The last few ep’s were more enjoyable. Then they added Wan Qing there (which didn’t make sense to me since it never showed what happened to her after the race and her dad’s toxic business). The pacing felt really slow then fast and all over the place. There’s still some loose ends and unanswered q’s… at least it’s a happy ending

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A Short Drama That Doesn’t Feel Rushed

This was so simple, yet so beautiful.
Even though my brain already knew what was going to happen, I still enjoyed every second of it — yes, a little cliché, but in the best way possible.
Wen Pei An is soooooooooooooooooooooo handsome
I absolutely loved the chemistry between Wen Pei An and Xin Tong.

I usually don’t watch short dramas because everything feels rushed and hard to follow, so I started this one just to have something playing while I worked. But before I even realized it, I was completely drawn in.

Maybe it’s a low-budget production, but the attention to detail and the acting made it feel almost perfect. I found myself smiling in every episode.

Now that I’ve finished it, I realize I didn’t just like this series — I actually fell in love with it.

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