The romantic journey between an anxious actress and a precise interpreter hits new heightsโand some deep lowsโas they travel to Canada for a reality show. Episodes 3 through 6 of Can This Love Be Translated? push Cha Mu-hee and Joo Ho-jin closer together while forcing them to confront painful secrets, professional jealousy, and a haunting alter ego. Here is a complete breakdown of the major developments, romantic tensions, and scenic shifts in these pivotal episodes.
Episode 3 Recap: Agreements, Apologies, and a New Assignment
The episode begins with the aftermath of the red carpet incident. Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa is the one who caught Mu-hee, creating a viral moment. Producers of a dating reality show, Romantic Trip, see the clip and decide the pair would be perfect for their program .
Meanwhile, Mu-hee is in Japan with Ho-jin, visiting a doctor. She reveals to the doctor that she has visions of Do Ra-mi, her zombie character from the hit film The Quiet Woman. She explains she was in a major accident as a child that killed her parents, but she cannot remember it . A flashback reveals Ho-jin overhearing Mu-hee’s relatives at a hospital long ago, asking a doctor not to contact them about her again .
Back in Seoul, Ho-jin is approached to work as the interpreter for Romantic Trip, a job recommended by his old friend, Ji-seon. He accepts, partly to avoid attending her upcoming wedding to his half-brother, Jin-suk. At the show’s preliminary interview, he is shocked to find Mu-hee is the starring actress .
During a break, Mu-hee confesses to Ho-jin that her medical tests came back clear, but Do Ra-mi still appears. They argue about their messy history and whether they can work together, leading Ho-jin to quit. Later, Mu-hee extends an olive branch, and they apologize over a meal. Just as she accepts that the show might not happen, her manager, Yong-u, calls to say she got the job .
Panicked about her anxiety during filming, Mu-hee begs Ho-jin to come with her as her interpreter. He agrees, setting the stage for their trip abroad .
โMu-hee created this being called Do Ra-mi as a delusion,โ actress Go Youn-jung said about her character’s struggle. โIt’s a psychological shield.โ
Episode 4 Recap: A Rocky Start on Canadian Soil
The cast and crew arrive in Canada for the first shoot of Romantic Trip. Mu-hee is pleasantly surprised to learn Hiro is her co-star, but Hiro’s reaction is cold. Producer Kim convinces Hiro to continue with the show, and Ho-jin learns a secret: Hiro did not want Mu-hee to be cast and is annoyed at how her “zombie” image might affect his romantic brand .
Ho-jin asks the crew to call Mu-hee by her real name, not Do Ra-mi. During a walk, Ho-jin tells Mu-hee his brother’s wedding is next week and points out that the cruel things Do Ra-mi says are likely Mu-hee’s own insecurities .
The first filming task involves Mu-hee and Hiro in a park, connected via earpieces with Ho-jin translating. Hiro makes her chase balloons and subtly mocks her film. Ho-jin filters some of Hiro’s harsh words to protect Mu-hee. When Mu-hee gifts Hiro a heart made of maple leaves, he quietly says, โThis is the worst,โ which Ho-jin hears .
A conflict arises when a speck of dust causes Hiro to lose a contact lens, halting production. Ho-jin brokers a deal, trading Korean snacks for coveted ice hockey tickets to change Hiro’s mind. He then tells Mu-hee the truth: Hiro never wanted her on the show .
Back on set, Mu-hee takes a confident approach, walking toward Hiro with a fist that turns into a heart. The episode ends with a cliffhanger as Mu-hee runs to Ho-jin only to see him talking to Ji-seon, who has unexpectedly arrived in Canada .
Episode 5 Recap: Clovers, Confessions, and the Northern Lights
With Ji-seon now present as a replacement producer, the dynamic shifts. Mu-hee and Hiro continue filming activities, with Mu-hee maintaining a cheerful facade that Hiro finds odd. When a day’s shoot is cancelled, Mu-hee and her manager have drinks. Ho-jin returns to his hotel room to find Mu-hee wearing his glasses, and they both accidentally lock themselves out of their rooms .
They spend the night talking, and in the morning visit a farmer’s market. Mu-hee is collecting four-leaf clovers for luck, hoping it will help them see the aurora borealis. While Ho-jin runs an errand, Mu-hee gets lost and finds another clover. She runs to find Ho-jin, only to discover him with Ji-seon .
The tension escalates at a group dinner where Ji-seon reveals she postponed her wedding for the show. In a private moment, Ho-jin tells Mu-hee that he tried to get close to someone else and it didn’t work, warning her she would only be a rebound. Hurt, Mu-hee walks away .
During the northern lights shoot, Ho-jin is delayed by a minor car accident. Mu-hee blames herself, thinking she cursed him. When he finally returns, he assures her it wasn’t her fault and points to the spectacular aurora in the sky. He also reveals he found the seventh four-leaf clover. A flashback shows Ho-jin discovered Mu-hee’s room key card when she was asleep, realizing she had lied about being locked out .
Episode 6 Recap: Truths, Triangles, and Taking Sides
Episode 6 deepens the love triangle and forces characters to pick sides. With the aurora witnessed, the Romantic Trip crew prepares to leave Canada. Ji-seon’s presence continues to strain the set. Mu-hee, convinced Ho-jin still has feelings for Ji-seon, distances herself.
Hiro observes the change in Mu-hee’s behavior. His manager, Nanami, who has guessed Mu-hee’s feelings for Ho-jin, suggests the shift is due to her interpretation. Hiro begins to see Mu-hee in a new, more sympathetic light .
A major secret is uncovered when Yong-u, Mu-hee’s manager, accidentally answers a call for Ji-seon from Jin-suk. He learns the wedding was called off and Jin-suk wants to reconcile. Ji-seon threatens Yong-u to keep this quiet .
The episode focuses on the complicated web of unspoken feelings. Ho-jin grapples with his lingering attachment to Ji-seon and his growing, undeniable connection to Mu-hee. Mu-hee wrestles with her anxiety and the taunting voice of Do Ra-mi, who uses Ji-seon’s presence to amplify her fears of rejection .
A pivotal scene involves Ho-jin translating for Hiro as the Japanese actor attempts a more genuine conversation with Mu-hee. Ho-jin’s professional facade cracks, his personal feelings making the translation painfully difficult. This moment highlights the core question of the series: can he accurately translate romantic words for another man directed at the woman he himself is falling for?
The Canada arc concludes with the crew departing. While the shoot is technically a success, the personal relationships are in disarray. Mu-hee and Ho-jin are left with a pile of misunderstandings, unasked questions, and the looming presence of Ji-seon’s complicated situation.
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The Central Role of Do Ra-mi
Throughout these episodes, the hallucination of Do Ra-mi evolves from a brief vision into a more powerful voice. She appears at moments of high anxiety for Mu-hee, voicing her deepest insecurities about her career, her worth, and her chance with Ho-jin .
โMu-hee is a character who isn’t really direct and straightforwardโฆ But with Do Ra-mi, she’s much more free, she’s very straightforward,โ explained Go Youn-jung on playing the dual role .
In Episodes 3-6, Do Ra-mi specifically taunts Mu-hee about Ji-seon, suggesting Ho-jin will always choose his first love. This externalization of Mu-hee’s fear becomes a major obstacle to her happiness. The show suggests Do Ra-mi is not just a random hallucination but is tied to Mu-hee’s repressed childhood trauma, a mystery that will unravel further in later episodes .
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