Tell Me That You Love Me (2023)

Soundless Love: Tell Me That You Love Me's Journey through Love and Loss.

"Tell Me That You Love Me", penned by Kim Minjung and helmed by Kim Yoonjin is the Korean adaptation of the popular Japanese drama "Aishiteiru to Ittekure", released in 1995. This captivating melodrama portrays the love story between Jinwoo, a middle aged man navigating life as a deaf artist and Moeun, an aspiring actress propelled by her profound love for the craft.

The show, experienced in 2023 is a beautifully written meloromance with each character feeling remarkably real and relatable. The narrative skillfully weaves their pains, hardships and struggles creating an emotional connection beyond the main lead characters.

Jinwoo a relatively unknown artist who lost his hearing early in life, finds a renewed sense of happiness and love when Moeun enters his life. This lonely man, scarred by a heartbreak from his past finds solace and happiness, granting him a second chance at love. However this marks merely the beginning of their journey, what unfolds are genuine issues faced in a relationship where one partner grapples with physical disability.

The show keeps it real about relationships with different physical abilities avoiding idealized views. It shows the challenges without getting toxic, staying down to earth. It digs into what its like when one partner faces physical hurdles, keeping things raw and genuine.
As the story goes on, Moeun deals with feeling insecure and jealous bringing in real challenges that resonates with the audience. A significant factor contributing to her struggle is Jinwoo's inability to hear or communicate conventionally. The emotions that arent sorted out create problems leading to a big breakup in episode 15. For me, the breakup made sense especially for Moeun to face and work through her own feelings.

"Tell Me That You Love Me", keeps it real about relationships especially when one partner has physical challenges. It avoids painting an idealized picture of love, embracing the genuine, sometimes messy side of such connections. The writer skillfully steers the story, fixing possible issues and making it even better than the Japanese version

Apart from the main characters the supporting cast brings depth and charm to the series. Characters like Kihyun, Seokyung, Johan, Jiyu, Modam and Moeun's parents are well crafted, adding richness to the overall story. Personally Kihyun is my favorite character whose warmth and friendship represent the companionship everyone desires. His happily married life with a deaf spouse and a daughter adds an extra touch of charm to the series.

The acting in the show is a key ingredient for its success. From minor roles like Jinwoo's students to the main leads, every cast member gives a praiseworthy performance. Jung Woosung's depiction of Jinwoo using compelling sign language and expressive acting truly shines. Supporting actors like Kihyun and Seokyung also impress bringing depth and authenticity especially in their use of sign language. Shin Hyunbeen's portrayal of Moeun adds an authentic touch making her journey in learning sign language feel genuine and relatable.

The show's music stands out with a beautiful OST lineup that heightens emotional moments. My Personal favorites are "Try Not To Cry" by 10cm and "To You" by Nerd Connection.

In conclusion, "Tell Me That You Love Me" is a masterpiece that should not be missed by melodrama romance lovers. With a solid 10/10 rating, this show leaves a lasting impression and holds a special place in the heart of the viewers

Read More

When you can see how understanding forms in between the lines of (un)spoken dialogue

This drama is a beautiful gem. Something that I enjoyed every minute of. Even the painful parts.

The acting is on another level for this one. The actors show us what human interaction and understanding brings and where it falls short. The messiness and the noise, the hardship when things do not reveal themselves as expected... it's all here.

There has been a lot of talk about FL being toxic and their relationship being unhealthy (some of it might be based on the Japanese original). And a lot was said on ML being too old and the age-gap being an issue.

And yet, it is not. There is no manipulative drama-usual plot here, but only human life at its purest and messiest, unclearest. There is not difficulty other than the silence in between us all. In the things said that leaves room for everything and the things we do not say and that ultimately still get a say.

I can say this: the only unhealthy thing in their relationship is him not really fighting for her. We never see him standing up with true effort (as his did with his former GF... mind you, he DOES stand up TO her FOR Meon, but not FOR her.). He said it at the beginning: for him it was new that for once he was not the one to make all the effort for a hearing person, but her actually doing all the work. And at some point he grew attached to it being this way, while disregarding (or not telling her) about what was happening with his former GF. Even though there is a lot of off-screen relationship handling happening ("we talked a lot..." in Ep 15.) He learnt through her that he was deserving of that effort. But the thing is: in a relationship that's normal. Sometimes you are pulling more and being supported more, and then it levels out until the other needs more.

Here the levelling out never happened... because let's face it: he unpacked lifelong trauma and hurt which informed ALL his reality.

And lastly: sometimes the greatest hurt we create for ourselves is when we think we are something for someone else that we are not. Sometimes we do not immediately know why we come into the life of someone else. And so we project our needs and wishes. She thought she needed to be his lover to show him the hearing world. He thought he needed to be her lover to protect her. And yet: She came into his life to teach him about self-love and respect, to lessen the harshness of the hearing culture in which he can barely exist, to bring peace to his child-heart of a mother who rejected him by bringing him to his old home and his mother (Ep 16). She was there for all of that, and it didn't matter that she didn't knew how or why.
He brought her confidence in moments of deep doubt. She built herself up again through being loved.

This series has so many layer and the writers had courage to show us how understanding forms without words and beyond the explicit forms of understanding we are attached to, how it erodes in the silence that allowed for expansion a few moments before and how eventually the same silence will grow so heavy and break love apart.
And let's not start on second lead Johan: who loves in silence over years and years and it is just enough. Even in the hard moments or when he is tempted to say it out loud, he keeps it in his heart like a precious treasure because he fears losing what he has. His silence is deafening and anybody can see it. And yet... it is his companion.

It's a beautiful, beautiful drama. And I cannot get over it. I cannot get over the layers and the depth and I will forever be grateful that there are still creators out there that make dramas with so much depth possible.

Read More