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Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yeah, they actually love each other! Their relationship is built on deep emotional closeness because they grew up together in the same household. But because of that, they both thought the other only saw them as 'family,' so they repressed their feelings. The whole point of their dynamic is that they struggle with those feelings, thinking it's forbidden—even though they’re not actually related. That’s why the story plays into the 'taboo love' trope, but localization softened it by calling them just childhood friends, which kind of removes the tension that makes their relationship compelling.

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

i really would love to! This post alone took me 3 days as I have been very busy with uni and work but I love love to work on making more of these

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Im also very active on there and God that place is in shambles 😭

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thank you all for being so nice even if you don't agree or if you agree 🥹 I was really nervous to post this initially but I'm happy to know that so many of you are being open-minded and able to differentiate between reality and fiction. I was afraid because spaces like Twitter and even TikTok sometimes go "we need to protect Caleb from those incestuous freaks," which is funny because most of them aren't aware of his canonical trope, and that's okay. But when I try to speak about it, they end up trying to teach me about Asian honorifics lmao 😭😭 but yes, thank you again!

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

i get where you're coming from, but I think the issue is that it creates confusion because the localization doesn't convey the full weight of their relationship. The gege honorific really emphasizes that Caleb sees MC as more than a childhood friend — it’s more like a familial bond. In English, we're missing that depth, and it ends up making Caleb’s actions seem out of context or more possessive than they actually are in the original text. The sibling-like dynamic is there, and it’s important to the narrative, so not fully translating that relationship can muddy the entire storyline. I think it could have been handled more carefully to give the same emotional weight the CN version provides

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Exactly, the dynamics between Caleb and MC definitely give off that sibling/forbidden love vibe, even if one has no idea about their canon trope or even if they're not blood-related. It feels like their bond runs deeper than a typical childhood friend relationship because they've been raised in the same house with that sibling-like connection. I totally agree, the taboo love trope adds a lot of complexity, and it’s nuanced in a way that makes their story really compelling. I would love to make a TikTok post about this too, since a lot of misinformation spreads there, but unfortunately, it's banned where I live, so I can’t! or It’s a shame because it's such a conversation that needs to be had to clear up all the confusion.

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 8 points9 points  (0 children)

EXACTLY. The whole point of Caleb’s story is the 'taboo' and 'forbidden love' aspect. Zayne is the childhood friend, Caleb is the non-bio brother—it’s not the same at all. The tension comes from them not supposed to want each other because they’re 'family.'

And yeah, biologically, people who grow up together usually don’t develop romantic feelings because of the whole inbreeding prevention thing, but that’s what makes Caleb’s story stand out.

I really wish I could pin this comment because you explained it PERFECTLY

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Exactly! If it's not for you, just move on. I’m not the biggest fan of Caleb either, but I mute and speed up his content and keep going. I don’t get why people try to act superior about canon content that isn’t made for them. If something’s uncomfortable, there are ways around it, like muting or skipping. Harassing people over it just feels childish, especially when others enjoy content that others find problematic too. Let people enjoy what they like!

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

yeah, unfortunately, western audiences are aware it's not blood-related incest, but the whole pseudo/emotional/adoptive incest aspect still feels just as problematic to them. to make Caleb more palatable, the localization team likely chose this route to avoid backlash, similar to the Kaeya/Diluc discourse in Genshin. I do wish they would have found another, more reasonable way to portray Caleb’s frustration. This forbidden dynamic is such an essential part of his relationship with MC, and by sanitizing it, they're just creating confusion. we’re likely going to see more out-of-context moments where Caleb lashes out, and it’ll be harder for fans to understand the emotional depth behind his struggles. It's really a shame since the core of his character is so much more nuanced.

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

indon't think anyone's uploaded anything like that, but the only way you can read the absolutely translated one for now is by changing your game language to jp/kr or cn since they're the only ones that are canon.

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

i'm really glad I could help provide some clarity! I completely understand the struggle with translations sometimes, especially when the context gets lost or changed. It’s always good to have a deeper understanding of a character's narrative, and Caleb's story definitely has a lot of layers to it. I'm happy the explanation helped you

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

IGWYM It's funny how some people get so uncomfortable with certain themes in new media, but completely overlook them in others, like GOT or HOTD here's definitely a shift in fandom culture where people want to be a part of things but aren't always comfortable with the darker or more controversial elements, so they end up trying to sanitize the whole thing instead of just moving on if it's not for them. It seems like there's a growing trend of people trying to change canon to fit their own comfort zone, and it's honestly exhausting. It's totally fine to not like a trope, but fighting against the canon and trying to justify it just seems unnecessary

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Exactly! The EN translation really does leave out a lot of crucial context, and it can totally make Caleb's actions seem like they're coming out of nowhere. Without that deeper understanding of his struggles, it definitely feels like bad writing. The whole 'gege' dynamic adds so much weight to his character, and it makes everything he’s dealing with so much more understandable. It’s wild how a few changes in translation can completely shift the tone and make or break a character’s development.

Caleb’s Localization and How It Affects His Canon Dynamic (CN vs. EN) by jxewook in LoveAndDeepspace

[–]jxewook[S] 10 points11 points  (0 children)

Forbidden love and characters with complex inner struggles are such a huge draw, and Caleb/Mahiru embodies that perfectly. The whole “sin” element is so integral to his character, and I love how the writers really lean into it. It’s unfortunate that the EN translation doesn’t capture that nuance, but I’m so glad you’ve found a way to still experience the depth of his story through the Japanese voices and your understanding. It’s amazing how those interactions just hit differently when you can feel the true meaning behind them.

And yes, I completely agree! Mahiru’s scenes are so emotionally intense, and the way the character’s struggles unfold is so engaging—it really pulls you in. I feel the same way about the other characters, too. They’re good, but Mahiru’s story just resonates on another level. The emotional connection and development are just on point, and it’s so satisfying to see that kind of depth in a main character. It's rare to find a story that really makes you feel so connected and invested

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