Semantic Error (2022)

Simple story. Great Chemistry.

Simple story. Great Chemistry.

Acting by Park Seo Ham was awesome. Damn the man was epic. He oozed charisma on screen. I loved his exaggerated entry scenes that were pure service to his epic looks, yes there was more than 1. Park Jae Chan pulled off his monotone character well and in a very cute endearing way. Though there were times you want to take Sungwoo and shake him. He makes me wonder on if there was anything in his past that made him that way or if was he just like that from birth. But either was both actors were good in their roles with Park Seo Ham hitting it out of the park with his performance.


I liked the simplicity of the drama, and the fact that there were no over-the-top issues that cause the character problems was nice. But the ending felt a little rushed. I love the electric current pass-through wires sound at the end of the episodes that highlighted the sparks flying between the leads. It emphasised the tension between them. I really like their push-and-pull. I want more of their relationship. Sadly Park Seo Ham is in the military so there won't be a season 2 anytime soon.
**** SPOILER ****
I wonder if they still have the same push-and-pull once they are in a relationship. I wish there were more than those 2 scenes of them once they get together. Even the 2 scenes felt rushed like they only had 2 mins to tell us how Jaeyong is trying to get Dex to take Sungwoo as well or with Sungwoo's tendencies to keep pictures of Jaeyoung in secret.
**** END SPOILER ****
It could have been more fleshed out with a proper full episode.

But overall it was a nice feel-good drama. I think it's a great binge-watch, which weirdly I did not do. I waited until the drama was finished and then watched it in the span of 10-15 days. I liked it a lot and will probably rewatch it at some time in the future.

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So cute! Too short! Want more!

I know (well, I hope) everyone's going to rave about this but if I don't write this review I'm going to explode with glee.

This was such a good show!! It's been so long since I watched a show (especially a KBL) where the actors had such good chemistry. I wish this show was longer, so I'm still holding out hope for a second season. (Though getting 20-30-minute episodes was really nice!!)

It's a classic enemies to lovers trope, and that's one of my favorite tropes. But something I really enjoyed was that they flipped roles around in this show. (A mostly spoiler-free example: most times the needy and demanding one is SangWoo, but sometimes he also caves in to JaeYoung). They have such a wonderful dynamic, and the actors really bring it to life.

I want to say so much more, but can't without giving away spoilers, so I'll just let you experience the story yourself.

I really, really loved this show.

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Delightful!

Really good acting, sizzeling chemistry, enjoyable OST ( love that song!) and above all - the short guy can be really assertive when he needs to...I am so sick and tired of the timid, passive, wide eyed deer cought in the headlights...not here. Yes, there is a bit of the OCD lead playing against the happy go lucky lead trope, also the enemies to lovers trope, but here it is just cute. and not tiring. You go Shorty, he is yours!
It doesn't hurt that both ML are gorgeous in their own way...one in red from top to bottom, the other in plaids and baseball cap - and each eventually dropps the act...watch it. Highly recommended for following week by week or a delightful binge.

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The Crowd Pleasing Kind.

Edit 12 hours after watching episode 8: Okay, I'm sorry but this review is getting longer and longer! I've had a few hours now for me to let this show marinate in my brain and work out why I felt let down by it. I'm still trying to dissect it but I think I have a clearer idea of why it failed to resonate with me. I'm going to do my best not to put any spoilers for the show here, but there will definitely be spoilers from the manhwa.

My first experience of Semantic Error was not in actual fact the manhwa, but 3 x 3 minute anime episodes of it floating around quietly in the dark recesses of the webisphere. It was visually stilted and amateur and it was really just three little glimpses out of the whole story. In spite of all of this, the chemistry was pure FIRE. I was stunned and hooked, and this was what led me to the manhwa, which, as it turns out, was also FIRE. The premise of a highly-intelligent, super-OCD socially awkward guy falling for the charms of a popular, handsome and sunshine-y hyung was told in a laugh-out-loud funny and really creative way. With the sheer amount of high school and university romances out there (especially rampant in the BL world), this stood out because of its vivid characters, humour and ... yes, wait for it ... sexual tension.

Choo Sang Woo is correct to a fault. His day is perfectly mapped out down to the second. So when Jang Jae Young shows up and starts to ruin his well-laid plans, he is pissed. Like royally pissed. But what is even more of a "semantic error" for him is how his body starts to respond to Jae Young. In one of the many library scenes sitting next to Jae Young in the comic (yes, the library scenes were almost completely left out of the show) he literally runs out of the library to the toilet because he's sporting a massive boner and cannot understand it. In his mind, sex is merely a biological mechanism that humans partake in to further the continuation of the species. The way that he starts to want Jae Young does not make any sense at all and we see him battling with this throughout the story.

So what did we get in this live action show of Semantic Error? Well, we were never gonna get the high-heat, of course. Unlike Thailand, Taiwan and Japan, South Korea generally doesn't go there on screen, even if they do in a big way in other mediums. Still, we have certainly seen South Korea do sexual tension without needing to be explicit. Was it necessary to the storyline? Let's take just one example in this show (small spoiler alert, sorry): Jae Young taking Sang Woo's cap off and patting him on his head in a "Nawwwww, you're so cute I want to pat you like a puppy" way is inherently not the same thing as Jae Young taking Sang Woo's cap off in a "I want you so badly right now that I'm going to take your cap off and mess your hair" kind of way. There was an implied power play there between two very masculine guys which was totally subverted in this live-action interpretation. I understand the need to tone down the heat for the masses, but I also think there could have been a happy middle here.

So, was the show bad? No, it was for the most part okay. Returning to my original thoughts 12 hours ago, it was a good boyband bright, cute and fluffy version of the manhwa. They chose the grumpy cute puppy coupled with an aggresively charming seme route and clearly ticked all the popular boxes, given how on fire the fans are over this one. Yes, it was cute. Yes, the leads had good chemistry. Seo Ham as Jae Young had great charisma and did a solid job being the smitten hyung. I also thought the female supports were really well-casted and brought a lot to the show. There was nothing special in the cinematography and the pacing was off in parts - it never fails to baffle me why these filmmakers think we still need flashbacks when all we’re getting is 8 x 20 minute episodes. The music was unremarkable but at least not annoying like it can be in these types of shows.

So, was it for me? Sigh. I guess I was just after a grown up version that was never going to be … and seeing as everyone else seems to think it deserves a 10/10, I must be the super odd one out.

Still, I will stick to my guns and call it like it is: cute, fluffy and a fun ride, but by no means game-changing. And most definitely not a 10.

A solid 7.5 for me.


***


Meh. So I don’t usually start any shows if they haven’t finished airing yet but I just couldn’t wait with Semantic Error. I stumbled across the manhwa a few weeks ago and it was incredible - the pacing, the art, the two leads were electric together, and the comedy was laugh out loud funny. So when I discovered we were going to get a live action adaptation, I rejoiced and counted the days.

I’m sure my experience of this has been coloured considerably as a fan of the manhwa, but let’s be honest here - even by BL genre standards this is okay so far but not a 9.8, come on people. Sure, it might be a bit of a higher budget than many of the Korean BL exports, and the acting is good so far, but we’re two episodes in and it has yet to match the chemistry in To My Star or the meticulously gorgeous visuals of Light On Me - both solid 8-9 stars in my book.

In saying that, it’s not yet fair to give it a proper rating until it’s complete, so let’s all give Semantic Error a chance to be what it wants to be and score it in a few weeks time. Until then, let’s not be too hasty. I’m still hopeful! ??

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BEST KOREAN BL SO FAR

This series is a game-changer for the Korean BL industry. The series has a nice simple storyline complemented with a great cast. It's just that despite it being a simple storyline there is something special with the series. My thoughts go to the casting and the little details that the director and behind the scenes team has put into the series.
The series does remarkably well for the episode length, the usual episode is only 20 minutes. It would be nice if it could go longer but I believe it is only a small production company that made this, and they did well with what they had.

Really give it a watch, you will not regret it!

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Best Korean BL so far.

Don't get me wrong. There are many great Korean BLs, incl. To My Star, Light on Me, Where Your Eyes Linger and many others. Korean BLs are becoming better and better. But this is the best one so far.

The casting is superb. I would not find a better pair of actors to play Chu Sang Woo and Jang Jae Young if I tried. Sometimes it just clicks. An oh boy, did it click this time. Visually exactly what they were supposed to be. And HOT. I mean FIRE. Their chemistry is off the charts. And their portrayal of the characters was flawless. Great acting too (cuz these Korean BLs, they have a history of actors whose acting was almost as stiff as my dong ;) gets, LOL). The main couple is such a strong point of this series, but the rest of the actors do their job just as well.

The story itself is great, the idea, the progression, the ending. Yeah, the beginning could've been a little better explained (so pay attention, you guys!), but let's not forget they don't have a Thai budget to film these types of series in Korea...yet. The plot isn't rushed, nor is it stretched out. I mean, it's just right. I just wish they could kiss more, and I hope for some more *action*, but it's just my very personal general comment to all Korean BL series.

Overall the best investment of my time in watching BLs in quite some time.
Perfect for rewatching.

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Came in expecting nothing

To be honest my experience with Korean BLs only tells me that many are pretty bland(for lack of better words). I know that it is still an emerging category for Korean dramas and all of them have been pretty enjoyable especially to watch in between episodes of other dramas I am watching, but this one was great from beginning to end.
The summary for this here is a pretty good one, so I won't reiterate it and I think that the best part of this comes from the casting. I think they all acted their roles strongly especially Park Jaechan. Characters that are robotic-like can easily be overacted or underacted if the actor doesn't put enough thought into it, but I think that Park Jaechan did it especially well. You could see his thoughts and actions changing bit by bit throughout the episodes and by the end, he became a more open version of himself. It didn't happen too quickly and his change wasn't overexaggerated just in the small details which makes it even more realistic.
Like I said before I think the whole cast was pretty great, but I wish they could've been shown a little bit more. If the drama was just a bit longer I think that I would rate this drama 10/10. I know that it is based off a web novel that I have not read yet(planning on it), so I don't know if it is possible.
It is only 8 episodes so even if it is not your thing to watch it won't be a waste of your time.

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In the beginning of starting this drama I really didn’t like it in the beginning like the first 1-5 episodes were good but they didn’t really hit me to LOVE the series till episode 6-8 (obviously that a preference). However considering that this show is an eight episode series they really did really good with it. The lighting in the alley way scene, the acting of the actors, the colors, and directing. I really liked it. I do wish there was more of the cs or graphic design learning aspect of it however thats not too important. I am currently reading the manwha I am on lime chapter 28 and their are clear differences between this and that, however the way they have displayed Sangwoo I like better than in the manwha, personally just because in the mawha I feel like he talks a bit much for a guy who is keeps to himself, the setting of the character’s scenes also change like the computer fixing or whatnot. The way Sangwoo’s run is funny to me personally, it didnt feel like he was tryna run away, whcih from actor he isnt so a little unrealistic there. I which the drama was a little longer to go more into the details of the plot as well.

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This drama captures your heart.

First of all let me say, that I am usually not watch BL's, but this one sparked my interest only from the trailer.
So I gave it a try.
I was not expecting much, but once I started the drama I was involved at the very first moment.

The relationship between Sangwoo and Jaeyoung feels real and genuine.
I really loved how the two opposing character traits clash and watch them little by little adapt to each other in the only 8 very short episodes, making them turn from enemies to lovers.
While I think it was wrapped up perfectly in those 8 short episodes, I am lingering for more.
I wanted to see both of them together once more and interact with the support characters, who were portrayed in a perfect balance of seriousness and funniness.

The drama itself was a rollercoaster of emotions.
Every time it got a little romantic, I caught myself cheering and rooting for them, making me feel like I have butterflies in my stomach too.
When it got critical, I could feel the pain each one of them was feeling.
A big thanks to Jae Chan and Seo Ham for portraying those two characters. Both do an outrageous job.

Overall, it is a lovely drama that keeps you on your toes.
Making you go through several emotions in a short period of time.

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Full of clichés but so addictive

The story isn't fresh and new, but boy oh boy did I binge? Yes, yes I did. I should have done some housework, but instead chose to stare at my screen for 8 episodes. Thank god it's not 80 episodes or I would be in big trouble. That's the only good thing about it having only 8 episodes. I need more of those two together because I'm still on a pink fluffy cloud right now. I would recommend this drama to everyone who loves fluffy, cheesy, lovey-dovey BL's.

You might ask... what next? What now? Well I think you should go and take a look at the following BL's: 'Old fashion cupcake', 'Cherry magic! Thirty years of virginity can make you a wizard?!', 'We best love', 'Kieta Hatsukoi', 'My beautiful man' and of course 'Bad buddy'.

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How to start 2022 in a good way

If you're reading this bc you don't know if starting this or not, stop right now and go watch it. It's really worth it.

Story (9)
God yes, I haven't seen a good story like this in k-bls since To My Star I think. I always been a fan of the "enemis-to-lovers" plot and this drama didn't fail the target: good characters' development and good visuals, plus a story that doesn't become boring after 2 episodes. That's perfect.

Acting/Cast (9.5)
Just a word: chemistry. They have one of the best chemistry on and off-screen I have ever seen as a bl fan.
As a non-kpop fan, I didn't know first these two, but god, thanks to this drama for making me know them. Park Seo Ham it's on another level, his acting and visuals are just on top. As for Park Jae Chan, I actually thought at first he couldn't do a different face of his stern face at the beginning, but then I remember that's actually his character, so in the end he did really a good job to portrait him.

Music (9)
As I always say, and I start to become bored saying, the music in k-bls is always on top. Particularly on this... I'll dream the "stairs song" forever.

Rewatch Value (8.5)
Good and chill to rewatch. I love k-bls bc they're always short and easy to rewatch. I'll definitely do it.

Overall (9)
As good as this is, I'm really glad people love it. Hope that when Park Seo Ham returns from the military, there could be a s2 (bc as a manhwa reader, I know there's so much more after this lol)

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