Semantic Error (2022)

opposites attract, enemies to lovers, battle of the geeks, sunshine/tsundere, teasing & pranks

Okay look, I said when I reviewed Light on Me, that Korea was giving us an honest to goodness high school set BL with some classic old school yaoi tropes almost as if they were doing a bit of a, “now that we’ve hit our stride, let’s perfect the vanilla sheet cake BL style.” It was great, of course, but very refined and elegant which some found off putting.

I feel like they did it again with Semantic Error. Only maybe even a little better? Okay maybe not better but DIFFERENT.

Everything that Korea always does right, they did right with this show.

* Spot on and pretty pretty casting of mature actors who can handle the content.
* High quality production values with beautiful filming and flawless sound quality.
* Great wardrobe, lighting, staging, editing, and everything else pre and post production being well chosen and executed.
* Great friendship group and support characters.
* Strategic use (but not overuse) of BL and romance tropes.

This was an absolutely pitch perfect university set BL, just very very Korean about it. It had all the hallmarks of old school traditional yaoi, linear filming and framing techniques combined with classic archetypes including a strong seme/uke dynamic. But it was so pleasingly pristine and tailored about its approach.

If Light On Me was a fluffy delicious vanilla sheet cake, Semantic Error is the perfectly baked moist and decadent red velvet cupcake.

A little richer, a little more depth, that creamy cheesy frosting. Maybe not the most innovative, maybe not as complex as we might like, but so well executed it was like classical french cooking... you can’t argue with perfection you can only gobble it down and then be sad you ate so fast.

Yes WATCHA, you have ALL the techniques. Yes, you have all the skills. And you know what, sometimes that’s all we really need in a BL.

We are so grateful.

What elevates Semantic Error is that Korea did things right with this one that they usually mess up.

They got the pacing spot on for the shorter length. It never felt rushed.
They managed a tight *complete* story with nothing confusing about intent, purpose, or character motivation.
And we got actual amazingly good chemistry and kisses.
They left us with a smile and a chuckle and a pair of the cutest boys ever to grace the screen.

This is probubly going to be my favorite BL of 2022. And yes, for all the reasons stated above but also THE CHARACTERS.

Jaeyoung + Sangwoo FOREVER
Emotional seme versus logical uke is a favorite of mine, plus it goes way back to some Gilgamesh shit of ego versus id. I also love “the only one who can bully him is me” trope. Also I adore it when an agro seme (bratty fucker) develops a big o’ crush, commences pining, and goes all over whipped for his boy. Jaeyoung pined like a master. Like Park Seo Ham took lessons from Sam Lin (We Best Love).
And it wasn’t just him, For those of us who waited patiently for Sangwoo to soften, boy did he ever. What a marshmallow moment! Poor baby went into deep crush and had NO IDEA what to do about it.
Moot pining, yes!

There were even moments that made me hoot with laughter (the lettuce incident).

This is it.

Semantic Error has put the sugar rose on top of Korea’s intent to dominate BL. After the flop ending of Kissable Lips and the lingering trauma of Peach of Time, we all thought we were back on shaky ground with KBL, but nope Korea’s taking the gold.

So yeah, maybe this is a little tame and calm of a review from me. But their ducks were all in a row on this one, and I kinda expected them to stick the landing. (Ooo, mixed metaphors. Now I’m imagining s duck doing gymnastics.) How do I really feel?

Shaken & stirred, thank you very much.

I love this show so hard. And it is going into hard rotation. Completely rewatchable from start to finish. We have been blessed. Thank you Korea.

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One of the best Korean BLs for sure.

I'll start with negatives to end positively.

First of all, it's time for Korea to break the love scene barrier. To me, a BL doesn't always need one, and in some cases it would ruin it. It really depends on the characters, and for these, I don't think nothing happening is credible. Sang Woo's attraction to Jae Young had a strong sexual component, and Jae Young clearly isn't the type to hold back on getting physical. There didn't need to be a scene with candles and blaring ballad - something like the way Sang Woo throws Jae Young down on the couch in the final scene but going slightly further would have sufficed.

Also, we really need to retire the triple-take shot for whenever anything important happens - it's mildly ridiculous and drains all the emotion out of the scene. We also need to retire the extremely wide-eyed reaction by whomever is being kissed. In a manga it works because it's capturing surprise. In live action, it's weird and creepy, and sometimes makes the kiss feel non-consensual (although not in this case).

So for me, this is marred a bit by too much BL convention and avoidance of physical love.

But the chemistry between these two was amazing. They certainly did hugs right - full body contact instead of maintaining a foot between them, and the sheer joy they expressed when they did this. Both actors are very capable - I think the Sang Woo role is more difficult, but Jae Young could have come off as a stalkery with a lesser actor. It doesn't hurt that he looks like that, of course. And Park Seo Ham's boyfriendy affectionate kisses were lovely, and the enormous size differential between the two was adorable - the way Sang Woo had to stand on his tippy toes to kiss Jae Woo.

The odd-couple plot worked very well - and one thing that I think is superior about Korean BLs in general is that there is never a useless uke - Sang Woo is every bit as tough and capable (and moreso) than Jae Young.

The humor is really funny, like when Sang Woo is researching deviant desires and hormone imbalances because he doesn't understand why he's so hot for Jae Young.

While I think the series held back too much to put this in the highest category, it's still one of the best Korean BLs, and excellent by any standard. It's largely forgettable, but very pleasant and something you can go back to in the future when you need a pick-me-up.

Story: 9 - While not ground-breaking or original, it was coherent and directed, avoiding the silly manufactured drama and miscommunication that mars so many BLs.

Acting: 9 - Both leads were excellent, generated a lot of chemistry, and didn't shy away from physical affection. Both inhabited their characters and made them relatable and believable.

Music: 7 - Nothing special, but never distracting, which is a good thing in my book.

Rewatch Value: 8 - I would definitely rewatch this - in fact I'm fairly sure I will if it's put out in movie version.

Overall: 9 - While it didn't offer much new, it was superlative at being what it was - a fluffy romance with interesting and likeable characters.

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Does a good job adapting the manhwa with the few episodes there are, but overrated

A surprising amount of 9.5 and 10 star reviews on this site oh lord. There's still much room for improvement

So I've read the korean comic, in fact I'm still reading it while waiting for English translations. I still prefer the comic version, but for what it's worth the drama does alright with fitting the important parts into 8 episodes. If I watched all the episodes at once I would probably think the pacing is too fast, but since I only got to watch 2 episodes as they came out per week I thought it was ok. However I do think because it's only 8 episodes the progression from enemy to lovers still feels rushed. Sure Jae Young thinks Sang Woo is cute I guess, but was taking off his cap all it took for Jae Young to fall in love? And how did Sang Woo start to like Jae Young back, it went from "he's an annoying classmate" to "i like him" pretty fast. There isn't much depth to their emotions.

First of all, I think the casting for Sang Woo is pretty spot on in terms of appearance. Jae Young I would have liked if they got the red longer hairstyle right, but it's no big deal. I never like lip piercings though so I don't know why they have him wear that in the first episode. But in the manga I do get a more westernized vibe from Jae Young which I would have liked to see more in the live action. The acting is okay, but after watching other korean BL series like To My Star and You Make Me Dance this definitely pales in comparison. You can tell that the actors are idols instead of people who studied acting. Sure they're eye candy (especially Jae young) but sometimes their facial expressions are awkward and I hate the zooming in and 10 second long stares that happen in so much romance kdrama. The acting is bearable though, as for rookies they're a lot better than some other BL I've watched. They have some funny banter but sometimes it just feels forced and not natural? Everyone is saying "omg their chemistry is so good" which people say for almost every korean BL drama lol. The last two episodes where they kissed I didn't get the same satisfaction I did as with the previous two series I mentioned.

I wish at the end they didn't go with the usual "I'm not going to leave for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because I love you" trope. Like why can't Jae Young just go to Dex and they do a time skip where he comes back from France and gets back together with Sangwoo? Maybe I'm just a realist but I hate it when people give up their potential dream/job for their new lover. Like what if they break up in the future lol.

Overall this series is okay, but overrated in my opinion. I hear it has a high budget, which I couldn't tell tbh besides the nice clothes and lighting/aesthetic I guess. I still get excited when a new chapter of the manga comes out, but while watching the drama I got bored honestly. I dropped the series on episode 3 but decided to pick it back up because of how many other BL fans were singing praises about it. Even after the end I'm not super impressed. I guess I'm biased since I liked the manhua much better. The drama is fluffy and lighthearted which appeals to the masses I suppose, but don't expect too much substance either.

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Wow! One of the Best BL Dramas for 2022!

What can I say? I loved this dram soooooo much. The two leads had a chemistry that surpasses anything that I have ever seen besides MewGulf , MaxTul and EarthMix. I love the characters. It's so cute and fluffy and makes you smile. I definitely recommend this drama for anyone just looking for something light, cute and adorable. I have now become a fan of Park Seoham. OMG he is so incredibly handsome and talented. I will be looking forward to his future projects upon his return from Military duty. I pray he stays safe and in good health. WATCH THIS DRAMA. You will not be disappointed!

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The campus love story of psycho and weirdo.

One of the sweetest things I have seen in quite some time. Keeping it simple was the blessing we all deserved. Extremely likable characters, where even their stubbornness could be viewed as cute and adorable.

The plot did an amazing job at setting up the dynamics between Jae Young‬ and Sang Woo, but also introducing them as separate characters with unique personalities. The introduction of the leads was done in such an effective way in episode one, I did not question their reactions and motivations in later episodes - I accepted that’s who they are and their actions made sense.

The plot that links Jae Young and Sang Woo is also believable, bringing up many funny interactions and ways of testing the leads' communication and patience. Enough screen time was used for it, so it never felt like a plot device that could be easily replaced, but rather an integral part of the story telling.

The gradual change in Jae Young and Sang Woo relationship was simply delightful to watch. We could see what moments were the turning points, what led to them, how they influenced the main characters. It was a well written and presented progression, and while the characters were falling in love with each other, I was falling in love with the show itself.

The thing that I appreciated a lot was how Semantic Error showed changing for people you are about is a normal thing, and sometimes you have to get out of your safe zone, but at the same time, they did highlight the importance of respecting and trying to understand the differences in personalities people might have. Mutual respect and mutual effort are the key to any relationship - be it romantic, platonic or professional.

The pacing was perfect, if we take into consideration the length of the show. They truly did their best not to waste the precious screen time on useless side plots that bring nothing to the table. Sure, Ryu Ji Hye’s character was not exactly needed, at least not in the way she was incorporated into the story, but it’s more of my personal view. I’m sure many viewers loved her the way she was and the role she played in the story.

Jang Jae Young‬ is probably one of my favorite male leads in any BL. Yes, he might be a bit of an asshole at first glance, but even his childish behavior was more entertaining and adorable, and less frustrating and annoying. It’s truly impossible not to fall for his charm. The guy shines the brightest when he tries to be patient and understand others. Him being so good looking is truly just a bonus, a cherry on top of his awesomeness.

Think of a completely opposite character of the social butterfly who goes with the flow - that’s Chu Sang Woo‬. His asocial personality was somehow endearing - he had his ways of dealing with problems, and was always straightforward about his expectations and rules. More often than not, I actually thought he was right in his approach - with freeloaders during university work, or setting boundaries with lecturers.

That said, I do think they went a little bit too far with his “robotic” characteristics. We get it, the boy has issues with dealing with his emotions. He needs time to understand them, he is flustered and sometimes scared. While all of this gave us many funny moments, sometimes I just went “okay, chill with the googling body malfunction”. Still love this child.

The supporting characters had enough screen time for me to believe they are more than just one dimensional fillers. Choi Yu Na was extremely cool, but also a caring friend, and Go Hyeong Taek was a ray of sunshine and cuteness that brought some fresh atmosphere on the screen.

I would not say this was an Oscar worthy performance from the cast, but it was on par with a lot of mainstream romance shows, not just BLs. Park Seo Ham truly aced the role of Jang Jae Young‬ - a lot of it was in his eyes. I replayed some of his reactions and scenes simply because I appreciated his performance in them.

Production wise, for sure the best we have seen so far from k-BLs. From the opening shot, the intro, the use of angles, light and shadows, to the set design - nothing I could possibly complain about.

I admit to adding the OST to my playlist. The songs are that good. Even if I have not seen the show and was not emotionally influenced and biased because of that, I would like them a lot.

Overall, this is a perfect sweet de-stresser. What adds to it are all the interviews and behind the scene videos that show the good atmosphere on set and great chemistry between the cast. You can see they enjoyed the filming and liked the story they were presenting on screen. Nothing better than people involved in the production actually believing in what they are creating.

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My new favorite Korean BL

Overall: I read part of the manhwa and novel that the series is based on and I think they did a really wonderful adaptation. This is a good example of narrowing the focus to fewer characters/romantic relationships to fit it in a shorter runtime. Watched on Viki, also aired on Gagaoolala in some regions. (minor spoilers)

Content Warnings: bullying/harassment, non con/dub con kiss (sleeping)

What I Liked
- the character aesthetics/styling
- good side characters like Yu Na (also that reference to her being bi was awesome), we avoided the evil woman cliche
- I really liked that Jae Young‬ actually left Sang Woo‬ alone a couple of times instead of the aggressive pursuit/stalking that is frequently romanticized
- the music fit well
- the whimsical editing in the beginning linked it to the manhwa
- funny parts like all the plaid shirts and some sassy responses
- the color symbology (going to have to re-watch again and pay attention)
- good production value (and English subs were added quickly)

Room For Improvement
- more lip ring was needed
- it felt a bit choppy in areas like we ended at once place and then the next scene is a different location/time, also not sure how much time has passed in between certain scenes and it would have been nice to know
- I wish Jae Young had actually followed Sang Woo's physical touch boundaries for more than 1 episode or they had had a discussion to adjust the boundaries in a later episode

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This one's definitely not overrated.

I’ve been having a rather terrible streak with South Korean BLs lately. Given that the ratings Semantic Error were pretty high, I naturally went in with high expectations for this one.

The main characters are fairly compelling as individuals. (Mercurial extrovert meets an uncompromising stickler for orderliness.) This clever trick of ‘opposites attract’ never gets old because 1) it makes for mildly amusing exchanges and 2) it creates some wonderful tension that builds up to spicier scenes.

As with many other characters in Asian BLs, Sangwoo struggles with his feelings and finds it challenging to express words of affection. To understand the shifts taking place in his heart, it is necessary to read between the lines. He doesn’t say “I’ve missed you”, he goes to see the person he adores the most and waits for them. He doesn’t say “I think I feel the same,” but initiates a kiss instead.

The pair is likeable precisely because they have so many tender moments of endearment like these. Each character subtly changes their behaviour to accommodate the other in their life. And that is how the wonderful, slow creep into romance begins.

Read my full review here: https://asianblreviews.wordpress.com/2022/03/15/semantic-error-2022-review-when-eccentric-geek-meets-quirky-designer/

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AN AMAZING RIDE

This is such a huge level up for korean bls!!

No awkwardness, smooth acting and carried out the plot perfectly with matching music. The chemistry is amazing!
Honestly, I am always a little uncertain of watching korean bls because they don't often reach my expectations, however, Sematic Error really made such high standards. Definitely one of my favourite bls in no time without any doubt. The kiss and skin-ship was all amazing; nothing too excessive or weird! Sweet interactions and all actors did amazing!!

Go for it, it's fun and worth it! Wish we got longer episodes to be honest and as someone who read the webtoon too, it would've been amazing to see more scenes from there but either way, carried out nicely.

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When you expect nothing and you get everything and even more...

Honestly I didn't know about this series. I discovered it when the first 2 eps had already aired so I went and watched the trailer.. It was ok but I didn't have many expectations ..I waited a week until the eps 3-4 were released and then I started watching and I guess pretty much everyone knows what happened then..I fell in love with it!! The story(+ I'm a sucker for enemies to lovers romance), the characters, the music..just everything is AMAZING!!!
The acting it was great and the chemistry of the main cp was even greater(and so frickin CUTE)!!!
Each actor delivered their character the best way possible and there was not even one scene throughout the whole series that felt awkward or not good..and every emotion was 100% perfectly portrayed!!The 2 ML are the perfect fit for their roles!! I really really really want to congratulate the casting team and
express to them my deepest gratitude!!!
The music in the episodes and the ost were great!!
The storyline was complete without plot holes I felt almost like I watched a 16 episode drama and to be honest I didn't expect that from a drama with 8 episodes so that's a + to the perfect score that has from me 10/10 and if I could I would rate it 100/10!!!!

I really wanna know how do you expect from me to move on now?..Just how?
I hadn't felt like this since I finished "The Untamed " .
Thank god we still have "Cherry Blossom After Winter" which is the next best thing atm..

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Short, simple and Sweet

This is such a cute little web series... easy to watch easy to binge easy to go oooh... and easy to follow... to be honest it does not have a lot of substance but it is still entertaining and will probably have you captivated from the first episode as this little semantic error shows opposites attract, enemies to lovers done simple and right.

The main leads are simple yet kind of complex. Mr colourful a bubbly, playful design major meets Mr binary code a very by the book, same ratine, same types of clothes, same cap...

And this collision of characters is just beautiful, giving us bickering, colourful interactions, and a whole lot of character development in 8 very short episodes.

The acting may not be perfect (it is a web drama after all), but it is still fun to watch and every emotion (lack of emotion) come across perfectly. The cinematography is pretty good with lots of pretty colors. And there are no annoying side characters.

This is far from a masterpiece and probably does not deserve the 9 stars for being particularly good but time flies as you watch it, it leaves you wanting more and with very few complaints thus the high score...

There are also some interesting details in this consent wise, but they may be considered spoilers so I will just mention that it is interesting and not perfect...

All in all if you like sweet and simple this may just hit the spot, if you are looking for complicated high quality plot look somewhere else.

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SO SO GOOD

short and simple, easy to binge and very very cute. this made my heart so happy with how low stakes it was and there wasn't any struggling with sexuality or homophobia or anything of the sort included in the show (MORE OF THIS PLEASE!), just 2 guys who like each other :)

the story itself is not something we haven't seen been done before but i think this goes to show how even simple/cliche plots can make for loveable shows when done right.

admittedly i have not seen *many* bls but this one is still one of the best that i've seen. the production is good, there's no awkwardness or cringiness, acting is good (especially considering both of them are originally idols) and it's just a fun, quick watch that left me wanting moreee. the pacing of this is just great and means that it's not boring at any point nor does it feel rushed.

there were scenes that made me smile and my heart clench, i am so happy i watched this but so sad it's over. really cannot recommend it enough. excited to see what else korea has in store for us in the bl department because they're getting better and better:
1. real kiss scenes
2. sapphic side character
3. is not cringey
4. good acting

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