Semantic Error (2022)

One of the Best Korean BLs yet.

Listen. I knew it was coming but damn I didn't want this show to end.

First, I saw someone say this in another review and I can't agree more: Korean BLs have so much potential. This show is just one example. I'm so excited to see what will be adapted and created next.

Links 'n info.
This was adapted from the ongoing Korean Manhwa Semantic Error that was written by Jeosuri and illustrated by Angy.
- You can read the official English translations of the webtoon here, https://manta.net/episodes/4778 on Manta Comics. This is the only official site for English translations.
- I think you can read the original Korean manhwa on Ridibooks.
- English translations of the novel are available on the Sleepy Translations site here, https://sleepytranslations.com/series/semantic-error/.
- Ridibooks, the publisher of this novel, has set up an IG (https://www.instagram.com/jaeyoung_j_/) and Twitter (https://twitter.com/jaeyoung_j_) account for Jaeyoung, the ML.
- There's also an anime somewhere online.

Characters ‘n relationships.
I will say it a million times: Park SeoHam and Park JaeChan are PERFECT for their roles. Seriously. I could not have asked for a better Sangwoo and Jaeyoung. Their chemistry, their dynamics, and their character development was great. All of the little moments between them and the actions they did make sense. Everything had reasoning behind it and you could tell the two leads understood their character.

I have emotional feelings for Yuna. The bisexual (or pan, they didn't specify) representation had me crying. That women made my day and was the highlight of the episode. Also, Jihye- she's so cool. Her character was never that annoying side girl in a BL, she was like a side love interest but became a total bro.

Plot 'n pacing.
The pacing of this was so good. KBLs are notoriously short and that can sometimes make the plot and romance feel rushed but this show was completely different. Everything made sense. The pacing of the relationship between the two leads never felt rushed or uncomfortable, it was gradual and worked great with the 20-30min episodes. There was a good balance of plot, cute romance, and platonic friends hanging out scenes.

Dislikes + Why 9/10 rating?
I don't have very many dislikes for this show. This is up there on my top Korean BLs list now. They gave me everything I wanted and more. However, there are two things I felt was not so great:
1. I can see the comparison of the manhwa to the tv show being a problem for people. I don't have any issues with it but this has already been talked about a bit so it's understandable.
2. The beginning was a little sketch tbh. The stalking and insane amount of shit Jaeyoung did to annoy Sangwoo was honestly creepy. It never felt malicious, like he would actually hurt him but still. This only lasted 1-2 episodes so it wasn't that bad but It was not my favorite.
Other than that, certain moments felt repetitive and cliché at times but not to bad.

TL;DR: Watch it!! It's a great Korean BL! Definitely recommend watching if you're looking for a college, arts-y, and funny BL. Also, worth it to rewatch!!

CONTENT WARNINGS: Some stalking and light violence. On screen kisses but no sexual content.

Lire davantage

Unexpectedly good!

This drama really surprised me. The story is simple but quite interesting and manages to hold us sufficiently to keep watching and the characters are very charismatic. The “error” idea with Sangwoo was really clever. The chemistry between the actors is good and in general I thought the story was developed satisfactory within the limits of the drama. The main actors were really good and cute together, and they fit their characters. I didn’t feel a awkward performance at all between them.

Of course, the fact that it's only 20 minutes in 8 episodes means that the characters won’t be exactly super well-developed and we won’t get deep into their story and their emotions, but for me the amount they showed here was fine enough for me to buy their story and their romance. Unfortunately, I think Korean dramas will always have this kind of problem because the duration of each episode is too small for having a good development but among all Korean bls I've watched, this was one was definitely one of my favs and even though it wasn't perfect, it came pretty close. I thought the ending was satisfying and it was a good conclusion.

Overall I really liked it!

Lire davantage

Semantic error: Clear!

I ABSOLUTELY LOVED WATCHING THIS! ABSOLUTELY! I haven't read the manhwa and I started watching this on my friend's suggestion. It has the entire story fit well in 8 episodes. I wished it were longer tho! There's no touch or unnecessary cheesy cringe stuff anywhere, but trust me, my heart raced like crazy during many episodes. It's the chemistry the leads had and the emotion they carried. This is definitely a level up for K BL, or just BL in general. This series can be referred as a guide on 'how to make a short yet heart throbbing series IRRESPECTIVE of genders and orientation'.

Casting: CHEF KISS. I loved their height difference and they're very pleasant to the eyes. I loved their chemistry and how gay they were in the series. Was totally invested in those homosexuals.

Plot: ❤️ This is a rabbit 🕳️. You'll want more of it. Rumours are there about a season 2. If that happens you'll hear me scream.

Production: Very good. IDK much about technicality, but from what I know, this is nicely done. Less characters, less mess, great quality output.

OST: I liked the glitch they incorporated in titular BGM. Suits well.

Rewatch value: More than a 10 on 10. Now i'mma go read the manhwa and then immediately watch the entire series.
You SHOULD watch this series. You'll enjoy it. Trust this stranger.

Lire davantage

Not a trial run. I mean the real thing.

I can see why people say this is an absolute must-see BL series. I can’t believe I put off watching it for so long! Like sure, the plot is very typical – university based enemies to lovers plot – but it was really well executed. I really liked the overall cinematographic aspects of the series. They did great combining the colors, the lighting, the setting and the music.

Jang Jae Young & Chu Sang Woo: first of, I am in love with their height difference. I found it so incredibly cute throughout the series. The two actors have great on screen chemistry too. As for the characters, I love how different the two seemed to be. One is very extraverted, good in social situations but can sometimes forget his duties. The other one is introverted, likes things to be in order and hates slackers. They are so different, yet they make it work. Their relationship started from a (badly thought through) revenge plot. I do like that while they started as enemies, it never got to an abusive level as I have seen happen in other series. Jang Jae Young was quite quick to back off once he realized just how immature and stalkerish his actions were. Kudos to him for that. I also like that he respected Chu Sang Woo’s boundaries.

I am not sure if I am correct and I do not want to label anyone, but Chu Sang Woo did seem to be a neurodivergent person. He has a lot of OCD tendencies (e.g. rituals, how everything has it’s place, being on time). And I know he is supposed to be introverted, but at times it felt like there might be more than just that to it. He seemed very socially inapt; he also had a hard time understanding social clues. I actually really liked the comparisons between him (and events in his life) and a computer. I feel like it gave us a look at how he thinks.

I was ready to applaud Chu Sang Woo when he turned in the group project with only his name on it. Honestly, we have all been there at one point in our lives and wanted to do that too. And then saving them as freeloader 1, 2 and 3? Iconic!

It was a bit short, but it didn’t feel too rushed. The pacing was quite nice for the length of the series. I would love to see more..

Lire davantage

One of the best, if not the best

I love Semantic Error with my whole heart. I read the manhwa before i even knew it was being adapted into a series, and was just absolutely ecstatic. First of all, the production quality is amazing in the amount of time that they made this, and even though it's short, you can still feel like the kind of slow burn it gives. The actors have amazing chemistry, and the characters have amazing qualities. This may just be me being biased, but It's something you can watch over and over again and still get excited over certain scenes. The music is also AMAZINGGG. I have been listening to melancholy like- nonstop. Also Semantic error (the song) just lives in my head rent free. Definitely WATCH!!!

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage

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! 🤞🏼

Lire davantage

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!

Lire davantage

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.

Lire davantage