[DRAMA REVIEW] Semantic Error (2022)
Based on a popular BL webtoon, Semantic Error is a web drama starring DONGKIZ'S Park Jaechan and former KNK member Park Seoham.
Quiet, lonely computer science student Chu Sangwoo (Park Jaechan) values hard work and punctuality. For a module, he requires team work for a group project presentation. Unfortunately the other students on the same course do not contribute and leave him to do most of the work.
As a result, Sangwoo removes the names of the other students from the presentation. Little does he realise, one of the students whose name was taken out of the final presentation is popular digital design senior student Jang Jaeyoung (Park Seoham) whose chance to study abroad is thrown out the window because of this gesture. He plans to get his own back on the more stoical Sangwoo for costing him this opportunity. However they both end up working together on designing a new game and instead of tormenting the younger student, Jaeyoung's intentional act of revenge wavers and sparks fly between them both - but not in the most typical manner.
After watching the very short animation adaption prior to the web drama, I was not sure what to expect but I was using my imagination on how I would see the two main actors would appear in the live action/web drama. Would my favourite KNK member deliver since he had started to take more acting projects seriously over time prior to enlisting in the army? I was not familiar with DONGKIZ so I didn't know what to think of Park Jaechan.
I was pleasantly surprised with how well this series turned out. The trailer itself didn't exactly get me too hyped as I was worried it would more be on the lines of baiting the viewer, given the conservative approach to any LGBTQ in Asian countries. But unbelievably, the romantic scenarios were well-done and realistic.
The webtoon is ongoing though they made this web drama short and sweet in 8 episodes. The pacing is uneven at times but as you progress and see the campus youth romance develop it starts to get more exciting. The chemistry between Seoham and Jaechan's acting as the star couple really contributes to making the series work and I would welcome a season 2 once Seoham has finished his military service, even with the closed ending of season 1.
The real life senior and junior relationship between these idols worked well through their characters as well. Having seen Seoham in previous dramas it's nice to see him be a main character for once. He was perfect as the popular Jang Jaeyoung however I wasn't entirely in agreement with how the writers made Jaeyoung constantly stalk Sangwoo near the beginning and being a massive troll. Aside from that, his character was charming. How he swooped in to help Sangwoo against that drunk module leader in the student bar was memorable.
Park Jaechan's Chu Sangwoo was not cold and robotic from start to finish and you see he does have emotions lurking somewhere the more he interacts with Jaeyoung. Sangwoo had often made the first move to initiate a kiss with his Sunbae after all. It's like both characters could have their roles reversed on who would be in control of one another.
Thankfully there wasn't much focus on making other female characters stupid or bitchy if they were in the way of the main gay relationship. It's a long-term peeve of mine from writing and watching other series which made people ship for the sake of the gay. Another fellow student named Jihye fancied Sangwoo but knew he didn't reciprocate and wanted to confess to him to show she was brave and confident to say it out loud. I should take notes from her if I ever was in this kind of situation.
Semantic Error was enjoyable and if there is a season 2, I definitely will watch it with the same cast and to see what further romantic escapades Jaeyoung and Sangwoo will have. I'll have a read at the ongoing webtoon as well when I am not busy.
The theme song "Romantic Devil" is awesome and perfectly summarises the leading men in this drama.
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