#a watches semantic error

[jangman-wol]

You said you needed me, didn’t you? You said it had to be me.

SEMANTIC ERROR / 시맨틱 에러 (2022) dir. Kim Soo Jung

[trendingdrama]

SEMANTIC ERROR 시맨틱 에러 (2022)

[absolutebl]

What to watch after Pit Babe? Thai BL Actor Guide

So you loved Pit Babe and you wanna see your favorite BL boy in his old series? But should you?

Here's a guide...

Babe AKA Pavel - 2 Moons 2

Pavel is one of my favorite actors in BL (he's this blog's icon for a reason) and actually 2 Moons 2 is pretty good, primarily because of his character, Forth. Who has an actual character evolution and growth arc... in a BL!

Amazing.

Don't be fooled 2 Moons 2 is a reboot and extension of 2 Moons, not a spin off. So you don't have to have watched the first iteration, in fact I recommend against it.

Anygay, the main couple of 2M2 is naff, but Forth is great and Pavel is great as that character. He has good chemistry with his pairing, and as a BL fan it's not a bad idea to know your 2 Moon's roots. 2 Moons is one of the most popular Y-novels ever written, one of the most popular shows of it's time, and the perpetuator of many Thai BL tropes.

Pavel's second BL, Coffee Melody, is not worth watching.

If Babe was your favorite character, and Babe & Charlie a pairing you enjoy, I would suggest Big Dragon as your next BL. Same vibes, high heat, chaotic. Another possibility is the slightly lower heat but stil unhinged Laws of Attraction.

You also might like some stuff out of Taiwan. They tend to have the angst + high heat + sappy softness that characterized Charlie + Babe.

Way AKA Nut - Oxygen

Nut is way different in his previous rolls, as the lead in both Oxygen, and Something in My Room. Same gorgeous voice and soulful eyes and Nut tends to play sensitive torn characters but the similarities end there.

In Oxygen, his acting is stiff. In fact, Oxygen as a whole is pretty stiff. I like it very much and it is a big comfort watch for me because of it's smooth peaceful softness, but it's flawed, slow and awkward. I did an episode by episode thing for that show (my first watch along).

In his second BL, Something in My Room, Nut demonstrates improved acting and chemistry, but I don't recommend it. It's a touch of horror, built on the "my ghost boyfriend" trope, and it's quite sad.

So try Oxygen but if what you're after is more BL with a Way-like main character then I would recommend Moonlight Chicken or The Eclipse chewy BL with sensitive boys and some grey morality.

Jeff AKA Pon - Starhunter Talent

Pon was with Starhunter before this and so has appearances in several of their BLs. He's demonstrated great natural acting talent, charisma, and good chemistry with all his pairs but because he often appeared in chaotic ensemble pieces has been easily forgotten (including by me). Starhunter chronically underused him but also utterly miss-applied him.

Gen Y 2 is actually a master class in flawed casting. They put Pon into a triangle, where he plays a fated mate pining uke against a very stiff lead pair - but they expected us not to want him to be end game. Big mistake. Watch this mess if you just want to see how a good actor can eat up all the air of a bad pair, winning hearts and influencing fans.

Otherwise the Gen Y series is a bloated mess, and I can't recommend them. I trashed watched so you don't have too. While Pon demonstrates skills against a backdrop of ranging tallent, oddball story, and chaotic outcomes I wouldn't have bothered if not for the dumpster fire.

Pon's first BL is The Moment, and he's good in it, but it's a terrible show. Boring and plotless.

He's fantastic in Make A Wish but only a side part (despite what is said in MDL) and his arc is VERY sad. Still it's a GREAT under appreciated BL, I recommend it as the one to watch if you have to see Pon in something else. It's nothing like Pit Babe though.

Yeah our pathway for Pon ends here, so lets look, instead, at

Alan & Jeff - Bed Friend

This was Sailub's first BL role, and I speak for all of us when I say... more please.

So instead of a watching a pathway for him, I'm gonna give you a few BL suggestions based on the assumption that this side couple was your favorite from this series (as it was mine).

What we had with this pairing was

older sensitive sweetheart sunshine seme + tortured dark scared tsundere uke.

FUN dynamic! Here are some options where this style took center stage:

Bed Friend

Between Us

Love By Chance (AePete only)

Triage

Tokyo in April is

I Became the Main Role of a BL

Pete & Kenta - Word of Honor

Ah you like your boys troubled with money, questionable morals, and the slight inclination to pick at their fingernails with a knife?

Neither Garfield nor Ping have done other BLs but here are my picks for BLs that feature this kind of character and dynamic, and we are leaving Thailand for these (since it's darker territory than Thailand usually handles... well).

HIStory 3: Trapped 

Long Time No See 

Irresistible Love

Word of Honor

Where Your Eyes Linger

Other familiar faces

NORTH AKA Michael

North played by Michael was our big comedy insert for this show.

But all his roles prior to this were very serious. Till the World Ends and Call It What You Want are practically depressing, even his role in Oxygen is pretty dark. He actually has been in BL a very long time, he was one of Noh's friends in Love Sick at just 18. Frankly, that'd waht you should watch if you are gonna watch any of his back catelogue, but it's NOTHING like Pit Babe or his role in it, still it's the beginning of Thai BL and Noh is a little sunshine of chaos, and it's great so...

Where was I?

If you really want a comedic himbo lead character there are are quite a few out there, and it's a crazy playing field because Japan is in it to win it.

Leaving aside high school stuff, here are some options:

Cherry Magic (Japan)

Ossan’s Love 

Mr Unlucky Can Only Kiss

Love Tractor

Bad Buddy

Love Stage!!

My Day

History 4: Close to You

KIM AKA Benz

Benz who played Kim has also done BL before, En of Love: This Is Love Story, but it is not good and not worth watching.

While I want the queer Falling Into Your Smile or Love O2O or Appledog more than anything, that doesn't exist. We have yet to have a true gaymer BL. (I mean come on, nerdy queer is practically a stereotype at this point, where is it?)

All of which is to say if Kim was your favorite... I don't know. Our Dating Sim maybe Semantic Error?

WINNER AKA Pop

Pop has lead out a BL, it's a very slow, very queer, very unwatched piece called La Cuisine.

@heretherebedork and I loved it, but it's hard to imagine anyone else enjoying it. You have to be a hard BL stan to tolerate the pace and pulp quality of that one. He's a completely different character but if you really like the actor try him in La Cuisine, I think he was better cast for that than Pit Babe.

I just enjoyed the show in general, what's next?

In general, if you really enjoyed Pit Babe itself as a series (and it's multiple couples and chaotic noise and erratic concept) you're in the KinnPorsche camp of Thai BL. I actually made a "watch next" pathways and rating guide for that show, which might work for you.

Specifically I would say Manner of Death. It's a little more focused in character and plot but still a wild ride. And MaxTul are the Kings for a reason.

You might also try Not Me, Never Let Me Go, and 3 Will Be Free although all of these, coming from GMMTV, are lower heat levels than Pit Babe.

Finally, seriously, try The Sign. I know it was airing "in competition" but there is room in your heart for both shows. I promise. They have the same wild sexy energy, and are loads of fun.

(source)

[blmpff]

The: Tell the world that the bitch is back! in the background sdfg

14.12.23

[katzenjammerd]

You decide to check out that kinn porsche show after spotting the gifs on your dash and four months later you’re knee deep in Gay Bangkok Bridge, Stairs of Death, lays and seaweed crisps product placement, architecture and engineering as the only two options in university, wet towel on head is the best medicine, rhapsodising over fan service, head pats and little hoop earrings in the left ear…

[dragonsareawesome123]

Wait, so even bromance was too gay for them??? This show’s production is a WHOLE mess.

[bellamyblakru]

idk why but the trope where character a changes the routine or something in the daily life of character b and character b complains and gets annoyed at the new addition and then suddenly one day character a gets genuinely upset and stops doing said thing which then makes character b all ☹️wheres the thing i miss the thing but has to pretend they want it back and is only doing it for character a’s sake when we all see its just them being in love or whatever is something i fucking LOVE to see?? every time???

[trilliastra]

sing my crush

[bl-bam-beyond]

A LOOK BACK at Jong Chan & Seung Hyun

THE NEW EMPLOYEE (2022-2023, SOUTH KOREA)

An absolutely beautiful story of a intern quite pass his college days that falls in love with his workaholic boss. A boss that becomes a new and better man because of this intern that stole his heart.

When the intern loses his job, the boss takes it quite personally confronting the CEO and ultimately quitting his job to began a startup with the former intern as his first hire.

Kim Jong Chan (KWON HYUK) was initially cold towards Seung Hyun (MOON JI YONG) but once his heart softened it was permanent and irreversible. Kim Jong Chan made so many changes simply because his love for a man that wanted to understand him and his passion for his work.

And that small bit of understanding made work less important and the man more important bringing a beautiful balance to both of them.

[brazilian-whalien52]

One thing that I just realized that was bugging me in the Connor of mind, I know nothing about queer culture in Korea? Everytime I read or watch queer stories it seems the same straight stories (never saw a trans one) with some add struggles of being LGBT, which are not that different than the forbidden love we see in their other stories.

[thedaughtersoflilith]

give me a bisexual with multiple ear piercings and I'm good

[absolutebl]

500 BLs - My Top 50

Somehow, in the mad end of year rush, I missed the fact that the BL Spreadsheet of Doom tipped over and into 500 BLs. Yep, I’ve now watch over 500. 

Top 50 BLs - The Elite 10% 

Seven Days - Japan 2015 (oldest BL on this list, also hold #1 spot, cute)

We Best Love: No. 1 For You & Fighting Mr. 2nd - Taiwan 2021 

Semantic Error - Korea 2022

Light On Me - Korea 2021

Until We Meet Again - Thai 2019

To My Star - Korea 2021

Color Rush- Korea 2021

Old Fashion Cupcake - Japan 2022

Takara-kun and Amagi-kun - Japan 2022

Minato's Laundromat - Japan 2022

My Beautiful Man - Japan 2021

Cherry Blossoms After Winter - Korea 2022

HIStory 2: Crossing the Line - Taiwan 2018

Cherry Magic - Japan 2020

Bad Buddy - Thai 2022

A Tale of Thousand Stars  - Thai 2021

Oxygen - Thai 2020

Be Loved In House: I Do - Taiwan 2021

Lovely Writer - Thai 2021

He's Coming to Me - Thai 2019

Blueming - Korea 2022

My Ride - Thai 2022

Wish You - Korea 2020

Not Me - Thai 2022

Nobleman Ryu's Wedding - Korea 2021

Love By Chance - Thai 2018

See You After Quarantine? - Taiwan 2021

Addicted - China 2016

Long Time No See - Korea 2017

My Tooth Your Love - Taiwan 2022

Why R U? - Thai 2020

The Tasty Florida - Korea 2021

About Youth - Taiwan 2022

SOTUS - Thai 2016

DNA Says Love You - Taiwan 2022

My Love Mix Up - Japan 2021

Roommates of Poongduck 304 - Korea 2022

The Eclipse - Thai 2022

Dark Blue Kiss - Thai 2019

Oh! Boarding House - Korea 2022

My Day - Pinoy 2020

Ocean Likes Me - Korea 2022

Gameboys - Pinoy 2020

Cutie Pie - Thai 2022

Life: Love on the Line - Japan 2020 

Love Class - Korea 2022

Restart After Come Back Home - Japan 2020

Tinted With You - Korea 2022

2gether - Thai 2020

Choco Milk Shake - Korea 2022

Rankings aren’t fixed (outside of the three ratings). I basically just asked myself which one would I want to rewatch right now. 

Bold = 10/10 (#1 ... #7)

Italics = 9/10 (#8 ... #25) 

everything else is 8/10

Absolute BL not included because it’s parody 

Love is Science? & Puppy Honey not included because BL is a B plot

Word of Honor has been censored off the list. Fuck that noise. 

The following are highly ranked shorts

A First Love Story - Korea 2021 

Just Friends? - Korea 2009 (would have been the oldest on the list)

Some More Korea - 2018 

This is as of the end of 2022. Not responsible for any additional awesome BLs that have aired since then.

[moonxshane]

Watching semantic error and there is NO WAY Sangwoo is neurotypical like I R E F U S E to believe it.

[bisexualboysbroadcast]

baby dynamite pulling a sangwoo and straight up doxxing bad group members from group projects 😭 I love my chaotic lawful academics!

[pose4photoml]

HI! Numbers 12 and 13 for the bl ask game!

Hi- Thanks for the ask!!

12. most rewatched bl ~ this one’s a tad hard since there’s more than one…

If you mean since I started watching BL then it’s UWMA but if it’s based on recent shows then it’s a tie ~ Between Us and Semantic Error

13. bl you think is overrated~

I told the sunset about you… I have not been able to watch all of this one and I doubt I ever will!!!

[wanderlust-in-my-soul]

My year at a glance and the ranking of the cream of the crop

I consumed 206 media this year according to MDL. Of these, 1 TV show, 60 films/short films and 145 dramas. This includes 72 media that were released this year or whose airing ended this year.

I diligently awarded stars from 1 - 10. At a glance, there were 1 one, 2 twos, 2 threes, 6 fours, 7 fives, 6 sixes, 14 sevens, 13 eights, 10 nines and 11 tens (am I too easy to please or just too nice?).

For the following rating, I simply ignored the fives to sevens and concentrated positively on the eights and higher, and took everything below five into account. The results for the individual countries with more than/equal to five contributions this year are as follows:

Japan

Old Fashion Cupcake

Eien No Kinou

Minato Shouji Coin Laundry

Kabe-Koji-Nekoyashiki-kun Desires to be Recognized

Takara-kun to Amagi-kun

South Korea

Once Again

Semantic Error

Choco Milk Shake

Happy Ending Romance

Oh! My Assistent

Taiwan

DNA says love you

About Youth

My Tooth Your Love

Plus & Minus

Papa & Daddy 2

Thailand

180 Degree Longitude Passes Trough Us

Triage

Bad Buddy

Secret Crush On You

Ghost Host, Ghost House

Before I get to the crème de la crème, here are a few honourable mentions and, of course, the series that one would prefer to forget again.

Honourable Mentions

Apart from the five best, there were of course many other wonderful media that fascinated and captivated me. Others were just a little better.

The Miracle of Teddy Bear

The Eclipse

Not Me

Love Mechanics

Roommates of Poongduck 304

Ocean Likes Me

To My Star 2

KinnPorsche

Remember Me

Those that one would like to forget

5. Even Sun – just boring

4. Fahlanruk – boring and repetitive forced drama with unlikeable characters

3. Coffee Melody – boring with an unlikeable main and painful acting

2. That’s my candy – stupid, confusing story with no likeable characters

1. Check Out – this was pure trash, lame story, whiny characters and zero chemistry

But now! The crème de la crème!

Once Again

No other series this year has taken me away as much as this one. It is everything at the same time, a warm blanket to snuggle up under and the angry person who snatches it away again. It is my comfort show and at the same time the show that has given me the most emotional damage. It's not big and lavishly shot and yet the story is touching and the relationship is so precious. The supporting characters are also well written and serve a purpose. This is like a little treasure and I wish more people would find and cherish it.

2. 180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us

I have written my fingers to the bone analysing and picking apart every little detail of this fantastic series. More than once, the series has left you desperate along with the characters and pulling your hair out in rage. It is intense, grim and insanely insistent. It doesn't wrap you up like a warm blanket but, on the contrary, it pulls our protective hands off our faces so that we look and realise. Realise that not everyone can be saved, that people are different, that trauma leaves traces, that words can be weapons, that life means taking the leap to the other side of the bridge, even if you might fall. An insanely great series that deserves more attention!

3. Old Fashion Cupcake

Oh how glad I am that I found this series. A series about pleasure and about allowing yourself to experience indulgence. It is not only a story of two people who become closer over eating desserts together, but also of a man who learns to enjoy life again, even though he thought he was not allowed to do so because of age, being single and being a man. The series works to soften a certain image of men, always aware of the society in which it operates, and manages to do so in an admirable way. Nozue's story gives courage and makes you happy, at least me.

4. Semantic Error

Okay, who doesn't know the series? The story of the cool design student and the nerdy and cool computer science student became so popular that there were even billboards of it. And rightly so. The story is well thought out, well executed and very well acted. I've seen it several times by now and am happy that I can now watch it without interruptions thanks to the movie. And if you can't get enough of it, the Manhwa is highly recommended!

5. Triage

A series about time travel, desperate love and character development of the finest kind! The series has made a lasting impression on me. It has drama, but is not overdone. It has a story that is comprehensible and exciting. The characters grow with the story and the chemistry is good too. All in all, a little hidden gem that should have had much more attention than it got when it aired (which was also because it was/is hard to grab for international fans).

I am looking forward to 2023 and what the year

Now I'm excited to see what great and not so great series 2023 has in store for us and most of all I'm looking forward to experiencing them with you!

Thank you all for such a great journey this year!

And that is a wrap!