Start-Up (2020)

For lifetime selflessness

I enjoyed start up with an outstanding opening which is like a fairy tale. Week by week I fell for it specially for Han Ji Pyong. Suzy and Kim seon ho chemistry is amazing and Nam Joo Hyuk is portraying a difficult character. The story is predictable from the beginning but the actors acting skills are so pleasing. There are plot holes and hurtful points, but finale last few minutes I was all okay with the charisma of the characters. Recently I never experienced this kind of drama and I invite all to watch it. Remember if you fall for the good boy, never regret. Because the journey is beautiful. I wish all write reviews here would spread positivity. Thank you

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Start-Up (2020)

Start-Up came flying out the gate. Vibrant, modern, and visually appealing. You can see the solid starting foundation for which the story will be built upon and it even showcases the delicacy needed to tug at the proverbial heartstrings. The characters were endearing, lighthearted yet at times raw and emotional.

So where did it all go wrong?

- The writers produced a secondary male lead that seemingly overpowered the primary one and had to find their ways around it
- Lack of/insufficient character growth despite how far the core group of characters had actually canonically come
- Casually brushing off and/or not fully fleshing out certain storylines
- Leaning, more than it needed to, into the romance aspects and that messy love triangle
- Using a time-skip plot device that nobody asked for, that satisfied even less

Don't get me wrong. The show was still an absolute joy to watch. But there was so much potential left on the table. You were asked to invest your time and emotion into the story. Asked to believe in and support the characters. But then they pulled the rug up under you.

That's not very becoming of a start-up.

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BEST BUSINESS MOVIE THERE IS !

i really loved this drama !! loved everything, its plot, the cast, the humour and the romance. It was more of the the Ups and Downs of a start up business and achievements than the romance in my opinion and there wasnt any loose ends. I wont ever get tried of watching this drama again and again !! You would probably get a Second Lead Syndrome from this drama and it might even hurt :( but the interaction were really good with all the character !I really love where the ML are really smart and witty and the FL are really enthusiastic and confident ! Suzy bae and Nam jun hyuk really pulled off their characters very well ! Iwould like to recommend this drama of ur into motivational drama or love a bit of office romance.

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An inspiring story of young entrepreneurs.

This is the first time I have written a review but I saw such unfair comments that I felt I had to raise my voice.
It is a story about young people who bet on the future and follow their dreams.
There is a love triangle but due to the good acting and the adorableness of the characters you don't know who to stay with. Or who do you want Dalmi to stay with?
Dalmi is an optimistic and risky girl who fights to fulfill her dreams with courage and creativity
Dosan is super smart and a bit clumsy which makes him adorable and genuine.
Ji Pyeong is a character whose apparent toughness actually hides a being in need of affection.
It is impossible not to want both.
All three have their shortcomings for which they need the support of others.

The trio of friends from SanSam Tech made me get more than a laugh.
I cried several times with the suffering of Dosan and Jipyeong and wanted to hug them many times.

I found the story entertaining with a positive, inspiring and hopeful message, with a literal rainbow of colors ending.

It is a drama that I would recommend watching to everyone. Don't be fooled by haters.

It is to enjoy and have a good time.

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An inexplicably controversial drama

Before I watched this drama, I knew nothing about it other than people’s comments on it. I read that it was badly written, that the ML was terrible, that this drama was a complete disappointment, and of course, that the second ML should have gotten the girl.

So imagine my surprise upon watching and finding a wonderful ML with flaws and virtues, and who felt like a real person. He was sensitive, insecure, kind, and he actually grew as the drama went along.

Imagine my surprise at finding a second ML who was also very real, with virtues and flaws, but certainly not the absolute saint that I’d been led to believe sacrificed everything for the sake of the FL. Perhaps I am immune to Kim Seon Ho’s charms because he likewise has a devoted fan base for his role in Hometown Cha Cha Cha for what I thought was a truly unlikable character. But I did like him here. He was funny, petty, harsh, selfish, and still a good person with a sense of right and wrong. He just wasn’t the angel that I believed based on all I read before I watched. He helped the FL, but often at the request of her grandma rather than because he was pining for the FL. And his actions weren’t some sort of great sacrifice.

As I was watching I read some of the comments for episodes when the show aired and I was just baffled. I felt like I was watching a different show altogether reading the absolute vitriol reserved for the ML. Nothing NDS did could ever be good enough, or viewed favorably. And really it all was due to the fact that he wasn’t HJP. That’s all it was. It’s comical to think that HJP exhibited so many qualities that are constantly criticized in other male leads, but they’re excused completely here. One has to laugh at the power of framing. HJP is essentially given the type of introduction you’ve seen a thousand times in dramas. So he manages to cement himself as the lead in many people’s minds. But he’s not. And it’s quite clear he’s not. I do not understand how anyone could ever be interested in him getting the girl when the girl never shows any interest in him whatsoever. Their interactions are devoid of any romance and there’s always this distance between them. It is very much the relationship between a mentor and student. He has many opportunities to declare his feelings, and he never takes them. Yes, it’s part of the characterization, and that’s part of the lesson. If you don’t make a move, you don’t get the girl. But I never believed he was in love with SDM. It made no sense that he should be all that shaken by her given their distant interactions. Did he like her? Sure. But love? Not by a long shot. And then perhaps after a time skip I can believe he was fully in love with her, but once again, HE DID NOTHING. He has three years and no rival, and he did nothing— nor did SDM’s feelings for him change. So I’m truly baffled at the rabid investment and anger over this pairing.

But that aside, this drama sadly did fumble. For the first 12 or so episodes I was completely invested in this drama. I thought both the romance and the main plot of them trying to succeed with their start-up were very entertaining. But by the end this drama started feeling like it was heavily padded. The episodes felt longer than they needed to be, and the number of episodes felt like too many. I found myself skipping through scenes of characters being sad that felt like they went on forever. The kdrama sin of multiple flashbacks kept being committed. And then, after all the angst, the resolution to the romance felt unfulfilling. I know a lot of people complain that the romance was unnecessary and they wanted more of the start-up storyline, but again, I feel like I was watching a different show. I grew tired of getting business and marketing lessons. I was frustrated watching the leads suffering due to stupid misunderstandings and not actually talking, and when they finally resolved things, it felt unsatisfying because so little time was devoted to it with the whole car plot.

Had this show not gotten dull towards the end, it would have easily been at least a 9, but the last few episodes really did dampen what started off so bright.

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START UP IS FOR INTELLECTUALS PEOPLE ONLY

I really loved how the storyline is created. Each character is draft amazingly especially the lead male character NAm doSan, nam joohyuk as an actor gives life and executed well his character. The rollercoster life struggle of every young people which honestly is left unnotice in our society is well address by the writer.

The love story between dalmi and dosan adds more color of the plot. Its like a picture of genuine loved not force or just same cliche drama, poor girl and rich guy story. It shows how beautiful to be inlove and how painful it is which really happens in real life. They struggle together,learn from it and the growth in their character really shown in the drama.

The drama shows more about business entities, where I find it more interesting. As a aspiring business woman. Dalmi's character really inspire me. It shows that being in business world dwells many things to be considered and the importance of making a decission should be carefully casted.

The only plot keeps me bothering is mr han jipyeong character. Honestly I dont like his character even I want too. His being pathetic each episode and clearly has inferiority complex. Even his character is being successfull, his appearance keeps draining every positive side of the story. Its like his giving negativity in each episodes and his character I would wish not to meet in real life.

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Avoid at all cost

I think I could have just end my review at that. There is actually nothing worth mentioning in this drama except Kim Seon Ho's acting. Only his character seems remotely interesting.
The name and summary of the drama is a click bait (Is that can even be used for a drama?) You expect it to delve into the business/tech world of IT but all we get is some pussy character more interested in getting the girl/boy rather than actually working towards their dream. I was actually hoping to see them crash and burn but this drama even deprived me from that pleasure and success just magically fell into their lap. What a load of crap!!!!!

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A fine first half

The first episode was the best episode so far and it was the reason why I wanted to continue until the end but it was a roller coaster after the pilot episode. Halfway into the series, it is heading to the climax episodes where there will be a lot of revelations and it is exciting how they would do it. I liked the character developments of some characters but not Do-San because his growth was not what I expected.

***in my OPINION***
I do think Do-San would end up together but they should make it really satisfying because Mr. Han is discovering a new phase in his life which is finding a love interest in Dal-Mi and if ever they end up together, I'd be down for it, actually, I prefer it that way. I want a new structure where the male lead doesn't get the female lead and this series would be a great example if ever.

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Its horrible

Don't recommend unless you have a hand fetish and like to cry! Like ji pyeong honestly deserves way better and like dodal deserves worse honestly so like unless you wanna cry don't watch this show! Also, they should have given ji pyeong a girl at the end instead of still being stuck with the toxic couple. I mean like I get what the writer tried to do they tried to cover it up by ji pyeong meeting youngsil but honestly that didn't work! Like why didn't they make nam do san better why did ji pyeong get more scenes plus have more chemistry then them two! Also in my mind in jae and ji pyeong ended up together like they should have done that where in jae has a crush on ji pyeong and later on ji pyeong realizes he feels the same! Ji pyeong is like sooooooooooo much better than nam do san.

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Too bad

The worst series I've seen so far - and I'm not picky!

It was the first time I started to hate some characters. Most of all the immature mean and incompetent character Nam Do San, played perfectly by Nam Joo Hyuk. I will try not to see another show with him.

I was disappointed in Seo Dal Mi for falling for him.

And disappointed in Han Ji Pyung for putting up with it all. But he didn't have a chance because the script hated him. Nevertheless Kim Seon Ho acted very sensitively.

The most supporting characters had to suffer so that Nam Do could get San Seo Dal Mi! Especially poor old grandmother.

Obviously, the screenwriter had no idea about people or startups. It's like a robot writing about love and apple pie!
Too bad.

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(I) Meant to be Heartbroken from Beginning

Directing and Music wise i could give perfect score, especially music department must get bonus for making such beautiful melodies but still confusing me till this day that there is no Dodal's theme song? I wonder whether it is intentional or not and it is such a shame that they didn't release some OST and theme song as original plan.

For script, i don't know how to start. It is such beautiful script to be honest. I remember keep hooking on story of how to build business and keep me thinking all day how to make business. I even interest to investing world but later on the spirit disappear because they didn't talk about business the way it was and too focus to love line. I wish they were explore more startup world that many people curious how it goes or making drama with many seasons so we can go through story slowly.

I have some opinions of statement that divided among people watch this drama. "Sailing without map is actually marvelous" in adventure context or maybe in relationship for some people. Not knowing or bother what come next is actually pleasing and i do love to do that sometimes. This drama writer is teaching us what will it be if we are using it for business and dream context. Because if we're interpreted it as it is, sailing without map is dangerous because we do not know what our goals and how to achieve that goals. Remember that SST was a great vessel to sail (genius programmers, wins CODA) but they do not have destination port and coordinate to go the destination (business plan)? It became stagnant, no progress. Two years become waste. But then they using this statement again for smart city plan, suddenly feels like it is okay to use it for business. If i put in other words like "Lets gamble in this project, the loss money is meant to be lost anyway". With the help of writer's magic Cheongmyeong Company/Sandbox grew bigger (unicorn?) in span of year :)

Also, when Seonho said Dosan and Dalmi are meant to be together. Me as jipyeong supporter and jidal clown, I didn't understand at first. Because what makes he thinks that? We knew how Jipyeong feels and what Jipyeong done to Dalmi to show her his love. It looks unfair to think that. So i rewatch first episode, from the beginning that writer shown us two teenagers that become each other's strength and friends in their hardest time and met again decade later. In 2016, both do not know each other well how do they do. (i had so much to say but better not to say since this review is getting too long)

Well it (kinda) understandable (sometimes) why Dalmi choose Dosan. Dosan and Jipyeong chance was 50-50. Both are such good kids and always be there for her but the difference is Dosan is always support her beside her and Jipyeong is support from behind. As far as i understand, Dalmi's love language is physical touch and quality time and (Jipyeong's) act of service is noticeable. She knew Jipyeong always be there for her. She knew what Jipyeong done to help her and team but she can't love him more than Dosan because (imo) the idea of Letter Nam Dosan and Present Nam Dosan already collide in her mind that they are the same person and its hard to think otherwise. It is such a shame that they built up the connection between Jipyeong and Dalmi through letter and coincidences like universe help them to be together. I wish from first time that Jipyeong is in relationship with Injae because seriously these two is gonna be great couple and Injae will have more screen time #JusticeforInjae.

What i do not understand till this moment, why the "Living Buddha" become violent only when he's ambitious? Like why writer make me disappointed with Dosan with his agenda "Talk to me instead, I'll answer it for you" when Dalmi is looking for Jipyeong?

Anyway please enjoy Start-Up without thoughts if you do not want to become like me, traumatized for any love life. Also thankful that since Seonho starring Start-Up my love for him is getting stronger.

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