Sail off without a map...just don't bring business and romance with you.

I want to preface this review by saying that I don't really watch Korean dramas. This was actually the first one that I followed as it was airing (from episode 7 onwards) and also the only one I've ever watched in its entirety. As such, I'm not a part of the audience that the writer may have wanted to subvert expectations for, nor was I familiar with any of the cast going into this series.

With that in mind, I'll start off by repeating what many other reviews have likely already stated: the beginning of this drama is excellent. The first episode is loaded with strong character introductions, relevant character backstories, spectacular visuals/cinematography, and a great soundtrack. I'm not going to lie and say that I was immediately hooked, but completing the first episode made me curious to see where this story would take me. Learning to take risks (AKA "sailing off without a map") is a major part of this story, and going into this series was a risk I was choosing to take. Unfortunately for me, I didn't get to be one of the lucky ones that saw a rainbow at the end of the road.

==== THE PLOT ====
As I mentioned, the beginning is great. The main characters of this series all had their own reasons for getting involved with start ups, and going into the series, I expected the story to focus on how everyone grows while learning about the business world. Sad to say, this was not so. If you're interested in going into this series for the business aspect, you can safely watch the first 6-8 episodes and then call it quits because a huge chunk of everything that happens after revolves around the love triangle.

Speaking of the love triangle, I found it to have been wholly unnecessary to the success of this story. This is where much of the potential the series had got gutted. Rather than sticking to the business aspect while focusing on each character's individual growth arcs, many characters were thrown to the wayside in order to make way for a love triangle that, arguably, wasn't even really a triangle. I say "wholly unnecessary", but maybe what I should really say is "detrimental". Had the love story been a more minor subplot to the business aspect (devoid of the love triangle; I'm 90% certain they dragged this out for as long as they did just for the sake of the story's message about taking risks), this story could've been much stronger all around.

There were also some issues I had with the writing around the halfway point. Some events that happened in the show felt like they were thrown in because they didn't know how else to transition into the next plot point, and some events aren't ever addressed or revisited ever again. I'm also all for characters making dumb decisions because in real life, people make dumb decisions based on their circumstances or emotions. Unfortunately, another disservice in the writing was the lack of consequence or addressing of many of those dumb decisions.

Overall, I think the worst decision they could've made with regards to this story was trying to make the theme work for both business and romance. I'm all for taking risks; you miss 100% of the shots you don't take, after all. This is especially true in love/relationships. But you don't treat business like romance. In business, there's more at risk than just your feelings, and the way this show seems to just sideline the possible consequences except for when it's necessary to pushing the plot forward is a little absurd.

==== THE CHARACTERS ====
I don't even know where to begin with this. This was the aspect I was most frustrated by because more than a grand plot, the characters need to be strong and developed to give the plot weight.

Seo Dal-mi - She started off with such a strong personality: ambitious, driven, hardworking, self-sufficient. We see very quickly in the series that she's been through her share of hardships and that she's very much capable of getting things done on her own. Even after watching the finale where she finally showcases what made me love her character at the start again, I can't help but wonder why the story needed her to be basically helpless without a love interest in her life. She was doing just fine before her knight in shining armor appeared, but once he appeared into her life, it's like she suddenly can't do without him. Incredibly disappointing character arc.

Nam Do-san - Out of all of the characters, I'm most frustrated with what they did to him. He was the character I connected with most, and he had the most potential for character growth. Unfortunately, where we could've gotten the story of how a boy with no confidence grew to learn how to love himself, we instead end with someone whose entire character arc depended on a romantic relationship. Even until the very end, he needed the validation of other characters in order to feel confident in himself, and only AFTER he'd already attained everything he'd wanted was he able to present himself as someone deserving of all of his success. His character arc had so much potential to teach viewers going through the same struggles that you shouldn't rely on other people to build you up because true confidence comes from within. It's too bad that isn't what we got.

Won In-Jae - I'm glad that she was able to go through character development, but unimpressed with how it was executed. She was promoted as being one of the lead characters, but you see less of her than some of the side characters.

Han Ji-Pyeong - Arguably the only one of the four main characters to have gotten a full character arc from beginning to end. I enjoyed his character immensely, as well as his interactions with the other characters, and it was a shame he had to be part of the story's love "triangle" for what I feel was just to prove a point. Then again, I guess it was a shame any of the characters had to be a part of that fiasco. Many viewers continued to watch this series for him, and I'll admit, he definitely carried many of the latter episodes for me as well.

==== THE MORALS ====
As mentioned above, learning to take risks was a big part of this story. I can get on board with this lesson...if the context of the story didn't undermine it so much. There was so much plot contrivance to make the "risks" that some of the characters took worth it in the end, and in some story instances, characters were taking risks that would potentially endanger the livelihood of other characters that weren't even there to give input. There's nothing wrong with the lesson itself, but the story could've done a much better job of showing the viewers when and why to take risks. The message comes across much more powerfully from a character that's taken a lot of risks and failed more than succeeded than from a character that's succeeded in most of the risks they've taken.

Then there's the portrayal of relationships (not just the romantic ones either). This show romanticizes the idea of unconditional support in both friendships and romantic relationships, and I personally don't believe it should be. There are instances where it seems like characters are ready to call out their friends or loved ones on questionable behavior only for them to just forgive and forget with little consequence. Strong bonds aren't formed only from being endlessly supportive; you need to disagree sometimes in order to learn and grow. This feature does not exist in the relationship between the original members of SamSanTech when it matters, nor does it exist in the main couple's relationship. I'm not going to go into detail on the main couple, but their dynamic also presents a (potentially dangerous) message about being codependent and persistent that I just can't get behind.

==== THE TAKEAWAY ====
This review was longer than I wanted it to be, but to close, I don't think this was a bad show. It's certainly not deserving of a 1/10, but I also think it's definitely not a 10/10. The characters and the story start strong and then struggle to stay afloat as the series goes on. In trying to get whatever message they wanted across to the viewers, they squandered more than it was worth, and I think that was ultimately the most disappointing thing for me.

Read More