StartUp was supposedly my very first K-drama and not gonna lie I went in with very low expectations if none at all, so when I started tearing up within five minutes of the very first episode, not exaggerating, I was taken aback by acute surprise. The thing felt more like a tragic film rather than an opening for a series. Needless to say, I was hooked for more of this emotional depth the plot was trying to deliver. Be it the depressing family arc of the FL or the saddening, lonely, orphaned life of the ML.
Also the entire concept of Sandbox and incorporation of AI into the drama felt almost like cherry on the top. Everything was going perfect except for the fact that the ML (at least I assumed him to be so) wasn't exactly the ML but a SL? I was then informed that quite often in K-dramas the absolutely flawless, charming guys (for no fault of their own) end up only as pining, one sided lovers and nothing else. I hoped that this show won't befall this tragedy on my beloved Han Ji Pyeong (wasn't his life tragic enough already?!)
Turns out there's a terminology for it, so here I am petitioning for second lead syndrome to be included as a real psychological disorder cause boy, does that shit hurts!

While the series lost its grip on me after the tenth episode with its unnecessarily stretched love triangle, unwanted time leaps, unjustified fast paced character development of the "ML" and exploitation of supporting characters for the mere benefit of the leads, it was the hope of a happy ending for Han Ji Pyeong that kept me from dropping this drama altogether.

In conclusion, watch this one for Kim Seon Ho and his gorgeously heartbreaking chemistry with everyone on this show and well, that's about it.