The thread is now open for comments and analyses
lol. It came as no surprise that “hands” were the topic of conversation between Dalmi and her grandma, and Dosan and the two Sans. Both of them felt like nobodies because they were empty-handed.
Dalmi:
Dosan:
Sending virtual high-fives!
Let’s enjoy the show!
Oh, Good Boy, why do you frustrate me so? The more you delay revealing the truth to Dalmi, the less you have a chance to win her. The Second Lead Society is always welcoming new members though. If Yoo Yeon Seok is the chairman, Good Boy can be the Secretary.
We are finally given a Dosan background story 😁. Yehey hahaha. #TeamGeek #TeamKnitter all the way!!
Idk, Jipyeong has all the chances but he always avoids them. Idk how Team Jipyeong is still rooting for him but okay I guess y’all too deep in the syndrome now to get out 🤣.He’s still in the denial stage oh goodness.
Some (I read on twitter) are not liking Dosan for not telling the truth to Dalmi, that he’s not the one who wrote her the letters. I think it’s not really his story to tell. Jipyeong and Grandma should be the ones to tell her this truth imo. Dosan’s proposing to tell the truth in ep 6, so let’s see.
Also I saw a guess on twitter that maybe Alex was the student that Dosan gave his gold medal to. I think Alex’s good but it’s just eps 5 and 6 so again let’s see 😅
@LeeDale9198 I also don’t get the whole hype with Jipyeong even though I get the sadness and piningn and cryano feels, it’s just like yeh and so? Because to be honest at the end of the day Dosan is by her side and he’s actually bringing out her real positives and also they are both made for each other at this time. Alex is definitely the student but I also don’t know how to feel about him, I feel like he’s a foil to Jipyeong’s harsh/put down of Dosan. He’s going to want Dosan to like want to be selfish and greedy for his win, (this can be a good thing, he finally proves that he shouldn’t looked down on, but this can also be a bad thing he becomes egoistical, betrays his friends if he’s given a chance to be poached or stops choosing choices based his heart but on logic like everyone else). I can see him doing this because of his need to prove that he’s good enough and that will break my heart when the time comes.
🙂 Be nice, LeeDale9198. Although Dosan will most likely end up Dalmi, I think the writer likes Jipyung, too. Or else he/she would NOT have given him so much care and attention in the first episode. That kind of background story for a “second” lead should tell you that the writer wants a story arc and a happy ending for him, too.
We’ve watched so many kdramas that we know how the story goes. Here, I’ll give us a recap of sorts.
He’ll start off as selfish and end up as selfless. He’ll face three challenges, and he’ll have to ACCEPT to undertake the challenges.
First challenge: he fails.
Second challenge: he still does poorly but he acquires self-awareness: he needs to do more.
Third challenge: he’s put to the real test. Will he commit to his change and self-growth, or will he back out? Will he do the ultimate sacrifice? Should he choose to do good or to *feel* good?
The ending: he’ll live up to be the “Good Boy” that Grandma expected him to be.
JP will have a different ending than Dosan but they’ll be friends at the end. 🙂
PS. Ignore the folks on twitter. Many of the fangirls (on either side) have a loose screw. 🙂
Okay pm3 😅.
I guess you could also be Team Jipyeong, rooting for his successful character development and life-long happiness.
What I meant in the previous comment is basically in the romance department, because twitter hypes Jipyeong-Dalmi ship more than Dalmi-Dosan ship as far as I see 😅😭 I visit twitter for real-time spoilers, so I can’t avoid the hype tweets and it gets frustrating sometimes 😂.
Anyway, I am super thankful and happy that you’re posting Start-up posts, not just open thread posts like PBIO but also posts on your takes of the drama. I thought you would not open one 😊. This is actually my first time knowing Cyrano and the story. Now even when some BoD readers here ship JP-DM, at least there’s no overhyping here compared to twitter 😂; and I can always get intelligent discourse here 😍.
I’m just so glad we have a Start-up cover here, even if there are only few BoD readers watching this drama and fewer joining the discussion. Else I would be on twitter or mydramalist, excruciatingly reading hype posts while looking for tweets really discussing about the plot.
After Ep. 6, I was very, very close to declare a Good Boy romantic ending a lost cause, but it seems I’ll hold on to foolish hope just yet:
1. Do San is pretty greedy when it comes to Dal Mi. The hand that can do so much good can also overreach and do damage (like the broken pen). He held her back and “spoke” for JP to keep her emotionally close. That lie about being like brothers with JP *should* hurt his chances (but probably won’t).
2. I’m seeing Reply 1988-type clues in favor of JP. Like Dal Mi saying she still feels anxious hours after the “meeting.” There were two meetings, but the last one was with JP. Why so anxious? And she didn’t look at him in the eye when she was explaining that she thought he might like her.
3. In line with my initial thoughts that Dal Mi would be the one reaching out to Ji Pyeong if they were to end up together, she used her hand to reach out to him. The rooftop scene was largely coded as a friendship/family scene, but the point stands – Do San chose DM as CEO out of affection for her, and Dal Mi chose Ji Pyeong as mentor, probably because she instinctively trusts him.
Romance aside, I’m honestly very intrigued with the new twists and turns. I like that this Grandma is actually quite flawed, even though she’s very lovable. I get that she doesn’t want to ruin things for Dal Mi. But will lying really solve the problem?
Dal Mi forgives lying fairly easily but this seems like a huge misstep by Grandma. And by extension, I just don’t see how Do San gets out of this scot free with Dal Mi and Ji Pyeong (but weirdly, the fact that he knows Grandma’s illness makes me think DS is *more* endgame rather than less. Not sure why). I hope Ji Pyeong finds out in time to help, assuming money can help her.
Ah, the plot is thickening! Now we have the revenge-seeking applicant thrown in. Any guesses who that is? Alex?
Plus, grandma continues to play the game, now she has a bond with Dosan too.
The writer’s previous works include
Start-Up (tvN / 2020)
While You Were Sleeping | Dangshini Jamdeun Saie (SBS / 2017)
Page Turner (KBS2 / 2016)
Pinocchio (SBS / 2014-2015)
I Can Hear Your Voice | Neoui Moksoriga Deulleo (SBS / 2013)
Dream High (KBS2 / 2011)
Kimchi Cheese Smile | Kimchi Chiseu Seumail (MBC / 2007-2008)
Get Karl! Oh Soo Jung | Kaljapyi Osujeong (SBS / 2007)
Stranger Than Paradise | Cheonkukboda Nachseon (SBS / 2006)
Not Alone | Honjaga Aniya (SBS / 2005)
If you’ve watched any of those it may give you a clue as to what her modus operandi is? And therefore maybe a better hint as to who will end up with SuzyB? What does she prefer? What is her world view? Eek…I see Dream High in there. I couldn’t finish it. Does she prefer dorky or serious? When it comes to MLs?
I would say the writer is really fond of Suzy 😂. I only saw Dream High and only known While You are Sleeping (Suzy) and Pinocchio (Park Shin Hye). Idk, in DH, Suzy ended up with Kim Soohyun and I think his character is on the dorky side. So @nrllee I guess writer’s MLs are more on the dork side.
Also, between Taecyeon and Kim Soohyun characters in Dream High, KSH was always on Suzy’s side through ups and downs. As far as I remember, Taecyeon betrayed Suzy by choosing a better project performance (where he’ll instantly become an idol) over his promised performance with Suzy.
I guess, the one who’s on Suzy’s side all the time wins 😂😁
By Kdrama’s rules, Do-San is he endgame for me. He’s the main lead and I don’t think the writer will take the risk to make NJH’s fans angry :p
As a character, I prefer Ji-Pyeong. His lonelyness is touching. He lied but he did for Grandma and Dal-Mi, not for him. Do-San is doing it for him now.
Probably right @Sayaris. Most of the posters or promos seem to have NJH and Suzy in them as the pairing so chances are he will end up with her.
@nrllee, I have seen Dream High, Page Turner, and I Can Hear Your Voice. In all of them the dorky kind of guy won the girl. In the early episodes of Start Up, Dosan had exactly the same haircut as Kim Soo Hyun in the beginning of Dream High, so he must be the endgame😃.
I still feel bad for the poor Second Lead in I Can Hear Your Voice. He was both mature and sweet.
Also, in all dramas I mentioned above, the guy who won the FL was introduced later than the guy who ended up becoming the Second Lead.
But the Second Leads always had a nice character development too, as @packmule3 pointed out.
But but but…
JiPyung is kinda dorky too. 😈
Just teasing you, LeeDale9198.
I only saw parts of Pinocchio. It’s been on my “Too Watch” list for ages. Park Shin Hye looked good with her co-star. What’s his name? The “W” actor with the funny nose job? 😈😜😈 That guy.
Anyway…just letting y’all know, especially lurkers, that I’ve tightened my “spam” control again. That means, I’m NOT accepting new posters for “Start-Up.” Only old BoD posters have the privilege to comment on the “Start-Up” threads. Others may take a seat.
I’ll be busy in the next few days so I don’t have time to moderate the comments (and moderating is my least favorite part of blogging). Neither do I have the patience to deal with fangirls complaining why I’m favoring X guy and not Y guy. Look: this is my blog. If people don’t like my bitchy views, then they should “exeunt omnes,” as they say in Latin.
Current posters know better than to fight each other. We can analyze fictional characters to death, feel disgruntled with the screenwriters, and cite reasons to bolster our arguments. But we won’t attack each other personally for having carefully considered views. We can disagree. But at the end of the day, we’re all unified in our fondness for 🍪, 🦄, 💐, 🌈, 🍷, 🧁,🍦, and Mr. Darcy.
I agree with you all about what the writer normally leans towards to for endgame. Back to the dream high example this means that the drama could go either way still. I think it depends on Dosan’s character changing, for me I see him later on wanting to prove he can be successful and win and letting others push him to greediness and ego, just because that’s always one of the challenges entrepreneurs have to go through. If Dosan feels threatened, or feels let down he may switch and want to be more successful to prove he’s the right choice? If so that’s when Jipyeong may have a one over on him, by being by her side through that, and in reverse humbling him self and helping her even more to rise. This is only if Dosan goes through that change, that’s the only way he’ll end up like Taec did in Dream high. For Dorkyness, also back to dream high, Soo Hyun’s character was overlooked and the underdog most of the time, whilst Taec was wanted and seen as great, so that can also hint its Dosan who’ll be end game just because he’s the underdog in terms of the start up business/ he feels like has nothing to offer. However if later on he becomes big headed or selfish then Jipyeong playing the role of goodboy may end up becoming the overlooked underestimated underdog too in terms of Dalmi’s heart. They are both dorky and underdogs in something in the show.
@Packmule – Mr. Darcy for the win!
@nrllee – I’ve been wondering about this myself. It’s easy to put down some thoughts on PHR because her shows are memorable even half a decade later.
Here’s my take from the shows I’ve seen. Park Hye Ryun’s leads run the gamut, both the female and males. She really has a knack for the flawed, somewhat bitchy characters that you root for (like JP), and she likes to explore resentment and regret among loved ones (and how to overcome it).
I Hear Your Voice – I remember feeling very clearly while live watching that the main lead might not get the girl. The promos were fairly ambiguous, the leads were way more like family, the main lead was way too young (a teenager!!), and the story really pushed the upstanding and more mature second lead early on and seemed poised to let the main lead accept the outcome. But Ep. 8 was a Wham Episode, and after a timeskip and separation from the main lead, the female lead realized her feelings. The main lead had a tragic childhood backstory with the female lead, and was brilliant and broody. The female lead cared about the male lead a lot at first, but also resented all the pain he brought into her life and had to work through that in the series.
Verdict – Somewhat supports a JP ending IMO. Signs point to a Wham Episode that can serve as a reset for the characters. Also, the Wham Episode *******SPOILER ALERT****************
…involved the female lead’s mother dying, and the male lead comforting her but also taking off into a soul search because of the events.
(Having said that, the male lead’s commitment to openly and continuously caring for the female lead was probably the biggest reason they ended up together. Whereas JP Cannot Spit it Out.)
While You Were Sleeping – feels like a decidedly different show than Startup. The second lead was compelling and not a doormat, but he never felt like a true contender for Suzy’s character. Instead, from very early on it felt like the show was prioritizing the epic love story of the main leads and the cute, enduring friendship of the second lead towards the both of them (in spite of his feelings).
Verdict – Supports a DS ending, but I do feel like the romance in WYWS was way, way more overtly endgame early on than the DS-DM romance currently in Startup.
Pinocchio – In this one, the second male lead mistakenly received messages throughout many years from Park Shin Hye’s character, resulting in him becoming intrigued in her. He had zero chances that I recall. Nowhere near as compelling as JP. The main lead definitely felt more like a JP type than a Do San type to me (orphan, bright, kind but resentful). The main lead also had the distinction of being like family to the female lead (an adopted uncle, in this case). He also stayed away from her and “resented” her for something her mother did to him as a child.
Verdict – Arguably supports both endings, but the “feel” of the main couple seems more like the feel of DM and JP than of DS and DM. They challenged each other and grew through disagreements, which as of right now DM isn’t even contemplating having with DS (since she asked that DS never disagree with her in order to have control over the company as CEO). DM and DS’ bubbliness is more similar to the WYWS main couple (but even more so IMO).
Thanks Sofrito.
Working on Ep 5 right now. 🙂
@BeingWritten – thanks for your write up, many people were talking about the Dream High parallels and I was very sad to not have watched that way back when. This saves me 16 hours 🙂
@Packmule – Looking forward to it!
@Sofrito thanks for the parallels. Don’t know but I am a sucker for articulate, broody poets who write better than they speak 😂. So I am Team Good Boy. If only because his younger version (Nam DaReum) hooked me with his portrayal of the character (like he always does).
So I was supposed to ask this way back in ep1-4 impression thread but totally forgot… can anyone explain this for me? Dal-mi parents divorced but why was the mother not seeing her and only In-Jae was shown to have catch up with Dal-Mi? You divorce your ex husband not your child.
True. The writer is returning to her type.
Of course, I don’t want Dalmi to end up with Dosan simply because she feels sorry for his dorkiness. I want to see a connection. That’s the one ☝️ advantage that JP has over Dosan. He bonded with her over those letters. Granted, they were 15 years ago, but that’s a connection that can easily be rekindled. He’s her “first love” and that’s hard to beat in kdramas. 😂
Of course, there are ways to around this “first love” trope and one is by showing a FALSE “first love,” that she’d been in love with an idea, dream or a mirage.
But I don’t want JP going dark, though. 😂 That wouldn’t be fair competition.
I don’t want either of the MLs to go dark. I’m increasingly worried about the layers of lies that Dosan is perpetuating: that he and JP are like brothers, that he lets his parents think he is the CEO, now covering for Dalmi’s grandmother, and, of course the letters. She will feel deceived by everyone when she gets to the truth. She says she never regrets her choices, but she’s making choices based on others’ fabrications.
Some Positives are perhaps JP is growing a sort of family for himself. Dalmi recognised his input into Samson’s successful bid. Everyone is growing and who knows, maybe the lies won’t be a negative but will lead to the best result in the future. Dalmi wasn’t upset about Dosan’s pretence of being successful. But I personally am uncomfortable with the deceit even so. I feel the same about ddsslls. I guess I’m supposed to feel that way.
@packmule3, I hope that you have some space to relax and recharge over the next few days. Thank you for the posts even this week.
P.S. I hope that you enjoyed the last of ZD.
Just caught up on episode 6.
I said in the good boy v nerd boy post that I was team no one and I just want to see how things unfold. Everyone’s contribution on how the writer might take things forward is very interesting. Lots to consider with ep5&6 that will certainly drive our plot, namely;
1. Alex wanting to mentor Do San
2. The character that wants revenge (I have a feeling it just might be the person the director lady thinks committed suicide or at least linked to that story🤔)
3. Another lie Do San is entangled in- Grandma’s illness.
I love the resolution of the fight between SamSan, I guess eyes is the next body-part keyword. Eyes in relation to physical vision and also entrepreneurial vision. The words the nurse said was “The medication doesn’t stop loss of vision, it only slows it down”. Can’t help but think the concept of vision will be important moving forward.
Also I second @penguin_07’s question, why did DM’s mother not see her after the divorce?
P.S I don’t like the character of their 5th team mate- can’t even remember her name. She’s hardly there for their meetings and I can’t be the only one who wanted her to pick the 0 shares options😅. Still not sure what value she adds to the plot other than being bratty.
Tease me all you want, like a mother @packmule3 eomma 😈😇😄
Even if I’m #TeamDosan, I’m still gonna be fine if the show ends the other way around 😃. All thanks to BoD and the always intelligent analytical discussions here 😉 If I haven’t discovered this community, I would have been like the crazy fangirls who would just focus on the actors and their fave pairings and not really the story/plot of the dramas.
@penguin_07 yes the Mom-Dalmi relationship also bothered me like come on seriously mom didn’t communicate with her other daughter, even just once? The ex-husband died, so the mother should have taken care of Dalmi. Okay, Dalmi wants to stay with her grandma, fine. But no sort of help at all with her daily needs and education? Really? What, Dalmi would not accept her mother’s help then? Okay this happened because Mom did not reach out to her at all 🤦🏻♀️. In conclusion, she’s a bad mother, not only to Dalmi but to Injae as well.