This thread is now open for my crones…errr… drones…errr...clones. Anybody raising a valid point will be shot. lol.
And anybody raising an invalid point will be thrown off the bus.
Ep 9: Risk: Can be good or bad depending on risk factors that come with an investment
Ep 10:
Let’s enjoy the show.
Our Little Buddha became an LB because he felt guilty all along. Can’t blame him when he has parents who only care about his achievements. There’s so much a primary/middle schooler can think and do. I hope young DS knew he’s not a good-for-nothing. Even if he couldn’t answer that one problem (thus he cheated), he’s still amazing because it’s still the Math Olympiad! Only geniuses can compete there!
Knowing Dosan’s whole story, I can’t imagine how heavy the guilt must have been for him. Not only guilt about lying to Dalmi, but by everything. If he hadn’t cheated, he couldn’t have won the gold medal; then Jipyeong couldn’t have noticed DS and use the name Dosan in the letters. Now Dosan’s self-esteem is starting to crumble again. It’s awful.
Finally, it took 9 eps for Good boy JP to realize his feelings hahabwahaha. TLTL much. Haiyah I don’t like how he berated Grandma like that. Grandma still care about him huhu. Tho Grandma’s still being selfish, she don’t want to tell the truth anymore seeing how happy DM and DS are. Understandable.
If not for Dalmi’s carelessness with the switched phones, she couldn’t have known the truth this way. Putting aside the story and their situation: it’s a yikes as a CEO, how could you be careless with your phone that you use in your business huhu.
It’s a good thing that the director became Injae’s mentor. IJ’s not her father’s daughter (am I using this phrase correctly?, like she’s opposite of DM iykwim). Director could be IJ’s mother figure; IJ needs someone to guide her as a business woman that is still human.
I love how the drama touches this complex situation of business innovation in expense of lost jobs. It’s really conflicting given how technology is progressing rapidly and replacing manpower here and there.
Well, Sandbox’s security is so lax. The old guard could easily get in carrying eggs and all that. SB needs Injae Co. Unmanned security system then.
Now that the truth is out, we can look forward to the other things like 2STO and that revenge thing. But first we have to deal with the changing relationship dynamic between our characters. Laters 😁.
@LeeDale9198 yeah I agree with you about DS and his story. It was sad to see him unravelling and this time the lie didn’t actually start with him 😪 Thinking back to it now, DS has always shown hints of suffering from imposter syndrome that his friends and family brushed off as him being humble. But like you said, he shouldn’t undermine his achievements because only geniuses can compete in the Maths Olympiad.
DS needs to realise (and please writer make it quick) that he is worthy of a seat at the table- in a profession sense and in the sense of being with DM and competing against the “OG Dosan”. I’m hoping that since we’re quite far along with the drama already he won’t spend too long away from her on a noble idiocy flex.
The reveal wasn’t how I thought it would happen but I’m glad it’s out now. Everyone involved can sit down, talk it out (they need to talk!!!). DM’s heart needs to be fully broken before it can be mended, lol.
When I saw the beach I got flashbacks to Don’t dare to dream (Jealous Incarnate) where the 2 male leads had a mud fight 😂😂😂 I was half expecting JP to show up and pick a fight!
Some how this drama has gone from something I watched because I had only DDSSLLS, to a drama I’m actually looking forward to!
Hello everyone! I’m enjoying and picking up helpful ideas from all your posts. I hope that I will not be shot from this post (just joking @pm3). Dosan’s situation is somehow an eye-opener for me as I didn’t get it why over talented individual can feel such insecurity. News here and there including my 19 year old son’s opinion confirmed that people like Dosan wants a normal life just like everybody else without preferential treatment and they hate the feeling that somebody gets star struck with the special ability that they have.
I’m looking forward to JP’s strategy, he has the investor mindset all along and when it comes to emotional risk to Dalmi’s feelings, it’s like he’s a late bloomer. I’m watching this show for the business aspect at first and I didn’t know the emotions involved were also stimulating.
😂 you’re a dead poster posting, Eureka.
☠️
I can’t bear to see kdrama male leads crying so I’m waiting for Ep 10 so I can watch everything in one go.
Ouch! I guess my loooong severe migraine is not yet over! Let me try again next time. K-dramas allow male leads with tears, it’s also a no no in my region because the masculine aspect is being threatened.
I just want to say this show has one of the most mind boggling love triangle shipping wars I have ever encountered. Its honestly weird to read the comments on other sites where people are supportive of Jipyeong and hate Dosan so much. I don’t get it, they call him obsessive, stalkery and cheater, they say he’s a manipulator, and boring. They say he’s the most awful person for lying to her for so long and Dalmi shouldn’t forgive him. They call him stupid, I even saw one where people said he was gross for leaving her out when she was drunk (whilst irresponsible the fact that is what their hate is focused on is just) I’m so confused by this, what am I missing here? With other husband guessing games I’m always understanding and torn between the two people, especially when the main choice is always so flawed but as much Dosan may be a little bit flawed he’s not a monster? everything the boy does is for others benefit? including Dalmi? there’s no toxic relationship vibes when it comes to him (apart from he lying thing) all he’s done is like a girl, be there for her, and try and show up for her. There’s nothing else he’s done bad apart from that stupid cheating on the test but like seriously? I just can’t fathom this. Well done to Jipyeong for coming out to tell Dalm he likes her except still hasn’t done anything in my opinion worth praising or believing that he’s in the lead, he’s still lagging, and I mean he was close to doing so when he got stopped by Dosans friends so maybe I should give him a break. I don’t know I still don’t like him. maybe I have become biased now due to all the hate comments I saw towards Dosan i don’t know urgh.
Ep 10.
What’s Youngsan talking about? His brother was killed by JP? What brother?
Was Youngsan the guy who left the white chrysanthemum on the bridge? The mysterious stranger who visited the office? The guy who wrote on the message board that his goal was to seek revenge? That was his brother who jumped off the bridge?
Interesting. I don’t think JP could kill somebody. I doubt he could kill a fly. I agree with Grandma that he’s a “good boy.”
That said, he could BULLY somebody with his insults and disparagements to the point that the self-esteem of his TARGET would be negatively impacted and his TARGET would begin suicide ideation.
We saw him do that with Dosan. I listed at least four of his unacceptable behaviors and I said that he was a toxic mentor. The contrast between him and Director Yoon is night and day.
I hope that this is simply a case of mistaken identity and that Youngsan confused him with somebody else. But I’m glad that the writer is making viewers rethink JP’s past treatment of Samson Tech team and see it for what it was: unacceptable.
It’s unfortunate though that fangirls will see this plot development as a fake move by the writer to add insult to injury to JP.
Thats exactly how they are seeing it. I’m sure it is a case of mistaken identity, I don’t think the writer thinks Jipyeong’s harsh words are really important to the plot then again it may be one of the lessons he needs to learn; ie to look beyond the surface and see potential in others who are like Dosan, to offer them help a different way because we all know he’s going to be proven wrong about Dosan when Alex gets involved and trains him. It may help him get more character development where he starts to open up more and trust in peoples ambitions more? Could this teach him that? Not sure I don’t think this as the lesson for his character at the end of this show, so we’ll see what else the writer is up to.
@BeingWritten I’m with you on the delusional shipping! I should have written my comment from the other thread here. One of the common words I hear about the case against Dosan is that he is greedy…at least compared to JP. I am not sure if wanting something/someone considered greedy, maybe. Or being greedy is having enough but wanting more?
Dosan is definitely not greedy for money (unlike what is 1% cousin portrayed him in the infamous video to CODA). Dosan retorted that “Rich jerks are greedier.” to which JP couldn’t give a convincing argument to it, comparing things that cannot be helped like height and age. They both know they want the same person. So…the question is how much does Dalmi matter to the contending guys? Who wants her more?
Dosan admits that he has nothing and Dalmi is all he has and that’s everything to him, something or more like someone money cannot buy. It is tricky…JP is willing to give up his house and watch for her too. This is quite a fight! 😛
I wonder why Yongsan would take so long to talk to JP? I mean JP has been around or did Yongsan only recently find out some information that led to suspecting that JP was the cause of his brother’s death? I agree that the toxic language and harsh criticism JP uses could have cause Yongsan’s brother lots of stress, but to drive him to suicide could there be something more? JP seems oblivious and baffled even when Yongsan was almost strangling him, maybe he was mistaken and the culprit was Chairman Won instead?
On a lighter note, Chulsan finally looked irresistible.
When he kindly told Saha not to confuse his feelings by holding his hand or touching his face, and walked away, Saha seemed to realize that he was withdrawing from his pursuit.
There’s nothing like “playing hard to get” to increase desirability. It’ll be fun to see the tables turned and Saha chasing after Chulsan now.
Usually in kdramas with one-sided love stories, we see the pendulum swing the other way. Dosan and Chulsan have been pursuing their girls these past episodes so a reverse is overdue. I don’t mind Dosan going to the US to become a bigger star, taking along the guys with him. Dalmi needs to deal with her first love issues anyway. I thought the “dead end” in Ep 9 was good foreshadowing.
This is an interesting fight.
If both men are both fighting for the girl, then generally, the winner is the one who’ll demonstrate Solomonic wisdom and let her go first. Remember the baby? Solomon said that the real mother is the one who’ll give up the baby to the OTHER woman than allow the baby to be cut in two and shared between the two moms. It’s that whole idea that if one loves somebody, he/she will let the beloved go.
However….
I think JP’s delusional fangirls are hung up on Dosan’s previous statement that he was getting greedy, without realizing the context. As we’ve discovered, Dosan hasn’t been greedy at all for the past 15 years after the incident of the Math Olympiad. This was his first time because he fell in love with Dalmi. He’s been wondering whether he had any right to be greedy after what happened that contest.
Hence, the scrunchie = medal.
That’s why Dosan has to fight for her. If he gives her up, without a fight, then that means he doesn’t deserve her. He’s gladly accepting his “loser” fate.
I don’t really know what this show is doing (I hoped you’d put it all together by now Packmule cuz I’m too tired of trying to parse it out lol)
For one, in the first half the show/Fate/something consistently rewarded Do San for seizing opportunities with Dal Mi and trying to be her most important person. So it sounds like has to keep fighting to win.
Meanwhile, the show only gave Ji Pyeong what he wanted (Dal Mi to know) after he decided to give it up. Which is so contrary to what it tells Do San and suggests he was never the one for Dal Mi, since he had to give her up (but he recants on this, so I dunno).
But I had mentioned earlier that what was weird about Do San’s story is that it’s about being inspired by one person, plus now there’s the element of having your self esteem tied to one mistake. Unless I’m completely off, the show seems to say in Ep. 9 that Do San would have won Dal Mi definitively if he had just spoken up sooner – if he’d recognized he had aced the test with a 9/10 score. So now what he must do is to resist self defeat, have self esteem and a sense of self worth – again, fight some more.
But then there’s his talk with Alex. How will the show answer Do San? *IS* it good for your dream to just be a person? It’s very romantic. All signs from the beginning of the show point to “yes.” But it sort of ties all of Do San’s self worth on winning this one fight, which at the end of the day, is Dal Mi’s choice, not a fight. Hence IMO why the promo says “could you accept it if Dal Mi’s solution is Ji Pyeong” or something like that. That suggests to me he *has* to let go, at least a little bit. He has to let her go and make her choice.
Then there’s the fact that now that the truth is out, it’s like the show is finally grappling with the issues I had thought it’d grapple with earlier. Like whether you should mix love and business, for example. Both Saha and Dal Mi bring this up. It’s also making both boys grow and change after they had been stuck a bit for the first half of the show. It feels like a different ballgame altogether, except that this show has been tricksty the whole way so who even knows what it will do.
I think Do San is endgame but he has to let Dal Mi go.
Yes, I wonder, as others above did, if Ji Pyeong was the investor whose harsh words pushed Yongsan’s brother to the brink. I think it’s not impossible. However, I think he would be conscious of it and from what I’ve seen, he either isn’t or buried it in his psyche. Whichever is the case, I think it will shock him.
I liked how Grandma ended up defending her ex DIL. Both are evolving. I wondered why DIL kept gravitating to the corn dog stall, rather than seeking a position in fashion, makeup or some place that might want someone glamorous in a visible position. I suppose it’s mix of familiarity, regret and longing for the remembered loving spirit of her first husband’s family.
I liked the scene where Dosan defended Dalmi from her sister. I liked his explanation of why he didn’t wear the suit and that he didn’t want to confuse her any longer. I think he said all the right things at that moment.
The ‘ask your ancestors’ lady in the bar who keeps pouring soju – do you reckon that she runs a business that provides memorial services? I like the actress.
Has JP or Dosan been stalking Dalmi in Ep 10? What do you think, y’all?
Perhaps ex-DIL is stalking Grandma.
Dosan looked more like stalking Dalmi 😅 waiting outside her door, following her after work, and even on Demo day he seemed to come in at the right time with Injae.
Wait…JP was too when he changed clothes to be the guide instead. But that was more of the intent to help her with the demo day. He had Grandma as “spy”.
But I liked when Dosan came in at the right time with the sales lady & with Injae to protect Dalmi. He redeemed himself in those moments. Maybe the “stalking” is his way of processing how he can make up with Dalmi.
@Fern, I saw her in the drama I Hear Your Voice as FL. Took me a while to recognize her!
Chulsan moment was gold. 😀 the way they exaggerated his flushed face when he held hands with Saha was funny.
I agree with @Sofrito. The endgame is likely Dosan, but he will have to let Dalmi go. He needs a clean break and a fresh start with her. He is already taking steps in that direction by not accepting a Plan B.
Now that both guys have come clean, they have even chances.
I wouldn’t say they have an even chance at all. All the memories she goes back to is of Dosan and her in the present. Even though she knows what she knows now, those feelings of what DS & her accomplished & intimate moments do not get ignored though she may doubt. DS was bawling at the bus station when he confessed. I must say he did a really good job w/ the crying (it made me a little uncomfortable too). Dalmi must of seen that he was sincere. Those letters mean nothing now. Actions are louder than 15 y/o words??
The way I see it, the story could have been adjusted in any way. The kdrama way would be dosan – dalmi endgame. Usual stuff. Expected. For me, to go back as if giving even the slightest chance to JP is kinda dragging the story. Because in Kdrama universe, we already know Dalmi won’t leave Dosan.
If writer wanna take a different route, she should start working on JP and Dalmi. But it is already ep 10. Will that happen? Or will she just stick to usual formula. Now that she brought up another conflict for JP i.e. YS, it is likely she will just stick to that old formula. Will DM empathise with DS more than JP? Will this be the key to her deciding which guy she will choose in the end? If writer is not gonna go 180 from the usual trope, the conflicts really does not matter because right now DM likes DS, regardless.
Yes, the mud-flats scene reminded me very strongly of the fight sequence in “Don’t dare to Dream”. But that was one of the best comic moments I’ve seen in Kdrama, while this one is part of the approach to epiphanies for both male leads.
As a western viewer of Kdramas, I find it hard not to explode when sometimes parents bully their children both emotionally and physically. Yes, discipline is needed because it’s essential guidance anywhere in the world, but don’t leave them despairing. I liked it when Do-san’s mother comes to be with him outside the front door, but even she still points out where he went “wrong”.
Is there really a chance that Do-san will break out of his childhood and begin his adult life? I found it interesting that when he shares a bed with Ji-pyeong at Dal-mi’s house, Do-san is given the classic man’s position.
@BeingWritten I’ve seen the comments and just like you I’m so baffled. I keep thinking everyone must be watching a different show. In the short time I’ve watched dramas, one thing I’ve noticed is that viewers shift the goal post a lot. The lead they ship and the other lead will do the exact same thing and one will be praised and the other vilified.
For me, I just want DM to truly explore her options. It will be unfair to JP if she doesn’t. I want to see her make an effort with him before she makes up her mind. Some may ask why bother if JP isn’t endgame but I think if she doesn’t do that then the point the writer made about the letters (DM not dating because of the fantasy she’d built in her head) is moot.
There’s a lot to be resolved that right now I’m not sure what to expect or how I feel about how the characters are behaving. I’m still waiting for a conversation between grandma and DM, she owns her an apology.
I’d like to humbly erase the phrase “as a western viewer of Kdramas,” from my recent comment. It’s patronising and clumsy, and I apologise. Korean parents are as genuinely loving and supportive of their children as parents are anywhere in the world, but I hate the concept of “tough love”, and poor Do-san is getting more than his fair share of that.
Demo Day that will come next week, will it be like Shark Tank. Anyone watched those? The “why”s of the business always connects you to it, but in the end the $ is how the business will work. They probably need a Chief Monetization Officer. heh. Anyone seeing this from the business perspective? How will Samsan tech be profitable?
@juriel, not sure if it is taboo to say, but I think Asian Parents are more demanding of their children to succeed, get good grades? The image of the mum with a cane is something I would see in an asian family than a western family. Growing up in an asian background, the concept of “face” or losing face is pretty common in the older generation, like how Dosan’s dad is. Which means he will brag loudly to neighbours about his sons’s achievements and anything opposite is not to be spoken of. This can make a child have great pressure to meet their parents expectations of achievement (like Dosan) or rebel. Not meeting that is a can result in great sense of shame. I am glad there is more awareness these days and conversation about parenting respectfully.
Juriel, 🙂
I understand what you mean.
There are some parents whose first concern when their child does something bad, is the shame the misdeed would bring to the family. We can call it the family-centric method of childrearing. This practice is observable in many Asian cultures. (Should we blame the Confucian precepts?)
There are some parents whose first concern when their child does something bad, is the welfare of the child. We can call it the child-centric. This practice is often associated with Western culture. (Should we blame Freud and Dr. Spock??)
There are good and bad consequences to both types.
The child-centric way is kinder and more benevolent towards the child. If you’re watching “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol,” the father there was always supportive of his daughter. We all want children to be raised in a loving environment.
However, the family-centric parents would point out that the child-centric way could result into spoiled, self-indulgent children, and they would be correct, too. The problem with the child-centric parenting is that the child can grow up believing that world revolves around her.
So there are pros and cons to both sides, and we can select the good points and ditch the bad points from both methods.
Re. Dalmi and Grandma.
That was the point of Dalmi putting bumpers on the doorway.
Bumpers = lies.
She was telling Grandma that she knew why Grandma went through the trouble of giving her a fictional pen pal. It’s to protect her from feeling sad, etc.
Likewise, she was padding the doorway because she wanted to protect Grandma from getting hurt.
See that? Both were insulting in their own way. The bumpers/padding were insulting bec Grandma could still see. She wasn’t yet at that stage where she needed that protection.
The lies, or at least the continuation of the lies through her adulthood, were insulting to Dalmi bec she could have been told the truth. She wasn’t a child anymore to be protected from the truth.
So lies = doorway bumpers 😂
John L,
I agree with you. The man who has been fighting beside her all this time has superseded the memory of the boy who wrote those letters.
Actions >> words
Now >> 15-year old letters
However, to be fair, we have to credit JP for his help to Dalmi. Dalmi knows that he’s been helping HER personally, too. So, it’s not only words, but actions, too.
For me, I see it as a choice of what kind of life companion:
There’s the man she has to LIVE UP TO: Jipyoeng. He’s constantly pointing out her faults and lecturing her; dressing her down only to pick her up because he’s hurt her. A relationship with a man like JP is fatiguing. It’ll be like that treadmill that he keeps running on and slipping off on. That’s his metaphor.
Then there’s the man she can LIVE WITH and GET LOST WITH: Dosan.
In Ep 3, she’d written a letter than Dosan couldn’t understand at first.
She wrote, “Today, I wandered aimlessly. Have you ever let yourself be soaked even though you have an umbrella? That’s what I did today. It was a sweltering day and the rain totally cooled me down. After walking for 30 minutes like that, the rain stopped and an unbelievably beautiful scene unfolded before my eyes. I saw a huge rainbow. It looked as though it would grant my wishes. Then it suddenly hit me. It’s actually nice to wander aimlessly every once in awhile. From time to time, it’d be wonderful to sail off without a map.”
And in Ep 3, Dosan realized that THAT was the key (or insight to life) he was looking for, “to sail off without a map.”
In Ep 9, she’d experienced that aimless wandering she’d written about. That trip to the beach was wandering aimlessly. It was an impromptu trip because Dosan read her reply. Also, that star-gazing at night is wandering aimlessly, too. They literally got lost. But it turned out wonderful.
Do you see that?
For Dalmi, life is a great adventure. She wants to set off in this big adventure without a map but with a companion at her side. That was her prayer to God in Ep 4. Before she took the hand that Dosan handed out to her, she was narrating (in a voice over) that she wanted a companion and God answered her prayers with Dosan. She though God was being funny bec Dosan was in the same situation as she was: a rookie.
“Lord, I decided to gather up my courage and start a business on y own. I do have a destination but the path is steep and rough. So I’m not sure if I can handle it. please give me strength to complete this long, difficult journey. And please lead me to find a companion for the journey.”
Then she took the hand he was holding out to her.
This kdrama is very detailed and romantic in connecting Dalmi to Dosan. The fracas over the second male lead is just a distraction. 🙂
No, it’s not a taboo to talk about it, @grace. It is what it is.
There are pros and cons about both parenting styles and it’s good to know them both so we can apply the good aspects to our lives, and avoid the bad aspects.
Like sometimes, I wish we, Americans, didn’t praise and reward our kids so much, even when they achieved nothing, out of fear of destroying their self-esteem. (You heard about the “participation trophies” kids, right? Kids had to be given trophies or medals even when they lost in tournaments, so they wouldn’t feel bad about losing.) Too much emphasis on boosting and protecting self-esteem has unfortunately created a generation of many SELF-ENTITLED people. Sigh.
“Demo Day” was a good title, though. Compare how the two guys demo-ed their feelings for her. 🙂
@packmule3 I couldn’t understand those participation trophies. We had that in my children’s schools and it meant nothing? Especially if the event was “compulsory” anyway? 🙄. I can understand the “Most improved” trophy. That I thought was worthy. Had an interesting conversation with Daughter Dear yesterday (she’s up to Ep6)
Me – well how are you finding it?
DD – it’s funny now. Not so sad.
Me – thoughts regarding the 2 boys?
DD – hmm…DS is growing on me. But I still prefer JP for DM.
Me – why?
DD – because of the letters.
Me – so you much prefer the figment of her imagination to the reality? Remember, she will be living with the reality, not the figment.
DD – hmm…if you put it that way…
🙂 You’re a good mom, nrllee.
If I had a daughter, she wouldn’t be watching kdrama without guidance and supervision, too. Some of the social mores, worldview, cultural practices and philosophy that kdramas are espousing and normalizing, are questionable, and even unacceptable.
Take for instance this “Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol.” You know I’ve a soft spot for the actor there. Lee Jaewook. But his character is:
an 18 (western)/19 (korean) year old
suffering from emotional trauma
rebelling from his parents
high school dropout
runaway.
His current situation is a dealbreaker.
Hello, writer? In what bizarro world can this character pass off as a romantic lead? He needs to grow up and clean up his act first before he can start thinking of a long-term, committed relationship like marriage.
Now, if I had a young daughter, my daughter would be required to research studies on adolescent mental health and statistics before watching this show. lol.
Compared to DDSSLLS, Start-Up is a whole lot more palatable.
Some more thoughts/questions:
I am officially in “Dalmi’s Feelings Watch” when watching the show. I’m just keeping an eye out for her reactions and trying to enjoy the ride. Having said that, it seems like Ep. 11 will keep going with the theme of “demo-ing” the two men. Cut us some slack, show! The online fights are getting too heated
I’m glad they’re going back to business stuff in this upcoming episode.
More than anything, I’m trying to make sense of that drunken scene from Ep. 10.
Dal Mi is obviously feeling down and not charitable to either guy. I get that. And she’s most concerned about her business confidence in her conversation with Do San when he’s carrying her. She’s not intending to sort out her “Do San” feelings exactly.
But what she says goes back to the *party.* Not the Hackathon where they won. Not when DS extended his hand. Not NoonGil.
It felt like either a really fake detour in their romance, or a really serious setback for Dal Mi.
While she’s worried about business confidence, she’s talking romance. She says for DS to come to her like he did at the party. That day, he was her “Trophy, Comfort, Pride, Wings, Dream.” The writing was clearly deliberate here – but also off. Typically, drunken scenes are used to clarify, not confuse. Trophy? That’s a strong word.
Maybe what she meant is that she feels as down and lost now as she did at the time of the party – maybe she just wanted Do San to sort out her feelings in one quick, dreamy sequence she could rely on, that would fire up her confidence and giver her an exact answer.
She really felt unmoored in this scene and I both felt for her but wasn’t sure the writers intended to go that far. I get that her dreaminess is definitely a flaw she needs to work on, but was surprised by this scene.