The thread is now open.
What to expect this week? Let’s see…
1. Breakup of the couple
2. Breakup of the company
3. Dosan moving to California
I’m not being a Debbie Downer here, but the time leap is better now than later. 😂
Let’s enjoy the show!
43 Comments On “Start-Up: Eps 11 & 12 Open Thread”
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With a title called EXIT and Alex determined to not be a philanthropist as he calls it. Then yeh this episode is going to leave everyone separated
Lol. Is the title Exit? It’s already on Netflix? That’s earlier.
Yep watching it right now whilst having lunch. The title even the meaning is not great foreshadowing. So I’m very anxious how things are going to fall apart
Exits are good for moving on. Sometimes, you just have to take the loss and rebuild elsewhere or create something new.
If they do it this week, we’ll have two more weeks or 4 episodes for regrouping and reunion.
It’s cute how writer is using business terms to reveal the content and theme of the episodes. She did her job.
I’ll wait to see your opinions after watching it right now something feels off…
Like what’s off?
The ending, middle, JP, Alex, Dalmi and Dosan?
I won’t be able to watch it till tonight. 😂 Have family over for lunch then dinner. It’s a pre-Thanksgiving Thanksgiving bec we can’t host everyone all at once. Covid.
Things make sense again, I was so confused by the middle, because I was confused about a certain word but it got explained haha. I will say this episode makes sense to me this was the only way the separation could have gone and I still think Jipyeong lagged again. But I think people won’t see it that way, this time I will blame everything on Dosan and Dalmi for being not yet ready, and you know what this was what was needed for them to grow and become ready.
Happy Prethanksgiving Thanksgiving 🙂
So was JP really involved in the suicide of Youngsan’s brother or was it Director Yoon? Or somebody else at Sand Box?
I WANT it to be Director Yoon because she’s squeaky clean. 😂 But she isn’t the type to be mean to prospective CEOs. I still remember how supportive she was of Dalmi’s father. Telling him not to worry about investments for the first year but about increasing value of their product.
She’d be a colossal fake if after all that talk of Sand Box being a safe space for startups, she was the one to push a novice CEO over.
JP is more like it. He shouldn’t be mentor with his toxic management style. He’s no “Sherpa.” 😂 No wonder he didn’t know the meaning of the word. It was a fake writeup.
But I think that would be mean of the writer to pile it on JP.
I’m willing to settle for a mistaken identity. Youngsan had a faulty source of info.
Exit … or you can even call it a Reset.
The preview for 12 seems like the roller coaster is headed for a dip.
Exit.
Reset.
Reboot.
Restart.
Reload.
Samsan Tech 2.0.
I hope Director ends Ep 12 so we don’t have to wait a week to see the fast-forward to year 2020.
It was all of them but JP did what JP did as always and said something that caused the brother to lose. Thing is he’s right with what he did. I wish it was the director too right now she doesn’t seem important anymore so I’m questioning the writing.
JP went through self growth this episode because of being involved in it. Like he learnt a lot but I CANNOT stand his fangirls who are hailing him the hero of this episode and hating on Dosan and Dalmi and everyone (I get it they’re stupid but JP is their mentor he should have been the one who helped them this earlier but he comes always late and I know they’re gonna say he needed time of etc, he just failed as a mentor this whole episode and I cannot accept people praising for showing up last minute). And Youngsan was understandable but he also annoyed me.
We’re definitely getting noble idiocy though so I’m goanna roll my eyes at that too. But it’s the only way for this to happen so I get it
Just also want to say like it looks like even though JP went through some growth that promo he looks like he still didn’t change urgh
But JP = Mr Regrets, remember?
I thought that was definitively established in Ep 10 that he regrets things because his timing is all wrong. He regrets it afterwards. 😂
He’s the Sherpa. If a Sherpa loses one of his climbers because of negligence, it’s on him.
Out of topic. Dosan blurting the word Reset have reminded me of NJH’s ex-partner Lee Sung Kyung in her drama Dr. Romantic 2. I’m finding it amusing to think about because LSK partner here is Ahn Hyo Seop and I find AHS and NJH look alike (same case as Kim MinJae and Yeo Jingoo 😂😅).
In Dr. Romantic 2, LSK and AHS characters have their thing with “Reset” where they reset their mindset and feelings back to square one and they do this by kissing (it’s like their romance thing, I’m so not good with explanations hehe hope y’all understand). Yeah hahaha 😂.
Watching the preview really ruins the mood! Haha!
HJP and Dalmi conversation over the phone is heartwarming. I will admit KSH’ acting tugged my heartstrings and almost made me cry.
The revenge plot was was so-so. I knew it was an awakening for HJP but it seemed rushed. Knowinf that indirectly you contributed to the death of another person.. he got over the guilt (if he had any) very quickly.
I am waiting for the Dalmi-grandma talk. Not sure I understand why it is not happening yet. Yes halmeoni is sick but I wish she and Suzy would have a heart-to-heart talk. Same with Suzy’s mom and sister. They all need to get together/reunite the family.
The acqhire part… makes it more realistic that start-ups and noobs can make major mistakes if not guided esp when the $$$ starts coming in.
Saha and Chulsan <3.
When the team gathered in the Samsan tech office.. reminded me of how we celebrate as a team after a successful project or go-live (I work in the IT industry). I totally can relate when they were doing the “design thinking” session for Dalmi’s new idea.
Bean bag scene where Dalmi gave a sleeping Dosan a kiss and ended up putting markers on his face (my heart is fluttering). <3 <3 <3
I love the parts in ep11 like how Dosan, decided that they be truthful of their accuracy even though it is lower than InJae’s company. We see that he has learnt his lesson on being honest. We saw how Dosan and his dad has grown from being each other’s pride and to respect each other’s role.
And the fantastic win. We could quite see it coming but always great to see them win. Here, Dosan is exceptional, a cut above the rest in terms of his ability to code and it is understandable why Alex only wanted him.
I empathised with JP’s distraught at what he had done to YongSan’s brother. JP’s harsh words ‘killed’ him. Would he apologize? I think not. He wasn’t even aware of his actions. But it is a good wake up call, because he recalled all the times he has been harsh on Dosan and Dalmi. Then again, it is more of surprise to him that after all the name-calling/judgement he had thrown at them, they survived and even went ahead to win the hackathon.
I thought SaHa would have read and understood the contract better since she was trained as a lawyer or is it because it is in English? JP is one step late here cos he ‘abandoned’ them in their critical moments. Contracts like this also means there is no or limited exit. So Dosan can’t get out of what he binded in contract.
Both JP and the Lady Director had the same criticism of Yongsan’s brother. But sometimes it’s not what you say but how it’s said that make it constructive or destructive criticism. I’m not surprised that JP took a sick day if the realisation of his involvement made him ill. Still it was a shame he wasn’t there to support his team.
I admit that I don’t have a head for business or tech but this is how it looks to me: JP shows up too late to read over the contract with his team. It seems like very poor mentoring. Even if he was at home, he could have asked for a copy of whatever contract would be presented and help negotiate. Especially since he had been reflecting on how negative he had been. Instead, all he was thinking of was that Dalmi had come to his door to bring porridge and that she praised his nitpicking. He knew that since they won, he wouldn’t be asked to be plan B, but in my mind he should have continued to mentor them with any details of the investment they won.
Unless the preview is a total troll, he hasn’t learned his lesson.
I liked how Dosan asked his Dad how to breach the line between personal and professional life. 😉😆
Is Netflix working for you? Mine lost the subs during the contract signing. 😂 So what did Dalmi say about not sleeping well?
Re. the preview
😂😂
It’s the same ending as this writer’s earlier Kdrama, “Dream High” (2011). The male lead didn’t want to go to America but Suzie’s character convinced him saying, “You have to go to America. Release an album there and stand on a bigger stage. You said you were going to be the best.”
Kim Soohyun’s character replied that he never wanted to go to the US. He just said it to show her. But now he’d accomplished it, he was done.
Then he said this, “From the beginning until now, you’ve been my music to me. My music is you. That’s why I’ve come this far. Without you, there’s no music.”
And that’s the same with Dosan. His dream has been Dalmi. Without Dalmi, he wouldn’t have been driven to make noongil.
But he could do so much MORE than noongil. He’s a genius so he must go beyond noongil and see how far his “potentials” can take him.
In “Dream High,” Susie reminded Kim Soohyun that he wanted to be awesome so she didn’t need to worry about him anymore.
But she was still worried about him. “If this is the end, then I’m still worried about you. So try to become more awesome so I don’t need to worry about you anymore. To make me fall for you, make it big.”
I think she meant that if he didn’t go all the way, he might have regrets. She didn’t want to hold him back, so she was pushing him away, literally and metaphorically.
And the guy left.
Then, fast forward many years later, the guy was performing at the Grammys or something. And Suzy was singing a song for him at her concert.
He did become the best, and she was the reason he took the journey.
The big problem with this story is that it was open-ended. Suzy definitely didn’t end up with the second male lead but she was still waiting Kim Soohyun to return. The audience were left hanging.
I guess, it’s because the characters were high school students and accomplishing their dreams would take longer.
If my projections are correct for “Start-Up,” this writer is going for a more satisfying end, for a close-out. Dalmi will probably tell him to go, on some pretext. It’ll be for his “own good.” Then, he’ll come back three years after as the formidable Dosan.
That’s why the setting of this drama is 2016/2017. I just wished the director had made it clearer. Like put more calendars in the houses of Dalmi and Dosan.
😂 of course, there’s always the possibility that 2STO bombs and he ends up like one of the bums of California.
Re. Chulsan and Saha’s story
If he really wanted to show Saha their old office, then why were the lights off? How could they see in the dark?
That was the point the director showed us the lights, through the two windows, turning on. 💡💡💡
The contract signing
Alex essentially paid 3 billion won for Dosan. Dosan was worth $2.6 million to him. 😂 He’s a rock star.
If I were Dosan though I would have noticed the pens. He gave me (Dosan) a fountain pen but he only gave my CEO, Dalmi, a ballpoint pen.
That’s not standard contract signing protocol, especially as consequential as this one. The same pens are given to all signatories.
Dosan got the fountain pen ✒️
Dalmi got the ballpoint pen 🖊
Fountain pens >> ballpoint pens
Not watching on Netflix. Did you get the subs back, @packmule3?
Of course Chulsan and Saha were romancing in there. Even DoSan saw through it.😆
Ref the future break up. I feel that for DoSan to leave, there will need to be a huge rupture between him and Dalmi because I can’t imagine him being able to function as well on his own otherwise. But the writer will show us. It’s a given that he will go because of the time jump. I’m more curious about how the Samsan team will proceed.
In my critique of JP yesterday, I didn’t mean to imply that he shouldn’t feel good about Dalmi’s thanks or porridge. It’s nice for him to have some affirmation at that moment. But I felt that he was neglectful in the sense that he should have at least contacted Samsan about the win and what it meant for their future. Even if DoSan and YongSan didn’t want him as an investor, I imagine that Dalmi may have been open to discussing Alex’s terms with JP, had he responded to her texts.
I thought that the sleeping arrangements in the old office were interesting. DoSan and Dalmi on the matching cushy beanbags, Chulsan and Saha next to each other on the harder unmatched mats on the floor, and YongSan by himself on the very uncomfortable looking folding chairs.
I agree with you on JP. Let me write about this. I wanted to do a “Quick Takes” before Ep 12 shows up.
I hope that the Thanksgiving Series 1 went well.
Thanks, Fern.
Family is family. They’re always crazy. And the food was catered so no stress. 🙂
We were given this humongous nose swab as a joke. (Think of a barbecue stick with cotton buds) We had to test everybody for Cvirus.
Had heartburn, though. Couldn’t sleep so I watched Start-Up.
But I can’t imagine eating turkey for two more dinners. I’m suggesting an Asian hotpot dinner and Korean-style barbecue for the smaller dinner. Already ordered the tabletop grills and hotpots last night. 🙂
Have you tried those tabletop grills?
Your second meal sounds delicious. I haven’t tried a grill. I think they would be a blast. Good Christmas gift idea for older daughter, thanks! But would probably set off all smoke alarms indoors so perhaps not.😜
We used to celebrate Thanksgiving when my husband worked with another American. But he and his family moved to FL. Plus the English Christmas meal is nearly a duplicate down to the cranberry sauce, but without pumpkin pie. Two overloads of turkey within a month was overkill and we ended up wasting it the times we’ve tried.
Last year we celebrated Christmas near Cork with my extended American family, so we had a hybrid meal part Christmas/Thanksgiving, part improv with homemade bread and pastries, too. Something for everyone.
That’s what I’m planning to do with the grills and hotpots, Fern!! After we use them for the 2nd Thanksgiving dinner, I plan to give them to family.
I might keep a hotpot if my hubby likes it. It seems like a lot of work is involved, but the soup is a nice alternative to the regular chicken noodle soup on a cold day.
Yes, I’m a bit worried about the smoke, and the oil splatter. I might have to use my second-best table linens. hahaha.
I’ll report back to you.
Yes, Thanksgiving is a duplicate of the English traditional Christmas meal. Because the colonies were British. We were your younger, annoying and rebellious siblings, Fern. 🙂
— oh gosh, I’ve to buy fish balls, too! Yikes. I must research this because of allergies. I don’t know what these fish balls are really made of.
Yes, you may have to forgo the linens for the cottons. It sounds potentially hard to launder.
I have only seen the grills in restaurants on tables with no cloths whatsoever. But that would be bad if the table has a sensitive or valued finish.
Fish balls sounds amusing. Fish sticks are called fish fingers here. Nonsensical anatomy, eh?
Episode 12. Spoiler!!!
Re. that birthday I mentioned in Ep 10. I said it was sad that Dalmi didn’t even know Dosan’s real birthday and yet, somehow they celebrated JP’s birthday.
Welllll…for full-melodrama effect, in this episode, the writer had Dalmi breaking up with Dosan on his birthday.
hahaha. Nice.
I like that dramatic irony, especially when the writer gave the viewers a hint already.
Ouch. It’s my party and I’ll cry if I want to…
Hahaha. So witty, Fern!
He was crying on his birthday. And to give it the full “Eeyore” sort of sadness, he was crying while it was raining.
All we needed was the violin music…and oh! the sad clowns.
You’ve got to love kdrama melodrama. 🙂
The ‘sad clowns’ is only reminding me of more songs. 😭 Isn’t it rich?
I like that song, don’t you?
https://youtu.be/8L6KGuTr9TI
Lyrics
Isn’t it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground,
You in mid-air,
Where are the clowns?
Isn’t it bliss?
Don’t you approve?
One who keeps tearing around,
One who can’t move,
Where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns?
Just when I’d stopped opening doors,
Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours
Making my entrance again with my usual flair
Sure of my lines
No one is there
Don’t you love farce?
My fault, I fear
I thought that you’d want what I want
Sorry, my dear!
But where are the clowns
Send in the clowns
Don’t bother, they’re here
Isn’t it rich?
Isn’t it queer?
Losing my timing this late in my career
But where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns
Well, maybe next year
On a happier note,
if I were the writer, I’d make Dalmi write letters to Dosan, the real Dosan, during their three-year separation.
So upon Dosan’s return, she could give them all to him for sending him away. That’s a good way to prove to him that sending him away was her “noble gesture.” and that she was waiting for his return.
Dosan never had any letters from her.
Yes, a very good song. Still like Judy Collins.
Haha, Chulsan’s pi asmr video. 🤓 ‘Talk nerdy to me’ in action. I think the actors playing Chulsan and YongSan did very well this episode. I was actually surprised that YongSan was weeping along with the others when they heard about the disbandment. He, of all 3 had the least to lose.
Thank you @packmule, for the heads up about the breakup. I had a tissue ready. Used it for JP and Grandma’s scene. The ramped up revisiting of Dosan and Dalmi’s parting along with his recollection of her ‘wandering’ letter was an overdose of pathos for me.
I was glad to see that DoSan worked on and found a solution for the medication identification on the airplane. When it was first brought up, all I could think was that it is a lawsuit waiting to happen and the app would need lots of caveats. I’m no lawyer but I could imagine an error could be ruinous.
On the preview,
Dalmi was taking a student drivers test. The car she was driving had the name Tarzan on the grill and the hood. 😂
Re the ASMR or Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response
Chulsan’s voice was supposed to make Saha feel drowsy but it had the opposite reaction on me. I was having tingles bec it was so cheesy.
Any other guy would take Saha’s reply as a no or a “hard pass.” But Chulsan went ahead and texted her. 😂 He knew by then that Saha wasn’t indifferent to him.
Was DoSan’s outburst (where he threw the first punch) against JP justified? I read posts elsewhere how it was “juvenile” and how “in real life he would’ve been charged for assault AND thrown into prison”? 🤔. I thought DS was just hitting back because JP kept pushing his buttons? Surely if you’re a bully, at some point you have to expect the victim to hit breaking point and fight back? I am not condoning violence but the backlash against DS’s “first punch” seems overdone? 🤔
Watching Episode 12 turned me into a sobbing mess. I felt like this was the closing chapter of the second book of a trilogy. Now I am ready for the upswing!
Nam Joo Hyuk is seriously impressive in this drama…
Right, @Snow Flower?
I also watched Do Do Sol Sol La La Do, so I get you. We were all hit by a double whammy last week. Rara’s breakup and Dosan’s breakup.
I don’t know much about Nam Joonhyuk. I just skimmed through Weightlifting Fairy and didn’t see his appeal. He reminded me of that tall singer in “CNBlue” the Korean boy band.
Then I saw him in Habaek. Which I thought was dumb. 😂😂 I didn’t get the whole Mt Olympus-Greek mythology theme. Plus, he looked silly prancing around half-naked. (Not my type.) And I didn’t like actress. (Her face could have been carved out of stone).
I still remember the scene where I lost it. It was when she fell down from the tall building, and the expression on her face looked like a fish out of water.
So no.
So this is my first time watching Nam Joohyuk for 12 episodes. And you’re right. I had no trouble figuring out what he’s thinking or feeling.
I didn’t know he could tear up that easily. He had more tearful scenes that Dalmi!! I can’t remember watching a kdrama where the hero cried more than the heroine. It must be emotionally draining for the actor.
I have only seem NJH in The Light in Your Eyes, but that show was carried by Han Ji Min and Kim Hye Ja. Glad to see that his acting has improved.
@packmule3 and @ Snow Flower, I’ve only seen NJH in Scarlet Heart. He was good but it wasn’t a major role. He was one of a large group of brothers and step-brothers. There were so many other heavy hitters. Kang Han Na (Injae) was in it playing an unpleasant princess very well and Lee Joon-gi was the male lead. NJH’s acting has come on since. I’m finding him very believable now.