Ep 16: Scale Up: The expansion of a business

JP’s Rehabilitation and Expansion.

Part 2 is here: Start-Up: Ep 16 Scale Up, Part 2

Because the title of the very first episode was “Start-Up,” it’s fitting that the title of the last episode is “Scale Up.” Starting up meant that the focus would be on the humble beginnings of the major characters. But after “sailing without a map” during these past episodes, all the characters have now demonstrated that they’re ready to “Scale Up” or to move on to the next level of their lives.

Truth be told, I’ve been reluctant to write about JP’s story. I didn’t want to explain his character to the willfully ignorant.

Why bother?

I agree with @lovebangwon when she called JP fangirls an “ungrateful” bunch. They’re stuck in hysteria because their Mr. Dimples didn’t end up with Dalmi when they really should be in euphoria that his crappy personality had been suitably transformed so he could live up to his moniker of “Good Boy.”

From the start, I said that Dosan would get the girl and the love story, and JP would get his issues resolved and his character reformed. It doesn’t take a genius or a psychic to see that this outcome was always the intention of both the writer and the director. For one, the writer and director never hid the fact that the main couple of the story was Dosan and Dalmi. All the promotional posters, teasers, videos, and press releases indicated that Dosan, played by Nam JooHyuk, was the leading man.

source: soompi

For another, it’s pretty standard in kdramas that when the winner or the leading man gets his well-deserved, happily-ever-after, the loser or the secondary male figure gets an alternative happy ending in the form of family, friends, and colleagues. I assumed that kdrama viewers would have learned this lesson after “Reply 1988,” “Heirs,” and “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” and this writer’s previous work, “Dream High.”

I guess I underestimated the power of fangirls to delude themselves. lol.

Now, I can’t begin to wrap up my analysis of Episode 16 without discussing an important “scale up” in the drama: JP’s.

If you think about this, it was JP who first demonstrated the need to “scale up” in this episode. That’s actually the meaning of his sprint on the bridge.

He heard from his assistant that a reporter had come in search of Dalmi’s company for an interview. Realizing that this reporter was out to write and exposé on the company and distort the ransomware incident, he sprinted to Sand Box headquarters to warn Dalmi.

I found this interesting because this was the first time JP actually ran for Dalmi. I know that he twice drove quickly to get to her:

In Ep 2, on the night of the networking party at Sand Box, and
In Ep 12, on the day Samsan Tech was acqhired by 2STO.

The scene in Ep 7 didn’t count because he was actually chasing Dosan who went to Dalmi’s house to reveal the truth.

But this was the first time JP actually RAN to get to Dalmi’s side in order to rescue her.

In contrast, not only had Dosan cycled to her rescue on the night of the networking party, he also ran on a FOOL’S ERRAND for Dalmi in Episode 8. Dalmi wanted to see him in a suit so he ran to get it from Youngsan’s apartment and went back.

Do you see the difference? JP had to have a RATIONAL reason to run across the connecting bridge between his office and Sand Box for Dalmi, but Dosan would even run across town and back on a WHIM to please Dalmi.

Then, when JP reached Sand Box, he was told by InJae that he needed not worry about Dalmi because Dalmi could easily handle such crisis on her own.

JP: That’s a relief.
IJ: Did you run here?
JP: What?
IJ: Your ID card got turned around?
JP: I was afraid she’d make a mistake again.
IJ: It’s her third year already. She’s had her fair share of problems. She can handle this much.
JP: (look at Dalmi through the window) You’re right. Of course.
IJ: You seem to have mixed feelings about it.
JP: I do? Why would I? I’m just happy for her. It’s a weight off my shoulders. I can finally relax. I’ll be going.
IJ: (watching his back) No, he definitely looks disappointed.

lol. The way she said this…she sounded wise like Director Yoon.

JP was understandably disappointed to hear this. It dawned on him that his services were no longer needed. Dalmi had “scaled up.” She’d grown in experience.

He spent the rest of the day, quietly pondering about the change in his world. Then to his assistant’s surprise, he went home early. He was looking depressed.

Do you see I mean about the bridge scene?

On one level, the sprint on the bridge simply showed JP’s attempt to rescue Dalmi. But on another deeper level, the sprint on the bridge foreshadowed JP’s discovery that he’d run too late.

Remember the letter that Grandma made him write about Mongsil the dog? Here’s the relevant part:

A few days ago, I said goodbye to my dog, Mongsil. I consider him my little brother. I miss him like crazy. Yesterday, I cried a lot after seeing my shoe that Mongshil had chewed on. Isn’t that funny? I thought he’d always be with me. I took the time we spent together for granted when every moment was a gift. I should have been nicer to him. I regret everything these days.

The sprint on the bridge was like JP racing to go back to the past, only to discover that he arrived too late to stop time flowing. When he saw Dalmi handle the situation capably on her own, he finally understood that he wasn’t needed as a mentor to Dalmi anymore.

Not only had she grown up, she’d also “gone away” — like the puppy Mongsil. He took for granted the time he was mentoring Dalmi when every moment was a gift. He should have been nicer to Dalmi (and the guys). And now that he was no longer required, he was missing those days, and he couldn’t get them back.

He was regretting a lot of things when he sat pensively in his office.

The arrival of Grandma later that evening signaled JP’s actual scale-up.

As I said in my earlier post, “Why a Cactus?” Grandma realized that Dalmi had blossomed and it was Dosan who made Dalmi finally bloom. Dalmi had been waiting for Dosan to return.

So Grandma immediately dropped by JP’s apartment because she knew this would have been a big blow to JP. She dropped by with her corndog for him. It’s interesting that this was her first time dropping by.

JP: I’m glad you came. I actually have something to tell you.
Grandma: You do? What is it?
JP: You’ve already opened a shop.
Grandma: Right.
JP: But aren’t the stairs in your house a nuisance? Why don’t you move to an apartment. I’ll get one for you.
Grandma: Hey, aren’t you tired of talking the same nonsense over and over?

Sigh. Although I like JP’s gesture here, he still didn’t get it after all these years. Grandma was a proud woman like him. Buying her an apartment would only be burdensome to her because he’d be doing it out of a sense of “obligation” to repay what she did for him. It would be like putting a “price tag” on the kindness that she bestowed upon him. Who would want that?

Seriously, some things shouldn’t be repaid because it would diminish the relationship into contractual one.

Look at the Dosan and the cactus that he knit for Grandma. It was a silly but thoughtful gift. And Grandma accepted it.

JP: Is there anything else that you need?
Grandma: I don’t need anything. If you feel so bad, do something nice for someone worse off than me.

Yes. This is what “paying it forward” means. Remember Chairman Won? He named his program “Pay it forward” when he was actually exploiting the youth.

JP: But you’re the one I owe.
Grandma: Then forget it. If that’s what you want to talk about, I’m leaving. I’m tired of this.
JP: Gosh. If you’re sick of it, just let me pay you back. If I were you, I’d have gotten it over with already.

But there are some things that he shouldn’t get over with. Like his familial ties to Grandma.

Grandma: “Gotten it over with”? (then groping for JP’s hand) Good Boy, are you going somewhere?
JP: Where would I go?
Grandma: Jipyeong.
JP: You said I shouldn’t call you if I’m doing well. I’m doing a bit too well these days. I’m pretty busy. I’ll call you when I’m going through–
Grandma: (groping for his hand and squeezing it) Don’t do that. Call me ever if you’re doing well. Visit me often. Come see me whether something happens or not. (JP began tearing up)
JP: Why would I if nothing’s happened?
Grandma: Just come over. Come over and talk nonsense. I’m almost deaf and blind now. You can say and do anything in front of me. Laugh and cry all you want. I won’t ask why. So come see me often. You shouldn’t get too used to being alone. Don’t become any lonelier, Jipyeong, okay?

She knew that he would distance himself from her now that Dalmi had found her true love in Dosan. But she didn’t want him to avoid her and become even lonelier in the process, so she was inviting him over…for his own sake.

This was the “Scale Up” or the advancement of her presence in his life. She was reminding him that she was going to be there for him, no matter what, because he needed someone. He shouldn’t be too proud to go to her.

JP: (wiping his tears) Okay.
Grandma: (wiping his tears, too, and hugging him) It’s okay. I’m here for you.

This was a nice shot. He had beautiful pieces around his apartment but they were in the shadows.

To me, JP had all the accoutrements of a wealthy man. But he was still poor because he didn’t have anybody with him. Grandma’s comforting words and presence made him acknowledge this gnawing loneliness that he tried to suppress. Like the beautiful artwork and decors were hidden in this room, his emptiness and craving for human connection were also hidden from sight.

Fortunately for this JP, this writer loved him.

The answer to his loneliness and isolation arrived in an unexpected form: Mr. Hong, the CEO of a start-up that planned to help orphans financially.

lol. I thought this was a brilliant connection by the writer. This was how everything suddenly fell into place for JP.

Note: I said that Dosan and Dalmi were creators, didn’t I? I said that Dosan was a “trailblazer” because he could see things that needed changing in the world, and he just did it. He opened doors for others to follow. He and Dalmi created opportunities to improve the society. But JP was ONLY an investor. Remember my post on precioooousss?

Here’s the link: Start-Up: Ep 12 On JP’s Precioussssss, lol

For me, this was JP’s iconic moment: “Let them use their own money!”

Assistant: Mr. Han, isn’t it great that they intend to serve the public interest?
JP: Indeed. But that’s not enough. Why should we give them our LP’s money to do charity work that creates little value? Let them use their own money! Their own money!

To me, it had the ring of Marie Antoinette’s, “Let them eat cake!”

lol.

source: hot white snow

Sidenote: From the start, I recognized Yeongsil’s voice as the voice of Yeo JinGoo. How could I not recognize his calming voice when I watched and dissected “Hotel del Luna” like I did with “Start-Up”? But I was still surprised to see him here. I’m glad the director of “Start-Up” remembered his previous star from “Hotel del Luna.”

JP: Hello, I’m Han Jipyeong.
Hong: Hello. I’m Hong Jiseok.
JP: (recognizing the voice) Nice to meet you. Please have a seat.

Remember his first meeting with Samsan Tech and how he insulted them? How I wish he could have been nice to them as he was with CEO Hong.

CEO Hong wasn’t any different from CEO Nam Dosan. They were both in awe of JP, as if they were in the presence of a god — a god of lesser things, that is. lol.

Hong: This was the first time an investment company has contacted me. I didn’t know this day would come.
JP: (immediately he was coaching Hong) Try to calm down.

Remember when he denigrated the Samsan Tech guys because he had to step in and rescue them from unscrupulous investors? It wouldn’t have entered his head to coach them in a positive way.

Hong: Okay. You must be busy. I’ll try to keep it short. You know the cartoon character, Ko Gildong, who took in Dooly, Ddochi, and Douner, right? We find kind grown-ups like Ko Gildong and pair them with teenagers who just left he orphanage and need to stand on their own feet.

JP: (remembered what Grandma said about helping others who are worse than her)
Hong: (explaining) When you leave the orphanage, you’re not really a child or an adult. They’re separated from society by tall walls. Our solution will help them overcome the walls—

JP could obviously relate to this one since he had first-hand experience of this. But he wasn’t going to tell CEO Hong about this, of course.

JP: Mr. Hong, I’ve already read through your business plan and done my research. Have you thought about our company value?
Hong: I’m afraid I haven’t really looked into it. What should I do?

Remember what he told Dosan when Dosan asked for advice? He told Dosan that he had nothing (that’s his word) of value to contribute to the business. His tone and language had nothing to do with delivering a “harsh truth.” There was no “truth” in there to begin with. His goal was simple: to demoralize Dosan and make him feel unworthy.

JP: How much money are you trying to raise?
Hong: My goal is 100 million won.
JP: I don’t think my company will be able to invest in your company.

He didn’t attack Hong’s CEO skills for coming to him with a half-baked idea. Do you remember this?

Hong: How about 50 milion won.
JP: But I’d like to invest personally.

Wait, what?? Do you remember him telling Dosan not to waste caviar in a stew? And now he was personally investing??!!

Hong: Personally? Why?
JP: I like your voice. (laughing)
Hong: My voice?

Ahhh…so he was investing because he liked the voice? Remember when he praised Samsan Tech guys because he liked their voice?

Well. Me neither. lol. He just insulted them because he thought they would make a lousy pitch.

JP: I’ll invest 100 million and donate 300 million. I don’t need many shares. I just want you to find me some nice kids who need my help. What do you say? I’ll send you a term sheet next week.

See the difference? He was being helpful with CEO Hong. But with Team Samsan Tech, he couldn’t even deliver his point across without belittling them.

JP fangirls are DEAD wrong for tolerating and CHAMPIONING JP’s misconduct with the Samsan Tech guys. Many of JP’s statements were derogatory and offensive. He wasn’t telling the guys the “harsh truth” in order to help them out.

He was telling them half-truths and distorting truths (e.g., scrunchie, elevator speech, jewelry box) out of the need to inflate himself and destroy them. He was a toxic mentor to them all the way till he and Dosan had the fisticuffs, and Dosan told him the truth about NoonGil.

Only then did he realize the ugly truth that he was the biggest jerk in town.

And that’s why I say that JP’s encounter with CEO Hong was pivotal in this episode. It finally showed that he was ready for a “Scale-Up.”

He was ready to become a DECENT human being and a real “Good Boy.”

And now that he’d taken the first right step into scaling up in both the business and personal life, he was ready to encounter Dalmi and make peace with her.

I like this screenshot. It’s “Door Closing!” time. Although I understand why this is the appropriate time for JP’s goodbye, plotwise, it can’t come soon enough.

Dalmi: You’re not avoiding me anymore?
JP: Turns out I’m more resilient than I thought. So you have something to tell me?
Dalmi: Yes.
JP: Go ahead. I’m listening. But don’t say thank you or sorry. I already know.
Dalmi: But I have to.
JP: You thanked me more than enough times so far. You owe me nothing. Besides, I had no friends back then. So your letters were my only comfort. Let’s say we’re even. Okay?
Dalmi: Okay.
JP: Even after reading your letters, I didn’t look for you for 15 years. Mr Nam, on the other hand, went to you the day he read them. So I’m not the Nam Dosan from the letters. There’s no reason you should feel sorry or blame yourself.

Did JP’s fangirls get what he was saying here? Do I need to spell it out for them? Here’s Vanna White then.

JP fangirls believe that their guy had prior claim, and therefore STRONGER claim over Dalmi’s affection than Dosan, because of the letters. They’re wrong. Even their tinpot guy said that they’re wrong. He conceded that actions speak louder than words.

Say it louder, JP, for your fans in the back.

I explained this, didn’t I? The montage in Episode 2 was very clear about the comparison between the two men.

link: Start-Up: Ep 15 MVP, Part 2

JP: was looking at the shoes from Grandma because he was thinking of going to the party as a FAVOR for Grandma
Dosan: after reading Dalmi’s letter and text, he felt sorry for this girl who didn’t want to open the music box and who was asking him to go event with her.

JP: in his walk-in closet full of suits
Dosan: because he no suit of his own, had to borrow a suit

JP: in his Mercedes-Benz waiting at the stoplight, then making a U-turn to go to the party instead
Dosan: biking from his friend’s apartment with the suit, going to the salon for a haircut, and taking the bus to the party.

So, he wasn’t the Nam Dosan from the letters. I knew that. The Bitches of this blog knew that.

But I’m glad that JP told Dalmi. She had to hear this from him — straight out of the proverbial horse’s mouth — so she wouldn’t stop feeling guilty about “cheating” on her “first love.” JP was telling her that he wasn’t her first love. He never was.

Her “first love” was imaginary. It was like a composite sketch, made from Grandma’s good intentions and his creative lies. And the person who made her “first love” become real was Dosan. Both by accident and by design, he personified all the good things that Dalmi had admired in the imaginary boy from the letters.

Remember what Dalmi said to Grandma when she was comparing her suitors to the Dosan from the letters?

She said, “Think of Dosan. He was so careful when he wrote to me for the first time.”

After her first meeting with Dosan, she was impressed with Dosan’s manners and modesty.

She also said, “Think of Dosan. He’s always on my side.”

Then, she loved him for defending her against Chairman Won.

Then, she said, “Think of Dosan. His spelling and grammar were flawless even in elementary school, remember?”

That’s why she fell in love with Dosan’s explanation of machine-learning. His Tarzan metaphor was something that her pen-pal would have written to her. Of course, unlike her pen-pal (cough cough JP), Dosan was faking his response or copying his answer from the newspaper or television.

That’s the same look on her face when Dosan explained about the stars in Episode 9.

She compared him to a moon, and Dosan corrected her, gently. “Those are fixed stars, whereas the moon is a natural satellite. The stars may look like tiny dust particles, but most of them are much larger than the moon. Both mass and energy-wise.” When he caught her staring at him, he mistook her look as annoyance, when she was in fact mesmerized. His explanation was flawless… like his spelling and grammar in grade school.

So, yes, JP wasn’t the Dosan from the letters. He never was.

Dalmi: (smiling) You really want a clean break, don’t you?
JP: Are we okay now?
Dalmi: Yes.

And he left.

Now, the last step for JP to “Scale Up” is to eat humble pie.

JP: (grumbling) Should I beg him to accept my investment? This is driving me crazy. Why me?
Dosan: Why did you want to see me in private?
JP: I have a .. favor… to ask.
Dosan: (in disbelief) A favor? You have a favor to ask me?
JP: Director Yoon wants to… (clears throat)
Dosan: Pardon me?
JP: (clears throat again) Director Yoon wants to invest in Cheongmyeong Company. Would you accept it?
Dosan: Why are you telling me this in private? Come to our office and –
JP: I was told to do this, but I don’t want anything to do with you. That’s why. I know how much you didn’t want my investment.
Dosan: (honestly) You’re right. I hated it.
JP: (he did his job so he stood up ) All right. I made an offer just now, but you firmly rejected it again. All right?
Dosan: Mr. Han. What’s your honest opinion on this investment? Put your emotions aside. I want your rational judgment.

lol. Dosan knew that JP was acting petty again, so he became the bigger man. He showed JP how to act mature. Notice that he didn’t insult, belittle or taunt JP.

JP: Do you remember my second record?
Dosan: I do. Among the companies that you decided not to invest in, zero succeeded.
JP: Right. If I pass up Cheongmyeong Company, I’ll lose my second record.

Meaning, Cheongmyeong Company would succeed whether or not he invested in them. His help wasn’t needed. However, if he didn’t invest in them, then he’d be forced to state for the record, “Among the companies that I decided NOT to invest in, ONE succeeded.” JP hated this because it proved that he wasn’t as omniscient and omnipotent as he thought he was. He had the reputation of a “dealbreaker/dealmaker” to maintain.

JP: Honestly, as an investor, this is an opportunity I really don’t want to miss.
Dosan: (smiling) Come with me. Let’s go discuss the investment with Ms. Seo properly.
JP: Mr. Nam, are you accepting my investment. If you do, I’ll keep meddling in your business as an outside director. Aren’t you tired of my nagging.
Dosan: I am.
JP: So why? Why are you accepting my investment now?
Dosan: Because this time, it doesn’t sound like charity but a real investment.

lol. JP was momentarily stunned. I hope he understood what Dosan was saying because this is the crux of his personality issue. One reason he didn’t want to owe Grandma anything and insisted on equal footing was because he didn’t want to be seen as a charity case. Coming from an orphanage, he didn’t want to be an object of pity.

Dosan offered a hand for him to shake.

Childishly, JP touched the extended hand with only his fingertips. Dosan smiled and grabbed his hand.

Dosan: Thank you.
JP: I should thank you.
Dosan: This is awkward.

Dosan approached him to hug him.

Literally and metaphorically, Dosan was the bigger man of the two.

Physically, he was taller than JP. Remember what I said about the amphitheater appearing like steps, and that Dosan had to sit down otherwise he’d be taller than JP? Well, now, both men were on equal ground. They were both standing on the last row. And Dosan was taller than JP by 4 centimeters.

But mentally and emotionally, Dosan had always been the bigger man, and their last scene proved it. It takes a bigger man to meet JP’s trademark egotism and pettiness with magnanimity.