Set your clocks for another rewatch Sunday, Dec 27th.
Start times:
6 am EST (Eastern Standard Time)
3 am PST (California side)
10 pm in Sydney, Australia (@agdr03’s time)
11 am in the UK
7 pm in Singapore, Philippines, etc.
6 pm in Indonesia
4:30 pm in India
Gif time!! Thanks to @yesdramas’ and @cuddlybitch’s tumblrs, we can enjoy these scenes again.
Where it started:
Gifs from yesdramas’ tumblr
Where it ended:
Gifs from cuddlybitch’s tumblr
Thanks packmule3
Everyone please join our rewatch party on Sunday, see you there..
See you in about 6 hours.
See you later guys! *excited*
It’s a rainy Sunday here. Binge watching Christmas flicks before our re-watch later.
Joining the rewatch later!! Yey!
I’m here with my tub of ice cream 🤣
Maybe I’ll have hot cocoa for breakfast.
Let me know when to start
Let’s start!!!
Hi everyone, im ready for rewatch party!
😊😊😊😊
Can you ditch your team! “Off course” say the twins – will you take the whole team asks DoSan!
Alex doesn’t lie!
Jo3edc
I don’t get these twins. If they went to MIT and they’re that good, how come they went back home to SK after graduation? They didn’t get hired after college to work at google, facebook, amazon, etc.?
Let’s go moonstar512!
Hi all,
Coming out the gate, just want to say the reason I choose Ep11 is because this is one of my favourite episode where SamSan tech win demo day with their own merit.
I am reminded again of Plan B! I honestly don’t see anything wrong with DS not wanting to fail and go with Plan B. Dalmi said so herself that it is negating what they have worked hard for. A lot of fans misinterpreted this and thought Dosan was being ungrateful and arrogant.
@packmule3
in hackaton the samsan tech guys said the twin has been participating in contest and hackaton for the last 2 years, they’re after the cash prize not sure why they would stay with injae company for 3 years
Alex told Dosan that he’d decide after demo day whether it was going to be an acquisition or simple recruitment.
He could have just hired Dosan. But he also hired Chulsan and Youngsan because they were part of Samsan Tech.
The thought did cross my mind that he was interested in Dosan himself. lol. If he was then there was no way he’d hire the “girlfriend” of Dosan to go with them to San Francisco. 🙂
Yes, I was also so shocked why most were making a big deal out of that plan B statement. When I viewed that as Dosan wanting to really win for the team and not because he just wants JP out.
So the twins just a lot of money for just few days work??
But after getting in Injae Co, they decided to grow roots because their boss Dalmi was clueless?
@packmule3 i was also wondering the same question, why did the twins go back to SK 😅😅
@ella this is my fav episode also because they win the demo day.. go samsantech go
Oh and I also noted here that Yongsan may be the next good actor, I can feel his anger towards hjp on the elevator.
So Director Yoon knew about YoungSan’s brother suicide but she never told Mr. Han, was it to spare his feeling? Did he got transferred to US because of this?
Maybe the twins were hacking other companies during those three years making more money on the side while working in Injae company. They were supposed to be “hotshots” from MIT.. Silicon Valley and other Tech companies should be chasing them. I think it was a plothole.
Funny how Chulsan and Saha thinks differently about the reset. Here we see Dalmi and Dosan on the same page. The mutual understanding is really there.
And I was so sad for people who didn’t show empathy towards Youngsan. He didn’t actually mean that he wanted to make his revenge like to put JP down. He wanted to prove something to JP that they are not a failure just because that was JPs opinion.
But I am still glad that Youngsan grew up as we have seen in the later episodes.
Dalmi’s confusion on who has her heart — does it mean she was really considering Mr. Han? I hope not!
On DalMi’s remembering her conversation with DoSan. This scene show exactly whose words mean more to DalMi and the person who understand her enough to know what she needed to hear.
@Gen True! Even Yongsan was treated badly by the fans. It’s not like his revenge is to kill Mr Han *eyes rolling* And what is wrong in trying to prove your worth? SST just wants to show they can do it on their own.
Maybe she was confused because for the longest time for 15 years she held on to the idea of Dosan from the letters. I think it was good that she got confused because that meant that she loved or liked Dosan despite not being the Dosan from the letters.
@Diane
I think it’s understandable, based on what DoSan said she has difficult time separating the real DoSan and DoSan in the letter (Mr. Han), she has to separate this one image she had in her head into two, and she also had to be sure that her feelings for DoSan is real not a residual feeling for her “first love”
@Diane yes yes same thoughts about Yongsan. Got teary eyed when he was remembering his encounter with his brother. Plus the post it. And to think he passed that to Dosan when JP was belittling him before. That never let the opinion of others become your reality
Re. Plan B
Youngsan originally thought the offer from JP was generous. But he changed his mind after the elevator incident when he realized what a bastard that JP was. He didn’t even remember his brother’s brother.
He believed that JP could do the same thing to them. JP could pull the rug under the feet when things go tough bec Samsan Tech wasn’t JP’s concern but Dalmi. JP had zero loyalty.
Dalmi didn’t want it. “I don’t want to do that. That plan B will put pressure on Mr. Han as well. And most importantly, accepting that will be like negating everything, including all the time and effort we put into Samsan Tech’s accomplishments. My pride won’t allow that.”
According to Saha, Dalmi had no pride when it came to pleading with her to join Samsan Tech, but she had pride when it came to JP.” I say it wasn’t exactly pride, though. Subconsciously, Dalmi did NOT want to be involved with JP and give him any hope that she’d return his feelings romantically. She was using “pride” as an excuse.
Dosan… According to Youngsan, Dosan would hate the idea of being a charity case, “He’s been helping us out because of Ms. Seo not for Samsan Tech’s sake. Am I wrong? (asking Dosan) He’ll invest as if he’s giving alms? I’m sure it’d bother you the most.”
And that’s true. Dosan did admit in Episode 16, that he disliked being a charity case; he wanted JP to see their company as an investment. After JP insulted them over and over again that they were a failure, that they had no business value, etc. Dosan’s pride wouldn’t allow JP to invest in them as a charity case.
Dosan’s pride in their company = Dalmi’s pride in their company
But the other factor here for Dosan (And THIS is what JP’s fangirls zeroed in on because they’re one-sided that way, lol) was Dalmi. He didn’t want JP going after Dalmi.
But as he told Chulsan, AND as he proved during the Tarzan project, he was fine with whatever Dalmi’s decision was going to be. He wanted Dalmi’s happiness; he wanted what was best for Dalmi. (He’s the “good mom” in that Solomon’s story I keep telling you all about.)
So Youngsan, Dalmi and Dosan opposed Plan B. Chulsan and Saha were fine either way.
LOL at SaHa and ChulSan interrogating DalMi and DoSan respectively, I like the way they interject each scene here. It shows DoSan and DalMi have the same wavelength, she understand exactly what DoSan was saying also the fact that ChulSan and Saha has the same interpretation.
Dalmi must be confused … re Plan B and/or the reset proposed by DoSan.
Jo
Ella, the story didn’t say. But I’m assuming that his transfer to the US would have been prearranged long before YoungSan’s brother’s suicide. He wasn’t transferred to avoid facing questions from the family of Youngsan.
But his transfer was the reason for his ignorance of the suicide.
Yes. I didn’t think much of Yoon after this. She was an “enabler.”
@Ella true… the cockroaches are on the same wavelength. Same with Saha and Chulsan LOL!
The dad scene, I can relate so much. I work in the IT industry and we always believe that innovation means improving the way we live. People don’t necessarily have to lose jobs through automation or AI for instance.. rather we are providing new jobs, high value jobs that do not exist before.
ChulSan: “Even if he shows off his money and hit on her, you’ll just sit around and wait for her?”
This line shows me what ChulSan think of Mr. Han and that is money.
Loved also how Dosan’s words reassured Dalmi that her achievement with SST was real!
Hi everyone~ I am late to the party so I’ll just skip to all the Dosan and Dalmi parts. hahaha
I like the way this whole couple-to-couple conversation was written, Ella.
Dosan and Dalmi were on the same wavelength.
Chulsan and Saha were playing the “devil’s advocate” though and trying to trip them up and make them doubt each other. But Dosan and Dalmi understood each other’s feelings. 🙂
@Gen i really like the scene when Yongsan give that post it to Dosan. I sometimes feel discouraged because other’s opinion.
The scene where Dosan’s father confront Injae made me teary eyed again. 🥺
Sometimes when we were making innovation or we’re thinking we give a solution, we didn’t mapping correctly the outcomes of those. Maybe we didn’t realize that we could cause another problem through it. I think the writer here want the audience to be more conscious about the outcomes of what we do. Something that might be overlooked by some of us..
hello!!! Can’t miss the rewatch and catching up! Love ep 11 due to win on demo day and aha moment of Dalmi.
Hahahaha funny Saha and Chulsan.
But I think the way Dalmi’s hands were focused on when she touched her heart talking to Saha made me think that she remembers Dosan because Dosan was the one who told her that her heart is on the left side. I think that was during episode 6 or 7 or when they were talking about the 71 percent shares.
Yep I was disappointed with Director Yoon for basically doing nothing and just said that she would’ve pointed out the same mistake. Jp come to the realization that he was wrong by himself.
TBH, I was confused by Dosan’s reaction here when they were testing the apps. He acted like he wasn’t sure if it will run but in the end he said he was sure it was going to work. Like is it the translation or what? Hahaha!
I wonder why the ep title is “Exit”?
I never understood why the other team hate on Dosan coming to Alex, and blaming him for everything that happened. Dosan wanted a way not to rely on Mr. Han, not wanting his plan B. What’s so wrong with that?
Injae giving Dalmi medicine to calm her down! Aaaah. Yeees.
JP not attending Demo Day because he suddenly felt guilty is seriously negligence as a mentor to Samsan Tech. It annoyed me so much when the other camp dumped so much on ST but ignored JP being MIA from Demo Day.
Yes definitely loved how this subtly showed the audience two different kinds of couples hahahaha
It was cute when Dalmi and Team Samsan Tech overheard another team crowing that they got the #9 instead of #6.
Dalmi picked #6.
Dosan saw her face and immediately tried to make her feel better. He knew that she wasn’t feeling confident so he was boosting her up any which he could.
Dosan: I like 6. It’s a whole number. It’s a perfect number.
Chulsan: (getting the hint) That’s right. Six is the most perfect number.
Dosan wanted Saha to get in the “happy corner” with them but Saha mentioned that 666 was the sign of bad luck. lol.
Then Dosan looked at Dalmi and asked for a high five. Dalmi got what he’d been doing and smiled at him. She had this adoring puppy look on her face.
Of course, Dosan couldn’t cheer her up with any lucky superstitions about 6 because he wasn’t into “angel numbers” and stuff like that. He could only tell her that 6 was perfect number.
Perfect number: in math, it means that the divisors of 6 (i.e., 1, 2, 3), when added, equals 6. 1 + 2 + 3 = 6.
28 is another perfect number: Its divisors are 1, 2, 4, 7, and 14. The sum of the divisors is 28.
In France – someone you love is called a cabbage, in Korea a Pumpkin? Funny the emphasis on food. Not sure if we do it in English … or italian
JP was supposed to be @Demo Day. What if they all relied on the plan B and suddenly he was not there during demo day. It was still a good thing that they didn’t rely on him.
It also shows the trust that Dalmi has with SST and Esp Dosan.
Also got confused if Dosan was sure or not. Or he was sure but didn’t want to admit so as not to put on false hope.
@Ella, thanks for pointing out the similarities in Chulsan’s and Saha’s interrogation of Dosan and Dalmi!
It really shows how much Dalmi and Dosan understand each other, and the way they see things the same way. Is this the way the writer is showing how Dalmi and Dosan are also being misunderstood by a lot of viewers (the JP stans haha)??? Maybe not, but Dodal really understood each other, even after finding out about the truth about the letters.
Oh, 6 as perfect number! I learned something new today. That was cool. I thought that was just a booster comment. Ah, the detail by the writer!!!
actually re food Americans use cup-cake???
jo
@pm3 wow again!! I also thought Dosan was using again His math and science knowledge to cheer up Dalmi since he was not into those superstitions. But I was glad that Dalmi got it somehow hahaha and Dosan got his high five from her.
I love that this writer included DoSan’s father story on how technology also need to balance innovation and it’s impact on others.
I saw the behind the scene and if you notice ChulSan’s pants got large hole on the knee, this happened when they play roughhousing unintentionally LOL
Why “exit”
Because:
1. Dosan’s dad’s exit: he was allowing his son to go separate ways — just like he said during the demo day.
2. JP’s EXIT during the critical moments:
a. during the Demo Day
b. during the meeting with Alex
c. during the signing with Alex
His exit had a big impact on the team because he was the only one who could have MENTORED them through the acqhiring proposal.
He was the “Investor” who pulled out causing the crash. @#$@# JP.
3. Alex gave Samsan Tech exit from Sand Lot
4. Dosan and Dalmi’s exit was foreshadowed.
I love how Dosan’s relationship with his parents improved. His mom and dad are so funny. I wish they showed a Dalmi + Dosan mom&dad scene apart from the short clip before going to the mountains. I was hoping it will appear as an epilogue.
I love Yongsan for pointing out what should have been obvious–how JP is only helping out Dalmi, only nice to Dalmi, how he’s not a good mentor AT ALL.
Again, could this be the writer spelling it out to the viewers who are too blinded to see?
Anyway, I love this episode. I’m feeling excited again. Haha
Waw packmule3 i just realized the meaning of perfect number!! Thanks for the explanation.. 😊
@ella
I don’t know but I imagined, Dir Yoon maybe pointed out the same mistake, but i think if it was her, she would communicate it in the better way so that Yongsan brother didn’t feel so attacked on that stage. I guess it’s not the the content of what HJP told, but rather it’s the the way of he told them. But I also wondered what is she actually thinking every time walking on the bridge and see the flowers for Yongsan brother.
@pm3 Great explanation on the titles! The details in this kdrama is just so amazing. I end up overanalyzing titles of other kdramas I am watching now. But I think they did not put too much thought unlike here in SU. Haha
@Diane
It’s not the translation, I checked the Korean version and DoSan did say at first he’s not sure, he’s not confident and later he said i knew it would work. I think he probably downplayed it just in case it didn’t work lol
so how i the 3 billion divided? According to shares?
Jo
Thanks @PM3! Great points on exit!
Can we add the exit of Dalmi’s and Injae’s mom from the relationship with step dad?
@moonstar512 @Ella I like Director Yoon but hate it when she doesn’t do anything esp with JP’s bullying or attitude.
Love the titles as well.
Just sad for Dosan when Dalmi was wondering what happened to JP since Director Yoon mentioned that JP couldn’t attend because of personal reasons.
Maybe Dalmi was just thinking that the personal reason was about her or she may have caused it. While Dosan might be thinking at that time that Dalmi liked JP instead of him which was the reason why she looked worried.
I am proud of Dosan and Dalmi for standing firm and just decided to be honest about the accuracy rate. It shows their integrity AND their trust in their own product. What I love about the team is their firm belief in what they do and what they can offer. I am suddenly glad their mentor is missing in this episode lol
Don’t you just love how happy and proud SamSan tech is, even I was supper giddy. And also need to pointed out every time DalMi eyes search for DolSan whether it’s during their group meeting, at stage for reassurance, during the photo session.
The way Samsan Tech boys play rough and celebrate rough is always enduring to watch. I love it when they get overexcited.
Dosan and Dalmi looking at each other when the picture was taken I’m… T____T
@Ella I love it too! They are proud of what they do, so it’s delightful to see them succeed.
@jo3edc
I think ChulSan mentioned this latter that they paid off each individual salary, expense and yes I believe the rest of the money is divided by shares. Probably SaHa is the contact person for SamSan tech guys lol
I love how things turned around.. This time it is Dalmi and Dosan interrogating the other couple Saha and Chulsan. And Chulsan’s voice overs… Always funny! LOL!
does Dosan give the impression of bulking up in this episode – he does not look as scrawny as in the previous episodes … good acting?
There’s a saying on management I always try to keep in mind.
“The phrase, “It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate,” is a wake-up call for any leader dealing with a poor performing team or one of those brilliant but toxic characters that are found in almost every workplace.”
Unfortunately, Ms Yoon tolerated HJP’s behavior in the office hence his attitude persisted. 😔
#StartUpLessons
Just want to share, the brainstorming that SST did here… we call it Design Thinking. We don’t just use drawings, we even build prototypes using clays and other art stuff (in other instances even Lego). Reminds me so much of what we do in our innovation studio.
@jo3edc He shot Nurse Files, Josee and this other movie (I keep on forgetting the title) late 2019 and this year so I think there were overlaps. You will notice similarities in his hairstyle and body built.
@jo3edc
Probably the clothes but NamJooHyuk did say he lost tons of weight due to his busy schedule. Especially in later episodes it’s very noticeable.
@Diane
ChulSan voice over always cracked me up and the way YoungSan is always the fifth wheel lol
@Janey Good one! Yes, she tolerated and basically enabled JP to act that way. I wish she called him out (just like how JP does it so he will understand his actions more).
@Diane I also always laugh when Chulsan do the story telling. Hahaha
Oh this is also my favorite scene when samsan tech discussing about the next tarzan project from scratch. I envy them for having such a dream team 🥺
And ofcourse the sweet bean bag scene in the morning haha. I also like the behind the scene of this bean bag scene.. seeing how happy they were..
@Diane also loved how the tables have turned for Chulsan and Saha hahaha
I think someone pointed out how the director emphasized to shoot the lights turning on in the office signifying that they did something in the office hahahaha
Anyways, maybe it was also only shown to let the viewers do the thinking hahaha
We could choose who to believe in Saha and Chulsan or Dosan telling Dalmi not to believe them haha
Another consistent thing I love in this drama is the OST + background songs. You know when something good, bad, funny or romantic is going to happen.
@Janey
Thank you that is one to keep, I’ve had a boss much like mr.Jp here in the past thus my aversion with this type of behavior. But I learn my lesson on how to recognize toxic behavior and how to deal with it.
So cute how Dosan placed his polo shirt around Dalmi. Maybe so that she wouldn’t be cold during the night until the early morning. It was sweeter for me because Dalmi did have a jacket/sweater right which he knows hahahahaha but still chose to use his.
Chulsan and his resort dream! Another poke at SaHa! In ep10, Saha said she liked a rich guy with resort membership.
I like the design session/brainstorming they did. They had so much fun working together as a team. Another good memory in that SST OG office.
I also loved how this was the day Dosan kept remembering when he was in 2STO. Dalmi’s dream to start a business with them with self-driving cars. He really wanted to listen to Dalmi’s dream and turn them into reality.
As follow up, because I also liked the synchronized conversation between Chulsan/Dosan and Saha/Dalmi.
CS: So you guys are back together?
Dosan: No. It’s just a reset.
CS: A reset? What do you mean?
Dosan: I didn’t want to confuse Dalmi so I told her to forget everything she knows about me.
CS: Did you get shot in the head or something? You told her to forget you and go to Mr. Han?
Dosan: No. Hey is this…is that what it sounds like?
SWITCH TO DALMI/SAHA
Saha: Yes, that’s what he meant. “I’ll give up and forget you, so don’t worry. Just go to Mr. Han. I thought Dosan would get all clingy. I’m surprised.
Saha was wrong! That wasn’t want Dosan meant at all. But now Saha got Dalmi looking worried. Dalmi thought she understood Dosan’s meaning perfectly. lol. This is why couples shouldn’t ask for advice from spectators really.
Dalmi: That’s what you think? That’s not what it sounded like to me.
Saha: Then what did it sound like to you?
SWITCH TO DOSAN/CHULSAN
I like the switch because it implied that Dosan could have responded to Saha’s question himself — and he and Dalmi would have responded in the same manner.
Dosan: Dalmi must be so confused right now. She probably can’t tell who Mr. Han or I are. So I told her to basically hit the reset button and just see me for how I really am from now on.
CS: Well…do you really think that’s how she took it?
See that? Dalmi could have told Saha the same thing…that Dosan was giving her space because Dosan understood that she was confused right now. Dosan thought that she needed time to figure out who did what…whether it was JP or Dosan who made the moves. That’s why Dosan told her to hit the reset button and just started all over again. Dosan wanted her to just look at him for who he really was starting from that day. Don’t worry about the past anymore.
SWITCH AGAIN TO DALMI/SAHA
This time, Dalmi was answering Chulsan’s question for both Dosan and herself.
Dalmi: Yes! I really think that’s what he meant by it.
Saha: Is that right? Are you sure it’s not just your wishful thinking?
Dalmi: Gosh. You’re weird. Are you always this nosy about others’ business?
Saha: We’re a team. We work together so I can’t help but be curious. Who has captured our CEO’s heart? Our majority shareholder, Mr. Nam? Or our mentor, Mr. Han?
Dalmi: I’m not sure. How do I figure it out?
Saha: You really don’t know?
Dalmi: Yes. I really can’t figure it out. And I’m more curious than anyone. Who has my heart?
Here’s the confusing part. For me, Dalmi was confused — just like Dosan predicted — because she didn’t know the right METHOD or procedure to determine who made her heart flutter. She asked Saha, “HOW do I figure it out?”
If she was to make a faithful accounting, like a scorecard with tally marks, i.e., a list of Dosan moments in one column then a list of JP moments in another column, then she was going to be really confused in the end.
But if she was to do just a reset, then it’s going to be easier for her to move forward.
That’s what she meant when she told Saha that she was “curious than anyone. Who has my heart?” If she did this in a logical, calculating way, then it was going to be confusing.
SWITCH TO DOSAN/CHULSAN
CS: So what if her conclusion is Mr. Han? Then, can you accept it? Can you continue to work with her?
Dosan: Yes. If that is Dalmi’s choice. I’d have to accept it.
Note: He proved that he could do it with the Tarzan project. He could accept Dalmi’s decision whatever it was going to be. He also reiterated this to JP during their drinking session. That “Chun yeon mahn yeon” or “a ten million years”
CS: Goodness. Even if he shows off his money and hits on her, you’ll just sit around and wait for her?
Dosan: All that tension will only make her uncomfortable. I don’t want to stress her out anymore.
I like the way Dosan’s eyes looked here.
CS: You’re so understanding. This is something only Hollywood actors would do. You’re awfully cool with this, dude.
Chulsan was probably referring to old Hollywood movies, like “Casablanca.” I don’t think Hollywood movies nowadays have this sort of forbearance, sacrifice, noble idiocy, anymore.
But hey! Dosan didn’t lie here.
CS: (continuing) Look. What’s Mr. Han doing with Ms. Seo over there?
Dosan: Where? Where are they? Hey, where?
CS: Your words and actions don’t match. I review your code for thousands of cases. Just one look in your eyes and I know what you’re thinking. Your eyes say you haven’t given up. I can tell that you’ve made a decision. What is that decision?
Dosan: Chulsan. You know that Plan B that Mr. Han offered? I don’t want it.
ah the “aha moment” – when Dalmi realised it was DoSan not Mr Han. So even Mr Han was confused when he thought Dalmi’s soup and consideration of his welfare was due to her having feelings for him – he went to the office the next day happy as!… But at that stage he would have know it meant her leaving for Silicon Valley????
jo
@Gen
That was my first thought since DalMi’s sweater is warmer lol..
@ella wow really? I also had boss who was like JP type, what I did was: I resigned lol. I thought it is pointless to work with this kind of type. I was curious how you deal with that kind of type.
But i also thought that in some cases it is true that when someone is successful enough, there will be some people who will overlooked their toxic behaviors, or would tolerate these. Something that I am still learning to understand myself..
This is the second time DalMi gifted mr.han with food, in a way DalMi is like her grandma, she make sure good boy is well feed lol.
Diane,
the writer of Start-Up had two years (or more?) to think of her titles. Another noteworthy thing about her titles is that it’s just NOT one interpretation. There are several ways of looking at the title.
And the “business” interpretation is the WEAKEST one. Weakest in the sense that it’s basic, and elementary. Whenever somebody gives a lecture about the “business” side of the drama, I just want to say, “No shit! Sherlock!”
@pm3 I agree when people only interpret the drama in a superficial manner And when I see the comments and tweets regarding the business aspect, I just want to tell them to look at the scenes and the dialogues in a deeper sense or manner.
@packmule3 LOL! true! Yeah I love that it has so many meanings or interpretations in all sense… business, love, family, friendship or life in general. The details and consistency are just amazing. And this is the reason why again I am surprised some fans are saying PHR changed her story at the last minute or that considering she wrote it for two years it doesn’t make sense (sorry I just had to bring it up bec I don’t think I’ll get over the hate that the drama, writer, director and main leads got from KSH fans).
Maybe the fans were just louder but not the majority just like what most thinks?? Since I also hear some people saying that they do not understand the hype and the hate for Dosan. Like everything he does is just a competition with JP when in fact Dosan was always thinking about Dalmi’s well being.
Plus the significance of the markers and other metaphors are missed by people
Ella, what strikes me as funny about Dalmi’s giving JP food is that JP thinks there’s a “romantic” aspect to it. So with his fangirls.
Like, “ooooh. She must be doing this because she loves me.”
But she gives him food because he looks pathetic, not romantic.
If she really cared for him, then she would have offered to JOIN him for a meal or invite him to EAT out with her. But here, she drops off the food and leaves.
And what episode was then when they ate noodles again? Episode 12?
In JP’s mind, noodles were romantic because that’s when he “proposed” to her. Right? So when they ate noodles at the pojangmacha one night, he mentioned that they were again sharing noodles.
Dalmi replied that it was the only open restaurant or something like that. For Dalmi, noodles were nothing special. It was JP who attached a special significance to the noodles.
But then….
compare her lack of attachment to the noodles to the ramen bowls that she packed for Dosan at the hut. For Dalmi, the ramen bowls meant something because of “Tarzan.” She’d attached a special memory to the ramen, just like JP attached an importance to noodles.
@moonstar512
I tolerate it to an extent until I resigned 🤣 I learned what his trigger is, for example he doesn’t like people disagreeing with him so I let him figure it out himself. He likes to berate people based on what he heard from other people so I ask politely who said what and what exactly was said and he just stop and dismissed me because he tend to exaggerate things anyway lol..
New here but I’ve been reading all the posts about Startup since I finished it a couple of days ago and was desperately looking for a critical analysis that extended beyond shipping HJP with Dalmi lol! Reading everyone’s posts is really lovely and gave me lots of new takes that I did not consider. @ Diane I never understood when people said that his character was sabotaged in favor of Dosan when it felt like it went full circle with his relationship with Grandma in my perspective.
Hahahaha I loved how subtle Dami is in rejecting Mr. Han or like telling the viewers that he is not the one in her heart.
Aside from that, Dosan was really careful and considerate with Dalmi’s feeling like asking her first whether she liked to see his office. Dalmi liked that type of person who would ask her first.
I think the fact that she agreed to see his office where he started means she really wanted to know Dosan and see him as him.
Welcome to the blog, @ RLRT.
If JP fans would only look to the Episode 3, they would find the JP actually did one of those “Sand Box” tags. He wrote “I want to repay my debt.” By Episode 16, that dream did happen. He repaid his debt to Grandma by helping out an orphan like him.
He was paying it forward. Finally!
I like that this drama is multi dimensional and has many ways to connect to the viewers. I think the start up business as a backdrop to tie their growth and journey together was a fresh spin to tell their story. I connect and relate to that.
Hi @RLRT welcome
@Gen yep both of them actually like considerate and polite people
@RLRT glad that you were not swayed or affected by social media. I know some new viewers who got confused bec they have bias already about good boy. Anyway, aren’t you so glad you discovered this blog? Hehe!
@pm3 @Ella I know this is our last rewatch party. Thanks for doing this! I think I’ll end up rewatching until 16. Haha!
Gen,
that visit to Dosan’s office was part of his wish that Dalmi would see him for he actually was. Not a figment of imagination. Not a creation concocted by JP and Halmeoni. Not a fake character.
So, it was great that Dosan asked her if she’d like to go visit his office, and she accepted.
And I’m glad too that the whole concept of “Tarzan” happened on that night.
Her first visit = their first collaboration = their Tarzan
To me, it was a homecoming. The pink petal that landed on her head and drifted in search of Dosan’s head, finally got the two people coming together in the office.
@Diane
we will have another rewatch party I’m planning on doing Ep15 😁
@packmule3 I just don’t understand how Dalmi giving food to HJP could be seen by others in a romantic way 😅. I never see Dalmi smitten because of what HJP did, she was grateful for him yes I agree, but she look up to him in a romantic way…? I just can’t see it..
Hi RLRT welcome to Start Up island.. 😊
@Gen: I agree with you. Because it is Dalmi’s first real-love with real-person. She is confused with her feelings too. She never experienced it before because it was totally different with loving-the-idea-of-a-person that she experienced through the letters. One thing that I also noticed here that, as much as I wanted Dalmi to explain her feeling towards Dosan. The writer actually consistently showing it through her actions, then we as the audiences should have observed her eyes, her facial expression, etc, other than her words. I guess this is where the audiences are getting confused, some who could “understand” Dalmi through her words only and the ones who could get her through everything she did.
I noticed how Dalmi staring at Dosan when Dosan explained why he choose the rooftop as the office for Samsan tech. It was a deep gaze.
@Ella Nice! Ok. I’ll stop at Ep14 then. Haha!
‘Til our next party.
Have a good night / day guys! =)
Yey!!! I thought this was the last rewatch!!
I really would love another rewatch with you guys!!
And to think this is also Dosan’s first everything…so cute and sweet!!
I agree that Dalmi’s feelings are shown through actions as well that is why the viewers should also be responsible in interpreting them in a more logical manner rather than just being biased.
@packmule3
The other reason why I love Ep11 is because of the restart theme. DalMi seeing the real DoSan apart from the letter. She come to a realization that even without the letter she loves this DoSan. How they can achieve things together with Demo Day and starting a new dream with the self driving car.
Janey,
But wasn’t that beach where Dosan brought Grandma and Dalmi for a day the beach property that Chulsan’s family owned? Chulsan didn’t need a resort membership then!!
@ella: yay for another rewatch party!
Anyway about the boss who likes JP type, and you resigned too eventually.. made me remember about the conversation with my friend who was just finished watching Startup recently.. she said that in real life mostly people who works under the boss like JP will resigned anyway, no matter how goodlooking the boss is. Lol.
@Ella – great point on the reset. it can also relate to exit theme.
Relating to real life and tech, Sometimes when our computer is not working, the best way to exit is to do a hard reboot or restart your system.
I remember people tweeting about the epilogue when Dalmi was shown to actually like Dosan. People were wondering why did Dalmi know it was Dosan whom she liked when she didn’t even observe JP.
But what I thought was why would she even need to also observe JP for an aha moment when one deep look at Dosan and she knew it was really Dosan who made her heart flutter.
At the same time, I was sad because Dosan did not know this and had to endure another 3 years before knowing that from the very start Dalmi had chosen him way before the Acquihiring happened.
@Gen
Your post made me imagine a scenario where DoSan and jp are put in a box next to each other and we had DalMi sat outside observing, “ah, yes i’ll take the one on the right.” LOL
Well she got 3 years of observing jp if that what the fangirl want, still at the end of that 3 years the conclusion is the same.
Yes, Janey. I think Director Yoon was only seeing ONE side of JP. After the Demo Day, for instance, she went to look for JP in the conference room. She had coffee for both of them.
Yoon: Mr. Park was right. He said you wouldn’t be coming as you’re beating yourself up.
JP: I’m sorry.
See that? JP was unprofessional; he should have been there at the Demo event. But she excused his absence from his mentoring duties because poor little JP had “hurt feelings” after he was belatedly informed of his involvement in the suicide. GRRRR. He was beating himself up?? So he shouldn’t feel guilt anymore?
And will you look at that? He said readily sorry to Director Yoon. Should we count how many times he apologized in this episode? In this whole kdrama?
Yoon: Our job is to give candid feedback even if it’s hurtful at times. Naturally, some will resent us. That day, you pointed out issues that had to be addressed. Had you not brought the up, I would’ve done it myself.
Nope! HOW you give the “candid” feedback makes a lot of difference. I would call Director Yoon a bully-enabler. The only reason I’m showing kindness to her character is because she wasn’t there, within earshot, when JP was verbally abusive to Samsan Tech guys.
And just look at this whole conversation with JP. JP deserved a CANDID FEEDBACK himself so why was she softening her words and offering JP coffee? Why didn’t she give it straight to JP that he pushed somebody over the edge with his false accusation and harsh words. He speculated that the brother intended to defraud investors; he didn’t prove actual intent. If JP was in her shoes right now, JP would have been blaming Yoon for Yongsan’s brother’s death. He wouldn’t be as adopting this understanding and kindly tone that Director Yoon showed.
JP: Do you really think it was necessary? Ms. Yoon. I always told the guys at Samsan Tech that they wouldn’t make it. But they won today.
In other words, they succeeded DESPITE OF JP. If they had believed him, then they wouldn’t have been there. They were there because they believed in themselves and ignored JP’s evaluation of their abilities.
JP: Maybe Kim Youngsan was right after all.
Yes. Kim Youngsan was damned right.
@Gen – goes to show Dalmi did not really see JP in a romantic way at all. 😛
@PM3, I wanted more from that scene with Ms Yoon but alas, that’s what we get. However, I like that the scene ended with the HJP statement that Youngsan was right after all. Indeed!
True, Ella.
Yes. The title is “Exit” because Dosan and Dalmi were going to have a restart or reboot. This was supposed to be a restart for them as you said.
And I like that Dosan was showing Dalmi his humble roots. He was never really embarrassed to show Dalmi his office space. In the flashback, they were cleaning up the place in preparation for Dalmi’s arrival.
It was JP who put it in their heads that they weren’t good enough for Dalmi. So he picked them and dropped them off at his apartment. JP was the one who said that they were losers and was embarrassed of Samsan Tech. They didn’t fit in JP’s idea.
But during Hackathon, when Dalmi found out the truth about their fledgling company, she wasn’t embarrassed or disappointed with them.
JP really was the villain in this story. lol.
@packmule3
You made me remember something, didn’t JP only show good manner and polite in front of Director Yoon and that’s because she’s his boss. And to an extent to Director Won and Alex, since they’re above his station. Not because of age since we saw him yelling at Halmeoni.
@Ella agree!! But then again fans were so disappointed as to how Dalmi kept her feelings for Dosan for 3 years and still didn’t have any feelings or shift of feelings towards JP.
Then I thought again, Dalmi is really a loyal person that when she loves, she will love with honesty and loyalty (same with Dosan). If she has been so loyal to the Dosan from the letters for 15 years which was only an idea to Dalmi how much more with the real and actual Love she experienced with Dosan.
Also in Kim Young San is right, he’s the one with the potential to be an actual mentor because of his ability to see.
In Ep9 when they’re about to bring drunk DoSan home and jp showed up he said “What a useless coincidence.” useless indeed.
And in this Ep he saw that DoSan doesn’t want to accept jp’s help like charity.
@Ella: another point on JP type. yes I agree.. he only nice to the people who seems above himself..
@packmule3: speaking of the bully enabler, I think not only Dir Yoon, but also the people who works with him, even Dalmi.. who said that she is okay with what JP do. Well, I wondered, if Dalmi is in the same place with samsantech when JP grilled them. Will Dalmi still look up to him the way she always does.. and makes me wondered too, how many people around us are actually become the bully enabler.. 🙁
I think this is a serious problem in our society, yet very few realized this..
@moonstar512
with DalMi at one point she believes that jp is like a brother to DoSan, so in a way she wants to support DoSan through jp. He was harsh sure but she never saw for herself the way jp put down DoSan or SamSan tech when she’s not around. After the reveal with the letter she got more conflicted feeling with mix of guilt for not returning jp’s feeling and grateful for his involvement in the letter. I think the tipping point came later at Ep15 during the Elevator showdown where she witness for herself jp being his petty self.
@Ella – on Yongsan being perceptive, in ep2 he saw Dalmi first during the baseball exchange and he suggested to Dosan to go by himself and got Chongsan out of the way as well. He saw the potential of Dosan and Dalmi as a couple. He also asked DS about liking her during their objective function discussion. I like his post it notes. I also keep some in with inspiring quotes in my cubicle.
Janey,
I agree. That scene was frustrating because Director Yoon didn’t know how JP treated Dosan’s team. JP had a flashback of all the things he threw at Dosan and Samsan Tech, so he knew what he did wrong. (I mentioned them in one of my posts…)
But Director Yoon entered the room and assumed that he was ONLY moping over the news of Yongsan’s brother’s suicide. She wasn’t to know that JP was having a moment of crisis because:
a. he knew he was guilty of inflicting emotional distress on the brother.
b. he knew that his words were a substantial factor in the suicide of the brother. The brother wouldn’t have committed suicide if JP did NOT say what he said in a very public manner intended to humiliate him.
c. he also witnessed the success of Samsam Tech, which he tried to destroy, too.
I know JP fangirls said that he volunteered to become a mentor for Samsan Tech — but he didn’t do it out of goodwill.
From Ep 3, he’d written his tag: “I want to repay my debt.”
Yoon: What are you doing here? Are you launching a startup?
JP: No, that’s not why I’m here.
Yoon: Then, is there an applicant that you’re interested in?
JP: Well. May I apply to be the mentor for the 12th Residency program?
Yoon: What’s gotten into you? You said no when I kept pestering you to do it.
JP: There’s a company I’m interested in.
Yoon: Is that right? Which team?
JP: It’s better that you don’t know.
Hmph. From the get-go, he didn’t even believe in them. And I don’t believe his crap about being harsh because he was interested in buying.
Yoon: Why is that?
JP: Because they won’t get in. I’m hoping they won’t.
Sure. Why be a mentor then? He was going to block them, taunt them, sabotage them, undermine them. He’s pure ENVY.
Yoon: Then, they wouldn’t need a mentor.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Why be a mentor when he wasn’t going to do any mentoring??
JP: Still just in case. They might luck out and get in. (laughing)
Slimy guy.
I agree with pm3. Even with your previous posts that JP only had a favorite mentee (Dalmi). Sure, he did help SST because Dalmi was also part of it. But he always thought that SST had no potential.
@PM3 I totally agree! HJP is slimy. Even in ep2, when Dosan refused the money for going to the networking party, his parting words them of him never investing in their company was unnecessary, uncalled for and very derogatory.
He didn’t get his way so he lashes out and gets petty. He did this to grandma several times, too.
I agree moonstar512.
Everybody gave JP a pass. His assistant definitely did. And so did Dalmi in this episode when she excused his words as “nitpicking.” I commented on that, saying she was like a “battered spouse” excusing the cruel behavior because she “deserved” it and because he was only “teaching” her.
She only learned the real JP when he turned against her in Ep 12 and told her straight that she was fired by 2STO because she didn’t measure up. Dosan got in JP’s face and told him to shut up but still JP continued to rub it in that she was passed over because she didn’t measure up. I think that’s when she realized that JP wasn’t just nitpicking. He really was a horrible person. He was a jerk.
And again for JP fans not to see or condemn JP’s behavior says a lot about them. Stay away from them…. 🙂
And remember? They had noodles at the pojangmacha and she said that she was hurt “just a little” — she was really hurt but she was playing it down. She was that hurt that she broke up with Dosan so he could go to the US without her dragging her down. Do you see what I mean? JP’s blunt words that she wasn’t good enough for Samsan Tech affected her, although she didn’t tell JP so.
That’s why the writer made it a point to show that JP had a change of heart in Ep 14, after that incident of the ransomware. If this incident had happened in Ep 11 or 12, the normal JP would have no qualms rubbing it in that Dalmi made a colossal mistake. He would have blamed her and told her that she deserved to be fired because she was an incompetent CEO.
By then, JP learned not to be cruel to Dalmi.
If you ask me, that’s the reason he didn’t propose to Dalmi during the three years of Dosan’s absence. After he said those words to shame her, would she really consider him a boyfriend? She was infatuated with the Dosan-in-the-letters because he was always supportive of her. So how was JP’s shaming her and blaming her in front of the rest of the Samsan Tech be considered “supportive”? To me, JP burned his bridges at that moment.
He could pull the blinds for her and turn down the airconditioning for her a thousand times but that wouldn’t erase the words he’d spoken in the heat of the moment. He was so full of himself that he had to tell Dalmi that HE knew that 2STO didn’t want her because Alex found her lacking. Jerk.
Gosh he could have said it a million other way, Alex was always there to recruit developers even if he went with the twin I don’t think he would take InJae and co. One minute he’s having a realisation that his harsh words hurt others but he did it again without qualms. He did change his attitude with DalMi but I think also because DoSan is not around. DoSan is like his envy/petty trigger.
I seriously question people inc. my friends who cannot see his behaviour for what it is but there are two kind of team jp one because of his face/smile/dimple and second one who think his behaviour should be celebrated
@Ella : I see, I almost forget that at one point Dalmi considered HJP as Dosan’s brother.. well, aside from Dalmi’s attitude towards HJP, halmoni’s affirmation of “goodboy” also somehow intrigued me. 😅
@packmule3: lol i will remember it and put it in my mind to stay away with people like “JP fans”. As I couldn’t understand them, it’s better I don’t get entangled with any issues with people like them..
You got a point on what would be happened if the ransomware attack is on episode 11 or 12.. I’m sure he will attack Dalmi and cry later telling Halmoni that he is not a good boy (yeah pls he was not a good boy.. 😔)
The goodboy label still attached to KSH up until now I think. Sometimes I just rolling eyes whenever see people refer him as the “good boy”. Well why do you think that the writer should label him as a goodboy through Halmoni. Is it like an irony? Or is there another meaning behind it?
@Ella – I have the same frustration with people who like HJP so I ask a specific question – do they like his character or the actor? Unfortunately, some of them like both!!!
For me, HJP has no redeeming qualities (I may be harsh). Even his pay it forward effort was a dole out. I’m not as impressed since he has already the money, that’s an easy thing for him to do. He could have been that guy who created the foundation for those kids. I still do not like him being called “good boy”. It’s definitely just perception.
@moonstar512
Halmeoni is doing reverse of reverse psychology with jp lol.. calling him a good boy is a form of manipulation, something jp has to lived up to, he did lash out saying she got him by calling him a good boy.
with his behaviour i don’t think anyone would put this label on him before Halmeoni
I fell asleep soon after writing my comment 😂😂 thank u for the greeting everyone ! I always liked JP better when he was with the grandma as opposed to everyone else since it felt like she was the only one to rein in him….Family rather than romance was something that he needed. It’s really a battlefield on social media about his character lol…I enjoy Dosan’s character, flaws and all, since he possessed qualities that I wished more male leads had (understood his feelings early on, supportive to the female lead, doesn’t look down on others, his kindness isn’t only extended to the female Mc, etc).It was very refreshing to watch! I’ve stopped watching kdramas and other dramas for some time due to male leads that frustrate me. Excited to hopefully join in for the last rewatch, thanks for picking the episode and for hosting this ☺️
Excited for the next rewatch. Continued up to Episode 12 yesterday. Spent the night crying over their hardships. To think that in this episode (11), they were already so happy and it seemed like everything is in place. But then, in 12.
Cried because…..
1. Dosan was hurt for Dalmi when she was being told by JP that she was not competent enough and that 2STO fired her because they only wanted the developers
2. Dosan and the teams’ hardwork for NoonGil was potentially being put on the sides. Dosan chose to lower down his pride and ask help from JP. People kept saying after picking a fight with JP, why did Dosan have the audacity to ask for help. Dosan had no choice because he was willing to ask for what he would have considered alms/charity for the sake of Grandma, NoonGil, his team and Dalmi as well.
3. Dosan’s heartbreak when he thought he had already like 50-70 percent chance that Dalmi liked him into Dalmi hurting more his self-esteem by telling him that he was not the Dosan from the letters
4. The way Dosan told Youngsan that how would he live when he thought Youngsan would take his life. I felt it implied that Dosan was feeling that he couldn’t live without Dalmi but because his friends are still there then he would still survive this heartbreak
5. When he didn’t see the rainbow at the end of wandering around the rain, soaking himself. People complained about how the letters were for JP and why did the director use it for Dosan’s scene. Got pretty mad because they didn’t see the pain and beauty of it. Dosan not believing in rainbows and wandering aimlessly and soaking himself under the rain, did what the letter told him to do. When he looked up in the sky, I was just so sad with the timing of his cry and OST because he must have been badly wanting to wish under the rainbow but ended up not seeing one. Like everything is falling apart.
And I don’t get why people still does not see Dosan’s pain here.
Seeing him in Ep 15 about how he survived and that he didn’t regret anything despite failing to make his company SST successful and to make Dalmi like or love him as him. He survived all of this and those made him stronger
Ella, when do you want the next rewatch? Tuesday or Wednesday? And which episode did you want? Will open a thread. 🙂
@packmule3
you’re still up? this is my last coupon right 🤣 I want to do 15 for our last one
tuesday/wednesday you mean today/tomorrow?
Oh, gosh! Tomorrow then. Wednesday!
okay let’s do tomorrow 🙆🏻♀️