This review may contain spoilers
I started it with high hopes.The plot was interesting at the beginning. I really like the way they portrayed the struggles of millennials in finding jobs and doing what they loved in this era.
But after 9 episodes it went downhill for me.
Firstly i hated i never use this word but i hated the character of NDS, it gives me anxiety, they way he trembled, the way he spoke i just couldn't stand it. It was painful for me to watch. (The actor did a good job on portraying him) I don't know but i have problems with this type of characters and he didn't gave me the vibe of a strong ML.
Secondly SDM a strong woman, independent, i love her character so much. She inspires me to do better but sometimes she gets on my nerves, but overall she was great.
The best character to have ever existed HJP, it was perfect, hats down to the actor. He was the most realistic character in this series. He wasn't harsh at all he just put in front of them facts and nothing more. It was NDS problem that he was so blinded by jealousy that he didn't accepted all the things HJP said about his company. HJP started from 0 an orphan with only a little money and the trust he had in his self the work he did made him who he was. NDS was nothing in front of him and i just couldn't get it where he found the guts too confront him (sorry but NDS know your place, maybe I am biased but NDS sometimes sounded pathetic in front of him).
He did whatever he could to help SDM and never wanted smth in return. His love for granny was pure. He was just perfect in every aspect but the writers did him dirty.
WIJ was so damn pathetic, i just couldn't get myself on liking her just for the fact that she left her dad and sister for money made her even more gross in my eyes.
I won't rewatch it.
The OST was on spot. The cast also. But the way the plot unfolded wasn't for me.
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This review may contain spoilers
Why peoole be having second lead syndrome???syndrome???
I wait for the drama to finished airing, and mute all the spoiler , the hashtag on twitter and all my social media so i can watch the drama without any bias to other's opinion.Actually I was thrill to see is this will be the second drama I died for second lead syndrome like I did with School 2015? And till the end, every bits second, I really don't get it why people be having second lead syndrome???? Like i do like han jip yeong a lot, He is kind, i sympathise with his sad childhood, I LOVE his story withe dalmi's grandmother but that's it. fullstop. Talking about love , Dalmi and Dosan really were made for each other, (I really talking without any bias to the actor/actress or so on) . You can see clearly how they are meant to be, It took one day for Dosan to go to Dalmi eventho he barely know her after reading the letters from her child hood ,, and it take forever for jipyeong and he only realise , or i might say Dosan that triggers him. That small things move you. You can see how perfect and in synch they are. and to be honest i kinda ship han jipyeong with dalmi's sister, sad the writer didn't develop their plot :,) i wanna see kang hanna screen time more actually and she will look damn good with kim seon ho :,) but overall the story is good just maybe i kinda expect more with the closure for han jip yeong . do watch it!!
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It let me down.
First I'd like to make it clear that it's not a bad show. My praises and criticisms are dependent on the expectations I had for the show.The good things
The idea of this drama is excellent...a show on a start-up incubator. As an engineer and being in the tech field, I really love that somebody had this idea which made have high expectations for the drama and in some ways they did a really good job to show the environment of a start-up incubator and the know-hows of starting a business and the potential for success. They also showed the risks and downsides involved in starting a business and showing the harsh realities instead of showing it a flowery path to success was very important. Also I found out that Sandbox is an actual thing in South Korea wich is really impressive.
Aside from the premise, the OSTs are really great. The direction and acting is also really good.
The bad things
One thing I really didn't like about this show is that it has too much of that "typical k-drama" drama like love triangle, rivalry, unknown past, tragedy smitten family of the main character....just too much of that drama. I''m not saying that such things always make a show bad, but there are other k-dramas to do such things. Such a dramatic plot was really unnecessary for a show with such a modern and upbeat premise. In some ways is even hindered the viewing experience. This could very easily have been a 12 episoder with only the fascinating and interesting plot revolving around Sandbox, innovation and slight comedy and romance excluding the family drama and love triangle drama then it could have been a much better experience.
It's good enough to watch one time because there are many interesting things. If you like lots of drama then you should definitely watch it, and if you don't enjoy drama all that much then still you should watch Start-up atleast once.
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tearjerker romance with added miscommunication and villains to keep it going
Life is too short for stressful drama. Why spend all that time watching and be stressed? Don’t our lives already provide enough of that?Summary of the series:
- not a lighthearted rom/com; series is a tearjerker for me; grandma made me cry multiple times
- a bit of stress watching it due to constant miscommunication; had some great story like the first episode where it seem like a movie, but then it drags a bit and constant stress for me watching it; sometimes I yell, just say it darn it!
- simpatico characters
- live should extend cross boarders instead of being harsh to end a relationship to help someone... so it was also added stress
- some added villains, some struggles, calamity or miscommunications to cause more drama and stress
- it s well put together, but due to the stress added, its a one watch wonder, so lowers rating for me
somewhat sad joyful with some stress series: watch only if you have time and dont need lighthearted material
If you are looking for confused FL love story with gratuitous stress/drama, frequent miscommunications, insipid side stories, then this is for you.
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My favorite scenes (only including time stamp)
🖥🖱Ep 1 55:12 01:05:55 01:07:55 01:12:40
Ep 2 59:51 01:07:58 01:08:34
Ep 3 29:05 47:06
Ep 4 08:39 46:21 56:25 01:12:18
Ep 5 31:48 43:06 01:08:53
Ep 7 06:17
Ep 8 13:45 22:17 50:16
Ep 9 3:00
Ep 10 27:08 29:40 58:17
Ep 12 16:14 01:22:44
Ep 15 23:50
Not a fans of Nam Do San nor Han Ji Pyeong, but can I admiring Seo Chung Myung? For real? This series got my heart on the first half, but dumped mine when the "letter" story become so complicated. Cause we all know, a good lie is still a lie. Though, I would rewatch some episodes of this drama when life is getting harder. ❤
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Underwhelming, but maybe worth a try
If you are reading this review and wondering whether to watch the show, watch at least the first episode. The pilot episode is one of the best episodes I've seen. Unfortunately, it's downhill from there.Start-Up is a show that lacks balance. Some storylines/conflicts are dragged out for too long, while others are glossed over.
The business plot is weak but perhaps that's me having my expectations set too high by similar tech shows like Silicon Valley, Mr Robot, Halt and Catch Fire. This is much a consequence of the business taking a back seat to the romance story. The romance is wrecked by an unnecessary conflict that could have been resolved within the first few episodes. Seeing how polarizing it is online is just a testament to that fact. A good story shouldn't have that.
The show could have benefitted from having well developed platonic relationship between the FML and either, or perhaps both, MLs. But I guess I have given up on KDramas ever giving equal focus to platonic opposite-sex relationships, everything has to be romantic.
Ultimately the show could have benefitted from more business and family conflicts and less romance.
I really loved the first 4 episodes and would probably rewatch them if it had developed better beyond that. I would still suggest that you give it a watch if you want to. The show has some great cinematography, the best OST I've heard and some great acting. It's a shame that the writing couldn't keep up. But even then there's still a good story in there. If the pilot hadn't been as good as it was, I think I would have enjoyed this story a lot more.
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This review may contain spoilers
Nice and entertaining
Start-up was on my list of kdramas from Netflix to watch and I finally came around to it (actually on April 2022). It was pretty nice.I have to admit, for some reason I was convinced that Dalmi would actually end up with Mr. Han from the very beginning, so I was kinda surprised (eventually maybe even a bit disappointed) that she didn't lol.
I ended up loving the barely there romance between secondary characters, as usual. Chulsan and Saha were very cute. Also! Chulsan, Yongsan and Saha were ROBBED at the end like why the hell were they not included in the final scene??? A crime tbh, they were all relevant characters in my opinion.
Anyways, i liked the drama, it was nice.
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This review may contain spoilers
The Truth Will Never Be Hidden
This is a poignant drama, and satisfying as a story built around powerful themes. If you keep the messages it's telling in mind, it will help to keep the ups and downs, angst and love triangle in the proper perspective.Because I knew Nam Do San was endgame, I kept myself from getting attached to Han Ji Pyeong so I could root for the pair they wrote for us. I honestly loved watching both male leads grow, but the process was nothing short of PAINFUL. To me, both are deeply flawed, but because of that, they feel so human. (Kim Seon Ho, though, is objectively the superior actor; I'd wager his skill as an actor helped garner him more popularity over Nam Joo Hyuk, and played a factor in the controversy of this drama. Both characters have their charms, but both also have their turn-offs, so I think it came down to 1) HJP being in the first episode rather than NDS, like a tease (and a bit unconventional to have the 2ML featured so heavily upfront for a Kdrama), and 2) because KSH acted better (imo!))
I found this a difficult drama to get through (I had to watch it in short bursts), not so much because of the ML or SML debate, but because of the lying. This drama showed (albeit in a more convoluted/unrealistic way than would exist in real life because in real life people communicate better) that even the most well-intentioned lies/dishonesty come back to haunt you. It speaks powerfully to the torment of duplicity and its devastation on relationships. The message is crushing, but SO true.
Can there be forgiveness, healing and reconciliation after deceiving/hurting those we love? Definitely possible (though not easy!). Will we have life-long regrets and consequences from our duplicity that we can never escape or fix? Without question.
If you can't normally handle long, drawn-out reveals for lies told, this drama may not be for you. But it's beautiful, so I recommend it to anyone who can sit through some frustration and heartache.
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Did not expect a lot from this series.
Finally finished watching this after dragging on for a week. This was the most anticipated Kdrama of the year for me, and maybe due to over expectations, I ended up with mixed feelings.The drama is driven by two parallel factors. One is the main storyline that deals with tech entrepreneurship - which to me, is very welcome & indeed is a refreshing concept. The other has to do with the personal side of each characters - obviously with the addition of typical dramatic clichés, & that disappoints.
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Start-Up: A Light Yet Flawed Drama About Ambition and Entrepreneurship
The story revolves around the high-stakes world of tech startups in South Korea, featuring characters who aspire to build their own companies in the competitive landscape of Silicon Valley-like settings. The series focuses on the personal and professional lives of its protagonists. It’s a drama that remains enjoyable to watch, offering a 'American Dream' vibe that aims to motivate young people to succeed in their business ventures. However, the treatment of this theme is often quite light and sometimes childish. Despite the interesting cast, and my liking for all the actors in it, the series suffers from issues with its storyline and character development.The main problem lies in figuring out who the central character of the series is. Is there more than one? Is it Nam Do-san? If it is supposed to be Nam Do-san, he’s quite a passive character who lacks leadership qualities as a startup entrepreneur, and we can’t quite judge his intellectual genius either. Despite this, he remains likable thanks to the actor’s performance.
Seo Dal-Mi (Bae Suzy) is a character within this feminist trend, fighting for her place in the world. However, I find it hard to imagine a CEO with no studies or experience managing such delicate technical and budgetary issues. She comes in and quickly takes Nam Do-san’s spot with just a few ideas—having a couple of ideas doesn't mean she’s ready to lead a future company specializing in AI with significant investments. Nonetheless, she remains likable due to her gentle performance.
Now, Kim Seon-ho’s character, Han Ji-pyeong, is where the writer made a fatal mistake by not emphasizing his role as the sole main character. This could have elevated the series to the level of serious dramas, giving it real depth. While the story is centered around him, and he is the one who drives the plot most of the time, his background is not developed enough. He’s the one who built everything from nothing, and his character is complex with touching relationships, especially with the elderly lady. It’s a shame that this wasn’t explored in depth. He could have been a kind of Gatsby in certain ways. The actor, however, plays the role perfectly.
Despite the interesting subplots and attempts to add depth to the story, the writer didn’t manage to nail the stakes. Nevertheless, it remains an enjoyable and light series to watch.
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This review may contain spoilers
I've watched the first 5 episodes while the series was still relatively new. I was so excited about the NJH & Suzy pairing, when news broke out I thought it was a match made in heaven. As I started watching the series, HJP started growing on me, so fast, that I really wanted him to end up with SDM. When I found out (by mistake) that Team DoSan won, ngl I was lowkey disappointed and put the series on pause until now. Started the series again almost 4 years after, mainly because I share the same MBTI as SDM and I was curious as to how much I could relate to her. Absolutely mind blowing - it felt like I was watching my own reflection. I sympathised, , empathised, learned and grew along with SDM it was a beautiful experience.
Team HJP or Team NDS ?
The story played out pretty nicely and surprisingly I was not disappointed this time on. Both HJP & NDS suffer from their own flaws, HJP's struggles from expressing his feelings well - rooting from his loneliness and self reliance growing up as an orphan. NDS had it easy growing up but has low self esteem, lacks motivation and has impostor syndrome. It all depended upon where the elusive "spark" lies. For SDM it was NDS but for me it was and still is HJP. There's just something about him that makes my heart ache, wanting to continue cheering him on and wishing for his happy ending.
HJP kept his past and current relationship with Halmeoni rather secret from the other characters in the show. A lot of the most beautiful and heart warming scenes that stole the audience's hearts were private moments of HJP with Halmeoni. HJP also kept his feelings for SDM suppressed as he felt indebted to Halmeoni. There were a few moments where I'm sure would have made him win SDM over if he could just be honest and not cover up his intentions with lame excuses. SDM's character was not able to feel nor to understand HJP's character as much as the audience did which is why I understand how she ended up with NDS. I felt for HJP and was really sad & annoyed when the SamSans kept HJP from talking to or helping SDM. It was so unfair on his part but I could so relate because some people's lives are just fated to be as such - unfortunate & unlucky in ways of love.
On the contrary, there were lots of moments where (in SDM's absence), NDS was immature and petty. What a lucky bloke he is, I am pretty sure if SDM was there to witness such, she would have chosen HJP. Though NDS did gradually become a descent person to some extent - he's still the luckier guy who took advantage of the situation when he had things paved out to his convenience.
The story build up was really unique as up until ep13/14, I still held hopes for HJP & SDM. But considering the characters' story buildup, it did make sense that SDM ended up with NDS - we ENFJs have a weak heart for weak people.
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I'm happy with the ending I think it was the right thing to do anyway. backstory was fine but sometime they were just overdramatic.
acting was on point most of the time, although I believe Suzy could do better.
The character I loved the most and related the most to was Do San, I think Nam Joo Hyuk did a decent job portraying Nam Do San.
overall, you should watch this drama for the romance between ML and FL and also the work space stories, I think the relationship between the two sisters was also great.
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