Shouldn't have put this off for this long.
I had put off watching Start Up for a long time because of what my friend said about it. Disregarding his comments, this was a really solid show. The writing was great. And this premise of a person in love with someone even though they are two different people, in a more mature setting would have given us a more robust and voluptuous story. In this playful and colourful show it served its role well.The first few episodes where slow, but I can see that the writer had trust in the viewer that they will stay, even tho I felt like this wasn't a story that really could foster that trust.
The story was nothing revolutionary, the premise is interesting for sure, but the story itself is no great white horse.
The music was amazing. It's probably the first time i have actually enjoyed some OSTs and liked the songs.
Solid show. Whatever this storyline could have given us, I think they give it all.
Ciao.
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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
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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Inspiring and Uplifting, the Great Outweighs the Stumbles
Start-Up is an inspiring story that's a realistic, fun story that is very enjoyable to watch with a few shortcomings.Story:
The storyline about Sandbox and the main casts' journey of starting a business and expanding is very inspiring and enjoyable to watch. Everything was done so well, but one thing I wish could've been done better was the romance. By the time Nam Do San's charm was revealed, Han Ji Pyeong had managed to take over until he sometimes seemed more like the main lead, but otherwise, Start-Up's story was uplifting and enjoyable to watch.
Acting/Cast:
The acting was great. At times, Nam Joo Hyuk's acting wasn't as up to par compared to Kim Seon Ho's, all the actors did really well. Nam Joo Huk and Suzy had amazing chemistry and so did all of Samsan Tech. Suzy and Kang Han Na also had really great chemistry as sisters. Seo Dal Mi's family also had such great chemistry.
Overall, the chemistry of this cast was out of the roof with superb acting.
Music:
The OST for Start-Up was one of the best OSTs I've ever heard. "Future" by Red Velvet is definitely one of my favorite songs ever and while there are too many to list, the rest of the OST's songs are amazing as well.
All in all, Start-Up had some shortcomings, mainly how the romance was written out, but the cast's superb chemistry and acting and the rest of the well-written story outweighed it. Start-Up shows the story of three friends running a start-up. They realize they need help as they try to make the most of the scarce opportunities in front of them. This story shows them finally succeeding, through many hardships. I recommend you watch this very uplifting and inspiring story. You won't regret it :)
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The ending i wanted
Sorry for all the HJP but stans but i hated that character so much, i was so happy when dalmi made the right choice by not choosing this arrogant, mean and very jealous character. It seems like people like him because he’s an orphan so it’s somehow excusable or tolerable to act like a a-hole like he did throughout the show. This character was really the thing i disliked most about this show but the rest was really good. Dalmi Dosan team foreverWas this review helpful to you?
A WELL WRITTEN BUSINESS STORY SELLING BAD ROMANCE
I struggled to rate this show,even though i had good laughs and good tears but the psychological warfare in characterization that the writer put us through was too much.This is the first time i have ever watched a drama whereby the 2ML takes the ship from episode 1 to the the last episode,As a woman the ML visuals was stunning but if i was to be in a Titanic wreck,i would hang on to 2ML,this man had depth and great leadership in a world of headless chicken that we named developers.Every time there was a problem,in my mind i was like what would HJP do? He might have seen to be brutally honest most of the times but the world doesn't run on weak minds.His relationship with Grandma Choi is what kept me emotionally connected to the drama,you get to experiences a stranger who takes on a role of a parent to a young man who is lost and it goes on for ages.She was his home,his peace and his world and he was worth 10 sons..The last part where she saw everyone in her family has finally met but her heart went to HJP and the way she immediately went to him even with her eyesight deteriorating..I think she will worry about him for the rest of her life and I hope he finds someone with a heart like Grandma Choi(in season 2 that i have written in my head)This show would have gone way better without the romantic tag but as we know romance sales and Korea film industry oversupplies this product.I dont think it was necessary to create a love triangle.HJP could have remained a mentor to Do-San and crew,and maybe leave the ML and FL to fall in love naturally.The letters from the FL past would have been about the dad story and his struggles to start business,like a dairy type of correspondance and this would have build up to the present,the mentor helping the FL to bring to reality her dad’s dream.Am not a kdrama writer but thats the direction i would have taken this to.
Overall,using the common line of the drama”Sail without a map” this drama sailed with the wrong map instead,the funny part was funny(when ML and 2ML were using the national anthem lyrics to pretend they are in deep convo,and when he was trying to train him how to be him) the emotional scenes were really emotional but the romantic tag was unnecessary cos even the chemistry between the lead was non existent
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ITS NOT THAT BAD, But...
Honestly from Episode One I was FULLY interesting in the show, I didn't skip much.But There's one thing that I couldn't really y'know actually be THAT happy about.
Do-San and Dal-mi.
Those two, the main couple of the show apparently, I just don't feel that much of a connection? Like they're not bad of a couple but not so great either. I just didn't feel it to the point where I'm smiling at every single one of their scenes.
The First Episode made me believe that Ji-pyeong was the main lead, but I was wrong. But the fact that he hid that he was the guy behind the letter for 15 years? 15?! And the grandma also hid it to! I didn't like that part. Therefore, I didn't ship Ji-pyeoung and Dal-mi.
The Music. OH MY GOSH. I love it! Especially the intro! Could listen to the whole thing all day.
The acting wasn't bad but wasn't like "WOW! I didn't know that this was a show!" It was amazing but not bomb throwing.
The sister was kind of a waste of a role to be honest, I didn't really care about her so-called vilian of a sister role.
The story is pretty average but unique to me at the same time. Y'know average pen pal story and never knowing his identity until years later. But they did a twist and instead of the female lead ending up with the pen pal she ended up with a guy who's life was about to fall apart.
The Show is bad but good too. I find it unreasonable that some people give this show like a 1 or 2 star rating cause it's not all bad.
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