Nothing in life is sure except for death and taxes.
It is a saying by Benjamin Franklin in a letter he penned to Jean Baptiste de Roy in 1789.
It is meant to imply that there is nothing in life that we can be sure about. The only things that are definite in life is our mortality, thus death. And the fact that regardless of which country we live in, we will always be taxed in some way or form, thus taxes.
Thus at times, when trying to make a point that we can never be 100% sure of anything, this quote will make it's appearance occasionally in the internet.
It's true that the drama spent most of its time building up Dodal, but for a long time it had the potential to…
It's actually not that unheard of for people to pine for your first love even after multiple years have passed. It's a concept that been conceptualized in other forms of media in both western and eastern shows. I mean the concept of a long distance relationship contains similar foundation to it. I personally know a long distance couple, 7 years long distance, and they are married now. But the girl now regrets it, because there were so much things about him that just doesn't show when your in a long distance relationship, and she seems quite unhappy now.
And that's the problem I have, why show SDM being such a weak puppy? WIJ, was given such a tough question by NDS dad, and she amazingly answered it, and proved how competent she was as a CEO. SDM was given, not the hardest question by Alex, and literally crumbled until NDS saved her, showing how much she was not qualified for her job. But you know how people learn to be better at their job? By facing these tough task, something NDS never gave her a chance to do.
I am not going full on women's right, but sometimes men need to let women make mistakes and get out of jam's on their own, otherwise, we will end up with weak women who can't change a simple light bulb, and this annoys me that the writer thinks that young women of today would still swoon over a man always coming to woman's rescue. The damsel in distress trope is so tiring and should be retired already.
Looks like you've missed tons of comments, since Ep. 9 and 10. Majority of HJP fans are actually happy he did…
Considering where SDM ended up character wise, I would have preferred Start Up just be NDS and HJP, and take away the romance completely and make start up more like a tech start up procedural to showcase Korea's technological advancement. The fact that the writer dropped the ball on this is a travesty. A bromance between NDS and HJP would have been amazing, why does a guy need a girl to bring out his full potential? Why can't a brotherly figure do the same thing, I will never understand.
I kind of saw things differently, I felt only HJP, WIJ, and maybe Grandma didn't get proper endings. Although the first 6 episodes weren't, NDS eventually became the main focal point of the story, with the other characters providing supporting role to make NDS look amazing. Almost like watching a baton relay, where everyone was concentrating on handing off the baton to NDS so he can finish the race and bask in the glory...
SDM, WIJ, and HJP were clearly just tools to allow NDS go from genius loser to Elon Musk of Korea. Look at how it all pans out.
SDM - She exist to provide NDS a goal, a dream, a summit for him to yearn for. She exist to give him a clear goal of what he must do, he provides him a clear view of what the finish line looks like.
HJP - To be honest, he only exist to bring out NDS competitive nature out. Just like WIJ existed to make SDM more ambitious and competitive, HJP exist to challenge and bring out NDS hidden ambition and drive.
WIJ - She exist solely to provide the funds and a named company for NDS to take to the next level. Her sold reason for existing is to provide SDM a training ground to be a CEO, so that she could partner up with NDS to create Tesla of Korea.
Pretty much everyone is just a pawn/prop for NDS if you think about it. Which is such a huge waste, of WIJ, HJP and SDM potential really, as NDS strory of zero to hero is exceedingly boring and unrealistic.
Another thing I disliked about SDM is her flakiness. She says she wants truths and facts, but she keeps hoping for a magic button at the same time. It's like a gambler, who has lost all her winnings, but keeps wanting to gamble again and again, until one time she hits it big. And lucky for her, she has a sister and HJP who enables her gambling personality.
Sharing the journey, being the same age, and NDS being sweet, don't really strike me as strong indications for true love, especially in such a short span of time. And in the last few episodes, SDM still can't answer NDS why she chooses him. She didn't understand that someone like NDS is such an insecure person that any answer would have been preferable to "just because". That's the thing, they don't know anything about each other, they don't understand each other, they don't even know each others flaws and tendencies, but they just keep kissing? Seems like such a shallow relationship that is based more on physical attraction, materialism and opportunism than anything else.
The thing with HJP and SDM is, he never got a chance, and he never pushed himself into the position to have a chance. Did HJP have flaws? yes, he did certain things wrong. But the problem is SDM only saw the wrongs, but never the rights. She saw an HJP accused of making Yong San's brother kill himself, but there's never an explanation that it wasn't really his fault. The whole show, every character just tries to paint HJP as this bad guy in SDM's eyes, and the only person who sees the good in HJP is Grandma, and she doesn't HJP to ruin what SDM has. I mean it's quite unfair on so many levels. At times, it feels like watching a theatrical play where the audience all sees how good the SML is, but the FL is oblivious to it all. But this goes back once again to the FL's ignorance.
My take on HJP's feelings, is that this whole time we keep thinking the letters meant to so much to SDM, but in reality the letters meant so much more to HJP than we can realize. Think about it, SDM at the very end, had Grandma. So for the past 15 years she was lonely. HJP on the other hand, also kept the letters, if they didn't mean anything, he would have just chucked them away. Everything we know about SDM blocking people due to the letters may have applied to HJP as well. And in the end, he has cared for SDM all this time, because of the letters. That is why it's so poignant in that one scene he says "it's enough". Because for 15 years the letters sustained him, and it will have to sustain him again. It's sad to think that because HJP never gets proper closure, he may never meet any other girl. It's certainly a possibility.
Oh yeah, if after EP. 10 she just shuts down HJP, I would have been fine with that. I mean it would make SDM a flaky character, and inconsistent, but she became that way anyway. But instead we get this dragged out love triangle that I thought would last until the very end.
I don't know. He is overweight, and pretty old already, plus he seems so easily distracted, he is onboard the new GOT prequels, so I just don't know. I am annoyed though that they are planning on making Dany evil, she is by far my favorite character on GOT books.
Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. From Ep. 10 - 16. I kept telling myself, I just want HJP to be happy, I just want HJP to be happy. Up until Ep. 16, I had so much faith, only to be incredibly disappointed. I mean forced friendship with NDS? No time to grieve a broken heart, and being forced to babysit NDS and SDM? The least they could do is showed he became a part owner of the company and show him getting richer at least, but nope, he is most likely just in a consultancy role...
Yeah, the hardest part is realistically, HJP can't be part of NDS and SDM's family, because it's awkward. I've been in that kind of situation and it takes long for the awkwardness and heart pain to go away.
It's true that the drama spent most of its time building up Dodal, but for a long time it had the potential to…
That's the part I worry about. There is a saying, the hotter the love, the hotter the hate. NDS over the top love for SDM, if it ever turns into hate, will be devastating for SDM, and it's there are enough issues and flaws between them to make the assumption that something will happen. NDS obsessiveness and low self-esteem being chief among those catalyst IMO. Like I get it's all suppose to be romanticized, but still, I feel it's very unrealistic.
I agree that NDS and SDM were in the same place professionally, but SDM lost her individuality by being with NDS, and that's quite unfortunate for her characterization.
HJP never allowed his advanced position to hinder SDM though, as HJP always allowed SDM freedom to figure things out on her own and thus preserve her individuality. NDS on the other hand, was hell bent on saving SDM from every little scratch, where SDM became so dependent on him.
Looks like you've missed tons of comments, since Ep. 9 and 10. Majority of HJP fans are actually happy he did…
I actually liked SDM's early characterization of a spunky, smart, average girl who experienced family tragedy and resolved to find ways to still be optimistic. I always viewed the letters as a way for SDM to cope with her loneliness and grief. But seeing her actually have other friends, and seem quite content and happy, seems so contradictory to what the writer was trying to portray initially. It made me question how close she really was to her family at times.
The minute she became overcompetitive with her sister, and straight up petty, I lost my interest in her as a character. If the writer had just taken away the first episode, the backlash on the whole show would have been less, as the first episode did such a a great job on setting up the succeeding plot points for the audience to follow. Also, I agree that HJP should have just been left out of the whole thing from the beginning, but when the writer decided to place him in the middle, she should have at least respected HJP's character and not made him a prop.
The only thing where NDS and SDM matched in are their age, and their immaturity. They had a very codependent relationship, that in real life, would not have lasted once the honeymoon phase is over. They reminded me too much of a HS romance in adult bodies, which really bothered me that they expect regular audience to believe this is what a mature relationship looks like. I was aghast.
Mentor/mentee relationships actually abound in real life. A lot of men/women fall in love with the person who is helping them reach new highs, or become better person. I didn't see anything wrong with SDM falling in love with her mentor.
When I write about feelings, I always talk about it from my experience, or from my experience through other people's relationship. Lying about not washing the dishes is forgivable within minutes, lying about being someone's best friend/first love for 3-4 months, is not. Regardless of how in love you are with that person, you at the very least need to see if your feelings for him are real or not. She does not do this, she doesn't explore anything with HJP either, quite absurd and unrealistic IMO. This is like real life catfishing, and I don't think I need to tell you how most catfishing stories end...
For some reason, I actually thought SDM would be a bit more deep, and less ignorant. You know someone who would confront other people, the same way she confronts WIJ. But I guess with guys, she prefers to be blinded. Such a major character flaw, I can't support.
For 3 years, and even prior to that, HJP made it clear his feelings for her. If she had ZERO interest, a quick "sorry, I love NDS more, but we can still be friends" would have sufficed, I'm sure HJP would still have mentored her, but nope, she strings him along all the way until the last episode. And for that, SDM's characterizations is soured on most people's mind. There are so so so many other love triangles, where the girls tells the other guy early. And for fans who had already learned to love HJP, continually making HJP suffer episode after episode, only served to increased their dislike for the torturer that is SDM and NDS.
The whole GOT season 7-8 was horrible. I'm still waiting on the books, hopefully George has some ghost writer who can finish it if he can't.
Once I made my peace with SDM's inconsistent characterization, I was ok with two immature teenagers in SDM and NDS being together, as I feel they deserve each other. What I didn't like is how they needed HJP to suffer, and act as the unreluctant BFF to NDS, and then later have to babysit the lovebirds. Like why?
Yeah, no doubt HJP didn't place his own happiness first. As confident as he seemed at times, nobody knew how low he thought of himself, only Grandma. It's pretty sad that this ends up being HJP's ending arc, having the only person who knew the real him grow old and blind. Harsh ending for HJP no doubt. I still believe without HJP in the plot with KSH amazing acting, the plot of Start Up would be as boring as watching paint dry, and it was already plenty boring for the NDS and SDM scenes. HJP, for all his faults, added a lot of freshness to an otherwise overused Kdrama plot.
I just don't buy HJP and NDS being friends in the end, it felt so fake. In the end, if HJP just got a family, I don't think he even cares about SDM as much. HJP, being an orphan, just wants acceptance and a family to love. Something the writer chose not go give him.
It's true that the drama spent most of its time building up Dodal, but for a long time it had the potential to…
Let's not forget that the cast/writer admitted they use Cyrano as the source material, so people were expecting Roxanne to end up with Cyrano, and not Christian.
It's true that the drama spent most of its time building up Dodal, but for a long time it had the potential to…
I agree that the emotions that SDM beset upon the letters for 15 years is quite unrealistic. But I also believe that SDM falling for NDS even after finding out he tricked her is equally unrealistic. And NDS relationship with his parents, and the way the parents reacted afterwards was so so far from reality, I would call it fantasy.
SDM also not realizing NDS is not the one in the letters is also unrealistic. SDM forgiving NDS after less than a day, is also unrealistic. In fact if I listed every unrealistic, implausible, and downright wrong thing the drama did, this post would be exceedingly long.
The fact that SDM never bothered looking for fake NDS after 15 years, even though she let it consume her entire life is also very absurd. She had to wait for her sister to come back home to start looking for him? I am like what?
And NDS decides to just flat out catfish her because he likes her? This is textbook stalker tendencies, and the show makes it look romantic. I'm like what?
I mean, there are just so many absurd things with all the characters throughout the whole show, that I'm surprised more people didn't dislike the show to rate it as high as 8.1 IMO.
The thing is, although SDM and NDS are suppose to be colleagues, this is not the case. From the feel, the situations, and the share structure, it is apparent that NDS is the superior in this relationship, and SDM is NDS employee. NDS is in love with SDM, so that creates an environment where they APPEAR as equals, but the minute SDM steps out of line, or NDS love for her fades, he will just flex his ACTUAL power and possibly throw her aside.
HJP and SDM's relationship on the other hand of a mentor and mentee has less of a power imbalance. Firstly because they are not even connected in the same company. So if a relationship were to start with them, and they fight, they can just part and move their separate ways without affecting the power dynamic between the two, which would make their relationship more equal than that of NDS and SDM.
I'm not saying HJP and SDM should be together, as I feel HJP deserves better. But i'm pointing out the flaw I see in your argument about the power structure between NDS/SDM vs HJP/SDM.
HJP should have portrayed a more brotherly role to both SDM and NDS, but the writer's need to create a love triangle she could not control led us to the butchery of HJP's characterization all in the hopes of making NDS look better than he really is.
I think, after writing this, I've come to realize how opportunistic SDM really is. When she sees NDS being successful, he quickly jumps on the opportunity to use his success to partner up with him to take a shortcut to success rather than forming her own company. Then when she sees him in Sandbox, she quickly jumps on again.
Looks like you've missed tons of comments, since Ep. 9 and 10. Majority of HJP fans are actually happy he did…
The 15 year, still obsessed with letters guy is vastly exaggerated and unrealistic, I agree. But the audience bought into that early, with the swell early episodes, and great characterization of HJP. And so the writing made it feel that the pen pal writer, and thus the letters were an important part of the plot. Then you had the interview with the cast, where it is revealed that Cyrano De Bergerac was the source material for Start Up, so expectations were set. So later on, when the letters were pretty much erased from the plot and given no importance, so many fans were understandably outraged and confused. We don't even get ONE scene where SDM thanks HJP for comforting her from the past, in fact, it was even HJP who has to speak these words.
SDM, who was so obsessed with the letters, even remembering certain lines, can't even tell that NDS is not the same personality as the person writing the letters, nor does she ever discuss or thanks NDS for writing those letters. And the fact she actually says the lines "you are exactly the person you were 15 years ago, nothing has changed" is a real head scratcher. A lot of the plot didn't make sense, were unrealistic and were not consistent.
NDS, SST, and maybe even SDM, all thought that HJP was only helping because of his love/crush on SDM, but that is just simply not the case. As audiences, because we actually see what HJP does behind the scenes, plus we know his backstory, and we hear his inner thoughts and discussions with Yong Shil, we know that HJP is a true professional that doesn't let his fondness for someone prevent him from doing his job. Why do you think that even to SDM, he is honest and harsh? If he really is someone wiling to throw away his professionalism for the girl, then surely he would be extra nice to SDM, and not criticize her? The fact he does, clearly shows that in the end, not only does he often do the right thing, but he is a consummate professional that doesn't always make decisions based on his heart.
I think most of the audience saw through NDS plans. Why else would he keep asking SDM, "what do you like about me?". He is obviously waiting for SDM to fall for him before telling her the truth. Let's not forget NDS words.
HJP: How long do you plan to keep up this lie?
NDS: I want to keep the lie to it's maximum life.
It's actually quite manipulative to do in a relationship, especially one that started with a lie. Even when NDS knew that SDM was only with him due to the letters, he kept moving forward, hoping that eventually SDM would fall for the real him. Cue multiple love scenes, a kiss, lots of hand holding, and finally he is ready to tell the truth? Wow, how noble of this NDS :)))
Fact of the matter is, SDM falls for NDS, because she doesn't know half the things NDS does behind SDM's back, and she doesn't fall for HJP because she doesn't' know half the things HJP have been doing for her and Grandma. SDM's ignorance is one of her biggest flaw.
As is with the formula with most Kdrama, once the FL has chosen the man she wants, she treats the other lead like hot garbage, which is essentially how SDM treats HJP from Ep. 13 onwards. Which is disappointing considering how much HJP had helped her, and comforted her in the past and the present.
Oh yeah Jon Snow and that ending. just wow! LOL!
The way SDM was in the beginning, attracted a lot of people because it was romantic. Eventhough SDM and HJP never met when they were young, a lot of people bought into the concept of HJP being SDM's first love, because kdrama audience are romantics at heart. So when the writer decides to pull the rug out and make the romantic SDM into the materialistic and opportunistic SDM, well people were not happy.
I wasn't happy to see NDS fake character development after the time skip. As many people have noticed, the only thing that happened in 3 years is that NDS change clothes, and became richer. He was still mentally the same NDS from 3 years ago. HJP on the other hand, had regressed, and ended up being a useless character in the end.
HJP selflessness was his downfall, but it's also what made people love him. Because deep inside, we want to see the good guy get a good ending doing selfless things. We may not have been able to forgive HJP if he had suddenly become selfish to get SDM, so so late in the game. If he had been selfish early on, then it would have been ok.
Oh yeah, babysitting the lovebirds, such a useless plot point. I was angry that the man didn't even get the chance to grieve, or move away from the source of his heart pain. Really cruel move from the writers.
After writing this, I realize we actually share a lot of views LOL!
People have a hard time moving on because of all the potential this drama had, and the amazing character HJP was. Plus it's all fun conversation, except for the trolls coming in to stir things up.
Chaser is not bad also.
But there is still sales tax or service tax. Somehow, someway in life you will end up paying taxes somehow.
It is meant to imply that there is nothing in life that we can be sure about. The only things that are definite in life is our mortality, thus death. And the fact that regardless of which country we live in, we will always be taxed in some way or form, thus taxes.
Thus at times, when trying to make a point that we can never be 100% sure of anything, this quote will make it's appearance occasionally in the internet.
And that's the problem I have, why show SDM being such a weak puppy? WIJ, was given such a tough question by NDS dad, and she amazingly answered it, and proved how competent she was as a CEO. SDM was given, not the hardest question by Alex, and literally crumbled until NDS saved her, showing how much she was not qualified for her job. But you know how people learn to be better at their job? By facing these tough task, something NDS never gave her a chance to do.
I am not going full on women's right, but sometimes men need to let women make mistakes and get out of jam's on their own, otherwise, we will end up with weak women who can't change a simple light bulb, and this annoys me that the writer thinks that young women of today would still swoon over a man always coming to woman's rescue. The damsel in distress trope is so tiring and should be retired already.
I kind of saw things differently, I felt only HJP, WIJ, and maybe Grandma didn't get proper endings. Although the first 6 episodes weren't, NDS eventually became the main focal point of the story, with the other characters providing supporting role to make NDS look amazing. Almost like watching a baton relay, where everyone was concentrating on handing off the baton to NDS so he can finish the race and bask in the glory...
SDM, WIJ, and HJP were clearly just tools to allow NDS go from genius loser to Elon Musk of Korea. Look at how it all pans out.
SDM - She exist to provide NDS a goal, a dream, a summit for him to yearn for. She exist to give him a clear goal of what he must do, he provides him a clear view of what the finish line looks like.
HJP - To be honest, he only exist to bring out NDS competitive nature out. Just like WIJ existed to make SDM more ambitious and competitive, HJP exist to challenge and bring out NDS hidden ambition and drive.
WIJ - She exist solely to provide the funds and a named company for NDS to take to the next level. Her sold reason for existing is to provide SDM a training ground to be a CEO, so that she could partner up with NDS to create Tesla of Korea.
Pretty much everyone is just a pawn/prop for NDS if you think about it. Which is such a huge waste, of WIJ, HJP and SDM potential really, as NDS strory of zero to hero is exceedingly boring and unrealistic.
Another thing I disliked about SDM is her flakiness. She says she wants truths and facts, but she keeps hoping for a magic button at the same time. It's like a gambler, who has lost all her winnings, but keeps wanting to gamble again and again, until one time she hits it big. And lucky for her, she has a sister and HJP who enables her gambling personality.
Sharing the journey, being the same age, and NDS being sweet, don't really strike me as strong indications for true love, especially in such a short span of time. And in the last few episodes, SDM still can't answer NDS why she chooses him. She didn't understand that someone like NDS is such an insecure person that any answer would have been preferable to "just because". That's the thing, they don't know anything about each other, they don't understand each other, they don't even know each others flaws and tendencies, but they just keep kissing? Seems like such a shallow relationship that is based more on physical attraction, materialism and opportunism than anything else.
The thing with HJP and SDM is, he never got a chance, and he never pushed himself into the position to have a chance. Did HJP have flaws? yes, he did certain things wrong. But the problem is SDM only saw the wrongs, but never the rights. She saw an HJP accused of making Yong San's brother kill himself, but there's never an explanation that it wasn't really his fault. The whole show, every character just tries to paint HJP as this bad guy in SDM's eyes, and the only person who sees the good in HJP is Grandma, and she doesn't HJP to ruin what SDM has. I mean it's quite unfair on so many levels. At times, it feels like watching a theatrical play where the audience all sees how good the SML is, but the FL is oblivious to it all. But this goes back once again to the FL's ignorance.
My take on HJP's feelings, is that this whole time we keep thinking the letters meant to so much to SDM, but in reality the letters meant so much more to HJP than we can realize. Think about it, SDM at the very end, had Grandma. So for the past 15 years she was lonely. HJP on the other hand, also kept the letters, if they didn't mean anything, he would have just chucked them away. Everything we know about SDM blocking people due to the letters may have applied to HJP as well. And in the end, he has cared for SDM all this time, because of the letters. That is why it's so poignant in that one scene he says "it's enough". Because for 15 years the letters sustained him, and it will have to sustain him again. It's sad to think that because HJP never gets proper closure, he may never meet any other girl. It's certainly a possibility.
Oh yeah, if after EP. 10 she just shuts down HJP, I would have been fine with that. I mean it would make SDM a flaky character, and inconsistent, but she became that way anyway. But instead we get this dragged out love triangle that I thought would last until the very end.
I don't know. He is overweight, and pretty old already, plus he seems so easily distracted, he is onboard the new GOT prequels, so I just don't know. I am annoyed though that they are planning on making Dany evil, she is by far my favorite character on GOT books.
Yeah, you wouldn't believe it. From Ep. 10 - 16. I kept telling myself, I just want HJP to be happy, I just want HJP to be happy. Up until Ep. 16, I had so much faith, only to be incredibly disappointed. I mean forced friendship with NDS? No time to grieve a broken heart, and being forced to babysit NDS and SDM? The least they could do is showed he became a part owner of the company and show him getting richer at least, but nope, he is most likely just in a consultancy role...
Yeah, the hardest part is realistically, HJP can't be part of NDS and SDM's family, because it's awkward. I've been in that kind of situation and it takes long for the awkwardness and heart pain to go away.
I agree that NDS and SDM were in the same place professionally, but SDM lost her individuality by being with NDS, and that's quite unfortunate for her characterization.
HJP never allowed his advanced position to hinder SDM though, as HJP always allowed SDM freedom to figure things out on her own and thus preserve her individuality. NDS on the other hand, was hell bent on saving SDM from every little scratch, where SDM became so dependent on him.
Yup, HJP deserved better than SDM :))))
The minute she became overcompetitive with her sister, and straight up petty, I lost my interest in her as a character. If the writer had just taken away the first episode, the backlash on the whole show would have been less, as the first episode did such a a great job on setting up the succeeding plot points for the audience to follow. Also, I agree that HJP should have just been left out of the whole thing from the beginning, but when the writer decided to place him in the middle, she should have at least respected HJP's character and not made him a prop.
The only thing where NDS and SDM matched in are their age, and their immaturity. They had a very codependent relationship, that in real life, would not have lasted once the honeymoon phase is over. They reminded me too much of a HS romance in adult bodies, which really bothered me that they expect regular audience to believe this is what a mature relationship looks like. I was aghast.
Mentor/mentee relationships actually abound in real life. A lot of men/women fall in love with the person who is helping them reach new highs, or become better person. I didn't see anything wrong with SDM falling in love with her mentor.
When I write about feelings, I always talk about it from my experience, or from my experience through other people's relationship. Lying about not washing the dishes is forgivable within minutes, lying about being someone's best friend/first love for 3-4 months, is not. Regardless of how in love you are with that person, you at the very least need to see if your feelings for him are real or not. She does not do this, she doesn't explore anything with HJP either, quite absurd and unrealistic IMO. This is like real life catfishing, and I don't think I need to tell you how most catfishing stories end...
For some reason, I actually thought SDM would be a bit more deep, and less ignorant. You know someone who would confront other people, the same way she confronts WIJ. But I guess with guys, she prefers to be blinded. Such a major character flaw, I can't support.
For 3 years, and even prior to that, HJP made it clear his feelings for her. If she had ZERO interest, a quick "sorry, I love NDS more, but we can still be friends" would have sufficed, I'm sure HJP would still have mentored her, but nope, she strings him along all the way until the last episode. And for that, SDM's characterizations is soured on most people's mind. There are so so so many other love triangles, where the girls tells the other guy early. And for fans who had already learned to love HJP, continually making HJP suffer episode after episode, only served to increased their dislike for the torturer that is SDM and NDS.
The whole GOT season 7-8 was horrible. I'm still waiting on the books, hopefully George has some ghost writer who can finish it if he can't.
Once I made my peace with SDM's inconsistent characterization, I was ok with two immature teenagers in SDM and NDS being together, as I feel they deserve each other. What I didn't like is how they needed HJP to suffer, and act as the unreluctant BFF to NDS, and then later have to babysit the lovebirds. Like why?
Yeah, no doubt HJP didn't place his own happiness first. As confident as he seemed at times, nobody knew how low he thought of himself, only Grandma. It's pretty sad that this ends up being HJP's ending arc, having the only person who knew the real him grow old and blind. Harsh ending for HJP no doubt. I still believe without HJP in the plot with KSH amazing acting, the plot of Start Up would be as boring as watching paint dry, and it was already plenty boring for the NDS and SDM scenes. HJP, for all his faults, added a lot of freshness to an otherwise overused Kdrama plot.
I just don't buy HJP and NDS being friends in the end, it felt so fake. In the end, if HJP just got a family, I don't think he even cares about SDM as much. HJP, being an orphan, just wants acceptance and a family to love. Something the writer chose not go give him.
SDM also not realizing NDS is not the one in the letters is also unrealistic. SDM forgiving NDS after less than a day, is also unrealistic. In fact if I listed every unrealistic, implausible, and downright wrong thing the drama did, this post would be exceedingly long.
The fact that SDM never bothered looking for fake NDS after 15 years, even though she let it consume her entire life is also very absurd. She had to wait for her sister to come back home to start looking for him? I am like what?
And NDS decides to just flat out catfish her because he likes her? This is textbook stalker tendencies, and the show makes it look romantic. I'm like what?
I mean, there are just so many absurd things with all the characters throughout the whole show, that I'm surprised more people didn't dislike the show to rate it as high as 8.1 IMO.
The thing is, although SDM and NDS are suppose to be colleagues, this is not the case. From the feel, the situations, and the share structure, it is apparent that NDS is the superior in this relationship, and SDM is NDS employee. NDS is in love with SDM, so that creates an environment where they APPEAR as equals, but the minute SDM steps out of line, or NDS love for her fades, he will just flex his ACTUAL power and possibly throw her aside.
HJP and SDM's relationship on the other hand of a mentor and mentee has less of a power imbalance. Firstly because they are not even connected in the same company. So if a relationship were to start with them, and they fight, they can just part and move their separate ways without affecting the power dynamic between the two, which would make their relationship more equal than that of NDS and SDM.
I'm not saying HJP and SDM should be together, as I feel HJP deserves better. But i'm pointing out the flaw I see in your argument about the power structure between NDS/SDM vs HJP/SDM.
HJP should have portrayed a more brotherly role to both SDM and NDS, but the writer's need to create a love triangle she could not control led us to the butchery of HJP's characterization all in the hopes of making NDS look better than he really is.
I think, after writing this, I've come to realize how opportunistic SDM really is. When she sees NDS being successful, he quickly jumps on the opportunity to use his success to partner up with him to take a shortcut to success rather than forming her own company. Then when she sees him in Sandbox, she quickly jumps on again.
SDM, who was so obsessed with the letters, even remembering certain lines, can't even tell that NDS is not the same personality as the person writing the letters, nor does she ever discuss or thanks NDS for writing those letters. And the fact she actually says the lines "you are exactly the person you were 15 years ago, nothing has changed" is a real head scratcher. A lot of the plot didn't make sense, were unrealistic and were not consistent.
NDS, SST, and maybe even SDM, all thought that HJP was only helping because of his love/crush on SDM, but that is just simply not the case. As audiences, because we actually see what HJP does behind the scenes, plus we know his backstory, and we hear his inner thoughts and discussions with Yong Shil, we know that HJP is a true professional that doesn't let his fondness for someone prevent him from doing his job. Why do you think that even to SDM, he is honest and harsh? If he really is someone wiling to throw away his professionalism for the girl, then surely he would be extra nice to SDM, and not criticize her? The fact he does, clearly shows that in the end, not only does he often do the right thing, but he is a consummate professional that doesn't always make decisions based on his heart.
I think most of the audience saw through NDS plans. Why else would he keep asking SDM, "what do you like about me?". He is obviously waiting for SDM to fall for him before telling her the truth. Let's not forget NDS words.
HJP: How long do you plan to keep up this lie?
NDS: I want to keep the lie to it's maximum life.
It's actually quite manipulative to do in a relationship, especially one that started with a lie. Even when NDS knew that SDM was only with him due to the letters, he kept moving forward, hoping that eventually SDM would fall for the real him. Cue multiple love scenes, a kiss, lots of hand holding, and finally he is ready to tell the truth? Wow, how noble of this NDS :)))
Fact of the matter is, SDM falls for NDS, because she doesn't know half the things NDS does behind SDM's back, and she doesn't fall for HJP because she doesn't' know half the things HJP have been doing for her and Grandma. SDM's ignorance is one of her biggest flaw.
As is with the formula with most Kdrama, once the FL has chosen the man she wants, she treats the other lead like hot garbage, which is essentially how SDM treats HJP from Ep. 13 onwards. Which is disappointing considering how much HJP had helped her, and comforted her in the past and the present.
Oh yeah Jon Snow and that ending. just wow! LOL!
The way SDM was in the beginning, attracted a lot of people because it was romantic. Eventhough SDM and HJP never met when they were young, a lot of people bought into the concept of HJP being SDM's first love, because kdrama audience are romantics at heart. So when the writer decides to pull the rug out and make the romantic SDM into the materialistic and opportunistic SDM, well people were not happy.
I wasn't happy to see NDS fake character development after the time skip. As many people have noticed, the only thing that happened in 3 years is that NDS change clothes, and became richer. He was still mentally the same NDS from 3 years ago. HJP on the other hand, had regressed, and ended up being a useless character in the end.
HJP selflessness was his downfall, but it's also what made people love him. Because deep inside, we want to see the good guy get a good ending doing selfless things. We may not have been able to forgive HJP if he had suddenly become selfish to get SDM, so so late in the game. If he had been selfish early on, then it would have been ok.
Oh yeah, babysitting the lovebirds, such a useless plot point. I was angry that the man didn't even get the chance to grieve, or move away from the source of his heart pain. Really cruel move from the writers.
After writing this, I realize we actually share a lot of views LOL!
People have a hard time moving on because of all the potential this drama had, and the amazing character HJP was. Plus it's all fun conversation, except for the trolls coming in to stir things up.