Kimsamsoom

Of course I can't relate to the gorgeous condo, being able to be a genius investor and etc...

But I believe in the following things

- Tough love, I would rather hear harsh criticism's than sugar coated praise.

- I love his realness, how he just tells things frankly, and he's straight to the point. I am like that too.

- I understand the fear of rejection well, and I completely get why he is very careful with letting his vulnerable side show to SDM.

- And I really like his relationship with Grandma, because family, even if it's not your blood is important. I totally agree with NDS mom, to hear how your child is doing from a third party, hurts like hell. Especially when NDS mom has always been by his side.

- I find HJP has more focus on family than NDS does. And I relate to that. The asian nuclear family, can have it's extremes, over strictness, sometimes cold parents, but as asian kids, we should never take the sacrifices our parents make for granted.

Also, just off topic.

But, I think part of the reason that NDS fails in his start up in the early episodes is because his father invested in him. I don't know what it is, but human beings in general tend to make wiser decisions, be less risky, and be more motivated, when the money being invested into them is not from family, but by strangers.

Because NDS's dad is the investor for their company, it was very easy for NDS to be complacent and lazy. It's a lesson most parents should learn. Support your kids, but don't give them the keys to the palace, or they will never learn.

The scene where he stepped up for SDM for IJ, I really dislike, frankly because WIJ arc was finally blooming, she was becoming the tough sister, she was showing that she is motivating, harshly though, her sister.

And it seemed that SDM was starting to finally understand her sister, then boom, the unwanted knight in shining armor came in. It's not like SDM can't handle herself.

I really hate dramas that dumb down FL to prop up ML, I mean let the girls have their moment!

It also depends which cable we are talking about. TVN Is the largest cable, so 5% avg is not bad, 8% is great, and over 10% is outstanding.

For smaller ones like JTBC or MBTC, 2-3% is considered great, and over 8% is considered outstanding.

I made an argument about this on another drama The King Eternal. How well a drama does in Netflix only tells you the story about international audiences, and doesn't really accurately count the largest consumer of SK dramas, Korea and China.

I just want the ML to be more relatable, a mark that NDS missed IMO.

Ratings wise, it's not doing that well, it's lagging behind IONTBO. And the ratings are actually going down, not up.

But based on the comments here, it has garnered a nice little amount of international audience.

It's not a ratings flop, but neither is it a monster. It's average.

He apologized for being mean to WIJ to SDM? I don't remember that happening.

Yeah when he told SDM to forget the past so she won't be confused, that was good for him. It similar to HJP when he tells SDM he doesn't expect an answer.

I thought that was growth for NDS, until he went to Alex to prevent HJP from being SST plan B. It seems that he went back to his old petty ways IMO.

It's like i'm trying to at least be cordial with NDS, but he keeps doing these childish, annoying things.

Most room for growth after the time skip. But currently, he has very little growth.

I don't know, NDS wears his heart on his sleeve, he's a pretty simple character IMO. His flaws are out there, and they are quite easy to solve. The fact that his arc has been predictable since Ep. 2 speaks on the simplicity of his character.

HJP on the other hand, I have no idea how he will end up.

I kind of feel Start Up was meant to be a drama that was suppose to be attractive to western audience. They even hired two North American born actor/actresses. Including multiple reference to tech companies in the US.

Yet, as I watched this, I just don't feel the story, the plot relate to westerners at all. It's message, moral, identity is still very much Korean.

Maybe i'm wrong and they didn't mean to appeal to international audiences with the story, maybe they thought casting Suzy and NJH would be enough.

I'm curious, how has NDS grown in the past 10 episodes? Examples would be?

The way I see it, HJP has devolved, and NDS hasn't changed much at all.

The only person to have truly grown are WIJ and SDM.

They do if the bread causes food poisoning...

Here is the thing I disagree with.

It's no longer the plot or story that is driving the start up, it's just the love triangle.

And the love triangle is really being hampered by poor pacing, plot devices, and storytelling.

The show is pretty much being driven by the actors themselves, the amount of emotions they bring to the scenes.

As much as it's nice to see pervasive themes, symbolism and etc.. in a Kdrama show, in the end it's the story that matters. And as it stands, each episode feels like the writers are fumbling around looking for the light switch.

as is with the poorly written Kdramas, the fans need to rewrite the stories in their head to make sense of what is happening.

The comment section to be honest has never been bad. I think a lot of people come in here and compare the comment section here with twitter and IG, where the fans are more rabid.

I also think so.

NDS is the protagonist, and SDM and HJP are the main characters.

As audience we are unable to relate to NDS at all, and it's only thru the lends/POV of SDM and HJP that we see NDS strengths, weakness, and character growth.

I thought so at first. But the more the story goes, we realize NDS is the main character, which is weird, as he is the character with the least depth.

And a show with NJH anchoring it, is just not strong enough.

You mean the borderline valley girl accent? I prefer Alex's accent, he's such a scene stealer!

Ugh, her pairing with Cheol san, I just don't get. It feels so contrived. I skipped their scene at the end of Ep.10 because I couldn't bear with it.

The only thing more forced than saha and cheolsan, was yong san suddenly going angsty.

Well in fairness, Jung Yumi is like almost 12 years older than NJH, what did people expect? Plus school nurse files seem like an interesting concept at the very least. Not sure why it's rated so low.

There are some actors, like Kang Ha Neul, who can act comfortable around actors his age, younger or older than him. NJH isn't one of those. He does well with FL's who are his age, a bit younger or a bit older.

He should stick to his strengths.

I think it was unnecessary to have a love triangle. Should have just focused on just NDS and SDM.

Then make HJP and NDS real life brothers. With HJP liking WIJ.

I just started watching descendants of the sun, and I think it's smart of them to make two love lines, instead of a triangle.

All that is left is how to write HJP's arc. And his arc in itself is rickety tightrope. Too sad, and the backlash will be immense, too happy, and the Main Couple get's sidelined by the SL.

The arc of SDM and NDS is pretty much done. We both know where their arc is headed, the steps are clear. Success, love, and etc...

WIJ, even more clearer, her story is also done, not much development left except the completion of her redemption arc, and her eventual respect for her sister.

Where does HJP fit in all of this? Halmoni seems to be his only predictable end game. Because as i've mentioned before, I can't foresee HJP being happy with be glued with NDS and SDM as one big happy family. That's why it was important for him to tell SDM, I don't like NDS, so don't expect us to be buddies.

And it would be weird if Halmoni asked HJP to be buddies with HJP and he just agrees, and they start their bromance. With 6 episodes left, it's too late to develop that dynamic.

Let's look at the facts.

From the conversation between JP and HJP, we know that HJP has never had a girlfriend. Which is weird don't you think?

HJP is rich, handsome, well connected, young, at the top of his game, yet no girlfriends? There is a mystery here that we do not know.

Compared to NDS, middle-class, not the best dresser, awkward with girls (as we saw in the flashbacks), not successful, and no real job, it's no surprise he is still single.

NDS has his whole life ahead of him, he hasn't experienced the "good life" yet. His upward trajectory is still beginning, who is to say success won't change him? who is to say he will have the same taste?

Now look at HJP, he is already at the top of his game, he already has experienced the good life, yet there is still something missing in his life, the thing he craves the most... family. Something NDS has in spades (extended family).

When he saw Halmoni after 15 years, he realizes the thing missing in his life.

BTW, you've been busy? haven't seen you around here for a few days or week now.