Kimsamsoom

Correction...

Sweetest boy in Kdrama ever.

For me anyway, especially since we are discussing Kdrama, sympathy IMO is the emotion that most writers are going for, because often times the relatability we feel towards the different characters in Kdrama become harder to grasp due to the fact that Kdrama and real life are quite different. But we as fans are ok with that, since we understand the type of medium Kdrama is.

Now having said that, I feel as a kdrama watcher, if you can relate to the character you are watching, that is just bonus points to you, as you may in your watching, glean more substance compared to someone who can not relate to the character's personality, journey and development.

But, for writers, it's that empathy, sympathy which I believe the are aiming for, as they use filming techniques, tender OST's, and actor/actresses with electric chemistry to tug our heartstrings, sensibilities in whatever direction they see fit.

When the character is not written well, or the writers misread the emotions they want their audience to have, it's akin to being on a roller coaster with the lock bar removed, as one wrong jerk and you've missed the exhilaration of the ride.

I also feel sympathy for both NDS and HJP, it's not like I cannot understand their struggles. But with HJP I just have a larger gamut of emotions. Not only do I sympathize with HJP, I also empathize with him as well as relate to him.

And that's why I think he's a better written character. Now did the writer do this on purpose? I don't know. Is this their intended effect, I also don't know.

I might be in the minority, but I really liked jealousy incarnate actually lol. But in that one the SL was very clear, and I even felt that the actor who portrayed the SL fit his role well.

Startup actually starts out quite nicely, but somewhere after the Hackathon, it lost its way, and the plot, pacing, and characterization has gotten worse each episode. It's not longer about the characters anymore, or the love triangle, it's the many social aspects being discussed in the show.

It's like rather than diving deep into certain subjects and creating a strong base, they opt to touch a variety of subjects briefly, leaving the audience wanting more but receiving far less.

It's the way the preview for Ep 11 was presented, I can't shake the feeling.

I would rather HJP and SDM never develop into anything, than to tease that they are together, only to take it away last second...

If the story does this route, I'm going keep watching up until the episode where they are together, and consider that as the real ending :)

I mean it works. After the timeskip, they can pretty much reset everyone's personality.

So they make HJP the villain douchebag, and they make NDS the tragic innocent hero.

The writing is already on the wall. I myself am not looking to see how they will destroy what is left of HJP.

But hopefully us HJP fans will always remember the real HJP from ep 1 - 7.

No, of course not, but at least HJP gets some kind of happy ending, gaining the one thing he has always wanted, a family.

Well I know HJP will be getting a gut punch soon, and i'm hoping they soften the blow somewhat.

Money and time skips solves all problems :)

I just watched the preview for EP. 11

And this is the feeling I get.

Until now, we've seen NDS be selfish with SDM's love and HJP being selfless. I actually think they are going to do a role reversal where NDS loves SDM so much that he will do whatever is needed to make her happy including letting her be with HJP.

HJP on the other hand will be more selfish, and assume he is the winner, but will still continue to insult and gloat over NDS.

This will cause realization from SDM that NDS is the nicer guy, and she'll leave HJP to be with NDS.

HJP will be alone again.

I think this is who the rest of the episodes will go, I just have a feeling.

yes most likely.

I think Netflix made a good call in stocking up on Kdrama. Although not very big in the western world, slowly but surely it's influence is increasing.

But ofc Kdrama doesn't compare to Kpop in terms of popularity in western world, but maybe someday it can.

NJH is dreamy

But if he never did, SDM may not have been as interested in him.

The letters closed SDM heart to love, it will take the letters to open them up again.

like him?

I wrote a theory of why Grandma didn't want HJP and SDM to meet while they were young. Read ahead.

HJP and SDM are actually half siblings!

We know Grandma was against SDM dad marrying her mom, but it was never explained why.

According to SDM, her mom and dad were pen pals before they got married. And as we learned from this show, it's easy to fictionalized and lie through letters. So as SDM's dad was falling in love with the mom, little did he know she is actually a single mother and HJP is her son from another man.

We know the mom is a selfish person. She viewed SDM's dad as a means to escape her current predicament (a decision she will later repeat in the main storyline). But rather than tell SDM's dad the truth about her son, she decided to place him in an orphanage, so she can marry the dad as a single woman.

Grandma somehow finds out, and tries to convince her son that this woman has been lying to her. But as you know, love can blind you, the son doesn't believe Grandma and marries the mom.

As time passed by, Grandma learned to forgive SDM's mom. But she always wondered about the boy the mom gave up for adoption, until that fateful day that she saw HJP. His face catches Grandma by surprise because he looks quite similar to SDM's mom. Then we go back to the main storyline.

We have always wondered how Grandma can be so nice to a total stranger. It would make sense if HJP is her long lost grandson. And it would also answer the question why she never introduced HJP and SDM, because she didn't want SDM to think that her parents marriage was built on a lie. Nor did he want SDM and HJP to fall in love since they are half siblings.

This explains also why Grandma keeps encouraging SDM to forget about the NDS in the letters. In fact, if we really look at it, Grandma has low key been trying to keep SDM and HJP apart, due to the familial connection.

It would explain quite a few things as well like.

1. Why does HJP feel this unexplainable need to protect SDM. Even he doesn't understand.
2. Why he is so vested in producing a guy that would be good enough for SDM image wise.
3. Why SDM fell asleep in HJP's car.
4. Why Grandma is shipping NDS and SDM rather than HJP.

You see the difference of HJP and NDS is that most of the conflict that NDS has been solving has been coding based.

If you give NDS a virus that no one can destroy, he'll find a way, if you give him a problem about battery life of an app, he'll find a way. But when it comes to matters of the heart, solving social disputes, general day to day problem solving, he is still pretty much a child.

In comparison, HJP has been putting out fires since he is a young child, he has had to scrape and fight for everything he's got from an early age, making him more worldly and street smart. So that is why we see him handle things with SDM more coolly. But deep inside, he's experiencing the same conflict NDS is, he is just better at hiding it.

the thing is, if we're excusing what NDS has done, we should also excuse what HJP has done.

At the moment, both men need to grow up.

NDS is traumatized at an early age by having parents while HJP is traumatized at an early age by having no parents.

Both as adults are still dealing with the ramifications of their childhood. In fact, the only person who dealt with a tough childhood the best is SDM.

I guess women mental is stronger than men :)

One thing I won't deny, HJP is a coward.

But, if people are justifying NDS because of how his parents treated him, should we justify HJP cowardice because he had no parents?

I don't know what it's like to walk a mile in HJP shoes, and I don't think I ever want to find out.

SDM really needs to stay single till the end of the show, then leave at open ended ending. There is no way she can be successful depending on either HJP or NDS.

We both know that NDS will come back richer than HJP and etc... and then he's going to lay all his riches and new perks in front of SDM, and she'll fall for it.

I hate this, since it weakens her character development.

Also, is she the only CEO at sandbox with 7% of company share? LOL

His pencil broke :(

this is peak MDL

NDS is pure goodness. And HJP tries his hardest to corrupt him to the dark side.

And shame for NDS parents trying to break our Good Boy!