Kimsamsoom

Agreed to this.

It reminds me of the saying.

Beware not of the man who scowls all the time, but the man who smiles all the time.

I'm in the same boat.

But I just rewatched a few HJP and SDM scenes, and their scenes are such fire, so much chemistry. And the looks they give each other, just melts me. My favorite one is when SDM looks at HJP while he is writing notes on the hackathon speech. Her wide eyes, slightly agape mouth, looking intently at HJP while he is writing notes.

My heart just breaks for HJP, you can tell he loves SDM so much, but he can't do anything. To be such a powerful and rich man, but unable to do anything in the face of SDM, so tragic.

In comparison NDS and SDM just makes me squirm. NDS just seems so weaselly, gone is the image of the naive, warm hearted genius.

Yeah, I never said it was right, just pointing out, it happens. And since i'm not in their shoes, I prefer not to judge.

With the letters, SDM in her mind created an image of the guy fake Dosan was, it was enough of an image, nay a standard, that she shunned so many previous men.

There's really no evidence that NDS has all the qualities of fake Dosan. But there are certainly different aspects of him, aside from his freakishly big hands.

I got one good thing from the series at all. KSH gained a new fan in me, he is fantastic. Same for Hanna Kang.

If I was to make the ranking of the nice characters in Start Up, they would be, from highest to lowest. My top 5.

1. Grandma
2. Yong Shil
3. Sandbox CEO
4. Alex
5. Yong San

By the way interesting take on the "Living Buddha" thing. According to NDS parents, he is called that because he doesn't want to overshadow people, he is always giving way to people, like he is super nice.

BUT, as NDS himself explained to SDM, he is more of an "Angry Buddha", where when he gets angry, he will knit to relieve his anger. Basically he bottles up his emotions, his anger. Quite a difference in the moniker, and quite unsettling to know that this guy has bottled his emotions in the past, and it may be ready to explode soon. Not a trait something a traditionally nice character should have.

Umm, that's not magic, it's called writer's bias, it's such a overused Kdrama device, the slow panning shots, the frozen in time scene, the romantic music as the guy enters or eyes meet. That's precisely the reason I can't see HJP and SDM being end game, when the writer himself unfairly puts his bias on blast in the first 2 episodes.

You will recall there was a point Episode 2 45:36 timestamp, when she was excited to meet NDS, he actually approaches another guy. So yeah, seems she likes attractive guys LOL, can't blame her.

I think the stuff NDS does, like being 100% supportive of her, and always being on her side is what makes her heart flutter. I mean what girl doesn't want a guy who treats you like a queen?

If it's SDM and NDS endgame, there is no foreseeable realistic future where HJP is still in the picture, even as an investor. It would be too painful for him.

P.S.

100% there will be a time skip, I can already feel it. The show has to show that SDM and NDS can both succeed on their own without being together. Because remember SDM original goal is to be better than her sister, who only became successful because of her father's help.

She needs to show she can do it on her own merit as well.

People like rooting for redemption arc stories. And people have a soft spot for tough guy with a heart of gold.

People like rooting for bad boys turned good, and vilify good boys doing some bad things.

That's how the world works.

But as GOT has shown us, the good guy, the hero, is not always the hero. Good Boy, Bad Boy, it's not quite that simple, there is many grey areas, what you may consider the bad guy, may in fact actually be the good guy.

It's all perspective.

Have you never heard stories of poor mothers, who give up their daughters for adoption because they want the daughters to have a better life?

Or in Orange is the New Black show, Cindy, let's her mom pretend to be her daughter's mom?

This stuff happens, and we can't judge mom's reasoning for lying to their children. It's more real than you think.

In fact, I think this kind of story has been done in some Kdrama somewhere I am sure.

That's the thing, the new NDS doesn't have the qualities of the old NDS, SDM even says this. He is different. But different isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Still if NDS and SDM was a real relationship. I guarantee you it will not last long. I have seen too many of these real life relationship that starts with the guy on cloud 9 and just does everything the girl says, then they get married, then poof, divorce within 5 years. With kids to boot.

I am just hoping for a satisfactory ending for HJP to be honest. Same goes for WIJ and the mom even.

From what i'm seeing so far, WIJ and the mom are both set up for your standard redemption arc stories.

But, I just can't see any believable happy ending for HJP. It doesn't matter if HJP becomes the richest man in the world, or owner of Google. At this point in his life, he doesn't want nor does he need money.

What has money gotten him? A nice big empty condo with Yong Shil? Even grandma teases him about how he is still unmarried in his 30's.

The story should have been about the bond of two sisters, and how they slowly work themselves back into the strong bond we saw at the beginning. But, it feels so forced now for them to go back to that storyline.

Instead, we are given your standard Kdrama love triangle, where for the first time in a while, the second lead has a stronger more compelling storyline than the ML.

The only believable storyline I see happening is.

SDM eventually choosing NDS. NDS has opportunity to work for 2STO with Alex, so he breaks up with SDM, then there will be a time skip, and they are together in the end.

Pretty sure, last few episodes will just hastily tie up all lose end, and we see HJP reunited back with Grandma and is the one who takes care of her now that she is blind.

Is it the ending I want for HJP, absolutely not, but will it be good enough, Do I have a choice?

Just noticed a few things I wanted to share.

Difference between HJP and NDS when it comes to opportunities to tell the truth.


HJP

Ep 5 - 1:14 Mark

When SDM ask HJP why they keep helping them, pretty sure HJP was about to reveal the truth here, until NDS interrupts then. And that's probably the biggest reason HJP doesn't want to be in the same room with SDM alone, since he finds it difficult not to tell her the truth. When he is with her alone, he acts cold, and distant, as this is his defence mechanism in play.

NDS

Ep 7, 27:00 Mark

When SDM tells HJP, NDS you haven't changed since 15 years, nobody understands me than you. If that is me, i'd feel so guilty and just fess up then and there. I mean obviously he has no trouble breaking his promises and words as he broke Grandma's confidence by telling SDM. Great time tell the truth, but instead, he makes up a new lie, how he has changed in 15 years, he's not the same person, he doesn't remember what happened 15 years ago. I mean, come on, don't make the lie bigger. He doubles down on the lie.

Another interesting fact.

Grandma, NDS and SDM have all asked HJP if he is in love with SDM.

Grandma in the earlier episode.

SDM, wondering why HJP is so invested in them, ask if HJP likes her.

and NDS, when he questioned if HJP was jealous.

Can you tell me what benefit does SDM get from NDS continuing to lie, and adding new lies? So the reveal will be even more painful?

According to Start up preview, he lied because he didn't want her to cry? So that's the reason we are going with? Noble NDS lied the whole time because he didn't want SDM to cry?

By Grandma and HJP not telling SDM the truth, SDM will always have that lie to cherish, those letters, those words were a big part of her life, and helped her cope with a lot of things. Knowing that she was special to someone else out there, knowing that someone other than grandma had/has supported her, gives her to confidence.

In fact, telling SDM the truth has no net benefit to her. By telling SDM the truth, there is no benefit to SDM, no benefit to grandma, and definitely no benefit to HJP. In fact, the only benefit would be a clearer conscience I guess. But it doesn't benefit SDM, in fact it would devastate her.

It's like telling your son/daughter they are adopted. What's the benefit? What if they resent you for it?

The truth doesn't' always set you free you know..

For NDS, there is a very clear benefit to keeping up the lie. A major reason that NDS is getting close to SDM is because of those letters. SDM even admits that new NDS is kind of up and down, but there are some good moments. He just needs to keep up the charade until SDM is emotionally invested in him, that even if we tells her the truth, it won't mean the end of their relationship, and they are getting close to that point already. In fact, if timed right, when NDS tells SDM the truth, it could even be spinned that he was a victim, and he's actually the hero. So continue the lie, or tell the truth, there is benefit to NDS here.

In fact, I have no doubt HJP will end up being the bad guy here, he is already being written to be the fall guy in all of this. Which makes him one of the more tragic SL I have ever seen. And HJP is going to take full responsibility for this, he won't let Grandma get caught up in this. Just you watch. The writing is already on the wall for HJP martyrdom.

With hjp. There may not be an attraction yet. But there is definitely a curiosity.

HJP continues to lie to preserve NDS lie. He does not have the power or the right to be one to reveal the truth. In many ways he is supporting NDS lie. All his lies serve the purpose of covering up for NDS.

NDS lying now is not to cover for HJP or grandma. Nor is it because he is protecting them. He wants SDM to give him another reason for liking him other than his hands. He wants her to love him for who he is and not what she thinks he is.

That is the big difference between HJP and NDS lies.

I would say its more like three leads.

So far WIJ is barely getting screen time which is tragic. She's a fantastic actress.

The only one I don't see growing is SDM. She's getting more knowledgable about business, but her mindset is still poor.

What case is there to build?

Everyone knows endgame will be NDS and SDM. The writers bias heavily shows it. The promotional material supports it as well.

Most people have accepted that and just hopes for hjp to have a decently happy ending. Because the way it looks like, hjp is looking to have the most tragic timeline of the four main leads. He has also had the hardest life as well.

The thing is NDS is hardly the perfect guy the show and his fans make him out to be. And thats where the disagreements begin.

But you'll find few people who can't read the writing on the wall that NDS and SDM are end game.

They just don't support it. AND they don't believe it as realistic.

That would be the perfect ending. As i always felt the story of start up should have focused on the bond of the two sisters. especially after the first episode.

The actual plot is moving very slowly. In any other show that focused more on the plot than the love lines. What happens in the first 8 episodes plot wise can be finished in 2-3 episodes. But because of the whole love triangle, they are stretching it to maximum episodes.

Here is a little scenario story I would like to share with all of you:

Once upon a time, there lived a woman and a young child living in the small town of Corndogpia. One day the young child and the woman was in their room, when the child asked.

"Auntie, you mentioned that my mom was a beautiful, smart, and kind woman, but how come she never came back for me? How come she is still in the US, does she not love me? The young child asked.

The woman replied, "No child, your mother loves you very much, but she is working hard making a name for herself and will one day come back to you. In fact she has told me that she will start writing you so you will get to know her better and not feel lonely knowing your mother loves you."

The woman then proceeds to write letters to the young child. And this made the child happy, knowing out there she had a mom who loves her.

15 years later...

"Auntie, I am now an adult, and I want to go visit and look for my mom, can you tell me where she lives" The young lady asked.

"Oh, umm, sure I can, let me go get her information. I will be right back" The old woman replied.

The older lady then proceeds to leave the house and enter the bustling streets. By happenstance, she runs into a woman who could pass off as our young lady's mother.

"Excuse me, I was wondering if you could do me a huge favor. You see to make a long story short, I have been lying to my daughter for the past 15 years that her mother is in the US and is a wealthy businesswoman, because I am just a poor employee, and I was ashamed to let my daughter know that I was not successful in life. But now, she wants to meet her real mother, and I cannot bring myself to tell her the truth.

All I need for you to do is to meet my daughter, pretend to be her mother, and then tell her that you have remarried and actually have a family in the US. If you do this for me, i'll pay you 1,000,000 WON." The older lady explained.

The stranger mulled it over "Yes sure, i'll do it"

"Oh thank you very much!" the older lady exclaimed.

Little did the older lady know that the stranger had just recently lost her daughter in a tragic accident, and had been looking for someone to fill the hole in her heart.

The older lady brought the stranger back to her home.

"Look young lady, look who I just picked up from the airport, it's your mother!" The older lady said.

"Oh mom, this is my first time meeting you, but I feel because of the letters, I already know so much about you." The young lady said excitedly.

"Oh young lady, i've missed you so much, i've quit my job in the US and I plan to stay here with you forever" The stranger replied.

"Oh, are you sure, don't you have some loose ends in the US, some familial obligations?" the older lady starts saying.

"No, I have been away so long from my dear daughter, and have only kept in touch with her through letters, but now I am able to physically be here for her, because I am her mother." The stranger replied.

The older lady looks dumbfoundedly at the stranger, as a single tear streams down her cheek.

I hope everyone took the time to read till the end!

Thank you!

I didn't ignore it, I disagreed with it.

HJP and Grandma - Not manipulative

NDS - He is

This has always been my assertion from the beginning and I give concrete examples of why I think so.

Ok, if you think i'm not reading and responding properly, then I apologize as it's not my intention, I am actually genuinely looking to see what your side looks like.

Just saying none of them are wrong, and not giving an explanation detailing why you think so, seems like a weak rebuttal IMO.

And your response is:

"I don't talk to trolls"

Well yeah, how do I even begin to respond to this type of thinking...

Ok, so no logical reasonings, got it.

I respect your opinions regardless.

No I am aware, but in this case, Grandma is not being manipulative, and you'll be hard pressed to find people who agree Grandma is being manipulative, seeing how she is pure love.

Well, disagree with me ok no problem, but at least show me why?