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Hi, I posted earlier that I really relate to what you wrote, and mainly so because I saw the show in a similar light, to what you discussed here, however I'd like to say a few things:
1. Dalmi couldn't have gone to Silicon Valley, following Dosan, despite having a passport. How would she? With her lack of educational background, she wouldn't find a job, and thus no work permit. She wouldn't be a stay-at home wife for him, would she? It makes sense she stays back in Korea, chin up, and start over again!

2. Regarding Dalmi being 'strange', I found it weirder how her 'motivations' for having her own start-up was as petty as making herself 'look good' to her sister, proving she isn't any less than her already established sister. How she recognised Dosan as somebody 'having his own start-up' and wanting to mooch off of him (though in reality he didn't have much to begin with), before proving to herself or to world, that she could really do it. Yes, I agree with you, she is incredibly lucky. Contrast that to her dad's motivation, who truly wanted to *have something for himself, and not be some boss's employee*

3. The show leaves us with questionable lessons, agreed hands down!

4. The more I watched the show, the more I realized how the writing revolved around establishing Dosan as the actual protagonist (forget JP, even Dalmi wasn't the 'heroine' in this one!).. Dalmi is written entirely as somebody who 'recognises his potential, talent and worth', which the world refused to acknowledge, her existence being a constant reassurance to his self worth, as a pedestal where he can shine confidently in front of the world, despite having very 'shaky legs', his 'motivation, his dreams, his muse, his validation', the one who was going to propel him to success. And the only way I can be sure of this, is how her character growth took a backseat only to be reduced to 'Dosan's girlfriend/ wife/ partner'...like she had no greater story to tell. I agree, she ended up with Dosan, because he needs her to heal him, constantly. Whereas Ji Pyeong doesn't have that debilitating *need* to have someone by his side...

5. They were looking for investments for NoonGil. Alex offered them 3million USD, effectively 'absorbing' SST into 2STO, which is a tech-company. And yet NONE of them figured out his true motivations was an acquisition, and talent-poaching of developers. How could they not know, the name, team and everything of SST was going to be dissolved? I know Start-up owners are fiercely protective of their sovereignty and independence. And yet these guys couldn't care two-pence about it. I guess that's what happens when you're too busy with love-matters, brainstorming over ideas pulling all-nighters without adequately reading contracts, and finally having 'revenge, hatred and jealousy' cloud your judgements. I facepalmed so HARD. But it was satisfying to watch these idiots crash-and-burn; they had it coming!

6. I have zero patience for characters who resort to violence to make a point, and despite largely feeling sorry for the poor, lost soul, the worldly-innocent Dosan.... the first punch to JP in i guess the 11th episode....just made me stop rooting for this character. The writer could have 'made him snap' the 'good way'....but chose this instead... :/

7. The fact that Dosan's psychological issues aren't resolved, also makes me theorise how miserable Dalmi would be at some point. Because she could go to the ends of the galaxy, and *yet* Dosan would feel undeserving of her love. But this is head-canon!

8. I hoped it wouldn't get derailed this way. This story had too much potential, and the world-building was beautiful, and so was the OST. I truly wish this wasn't a romance masquerading as an 'underdog' story. Infact, I stopped seeing them as 'underdogs' at a certain point, because their achievements relied a lot on external factors (on not their sheer talent and hard-work alone) which they haughtily refused to acknowledge. At some point, I didn't even want to cheer for them anymore. And that's such a shame with what this story was actually deserving of.

Imposter Syndrome, is it?

I think there is a medical/ psychiatric term for what Dosan suffers from...?

I LOVED your analysis, and your character/ writing dissection!.... I saw the characters in a similar light, and am majorly conflicted how to rate this show, because I *wanted* to love it...really, I did... but the direction the show went after a certain point made it difficult to root for the people, the writer was trying to get us to cheer for!~

It doesn't take an it developer to be offended with some of the brainless stuff the writer wrote.
Also, since I semi-figured it out, hey! Maybe I should go open my own-start-up? xD xD

More like stolen his *innocence*.....poor guy! xD xD

The alley looks similar and so does the entryway...But I think they changed the interiors lol! :P

I thought the house is very much like KSH's house in You Drive Me Crazy....also another 'rich artist dude' not living in a penthouse, but a traditional Korean house he inherited from his parents ^^

Aha, this is one of the *best* news so far!.. Thank you soo much! ^^ Super excited how this will pan out! :D

I got the same feeling too!... I thought it was going to be a pretty integral part of the story, but sadly they sidelined it, it seems. The amateur photographer/ architect in me is disappointed! T_T

WHEN WILL KJW steal JCW's camera? Did they drop this idea?? :O :O

Agreed, the original has a retro vibe to it (the instrumentation). Plus I too prefer yoona and KSH's vocal quality :3
Is there anything this man can't do? :P

Okay, I see your point....but there is no way Dispatch clicked SYJ in a tiny skirt, few days back (in December) and decided to leak it only now? :O I'd say the photos were taken in slightly warmer months, and maybe there could have been negotiation?! There could always be a first...we never know!
They are super rich after all (both SYJ and HB).... :D

I heard 'perhaps love' as a part of the Goong OST, and it brings back childhood memories!! Seeing KSH sing it, I am weeping happy tears! T_T

How do you know, their respective agencies didn't negotiate with Dispatch? For all we know, Dispatch could have 'confirmed' news of the couple way back in May-June, but were paid off to keep the release of the news, to when they were actually sure...which is New Year.
They could have coordinated/ negotiated the release for now, because they are sure *now*....? :D
Anyhow, there are endless possibilities. It's always too early for some people... for either your parents, or your relatives, or your friends, or in this case: the public. But when you 'know', you know!
Let's just send good wishes across, and pray that they continue to grow and blossom in each other's companies, and leave apprehensions and worries behind! <3
Amen.

maybe instead of BnW, desaturated perhaps? :D

aha, okay...chemistry, but not the romantic-kind....then we're talking of the same thing! ^^ could you hit me up with the pakistani-drama name? I have a feeling I know which one you're talkin' about! :P

uhh, but I think the point of the webtoon in the early stages *was* the ambiguity of the relationship between the Magician & Ah-yee...So having terrible chemistry between the two would kill that 'will they, won't they' vibe.... honestly, there was quite a lot of 'charged tension' between the two, and that is considering Ah-yee is written as a reticent character.
Well, about the whole 'ahjussi' logic.... well, goblin circumvented it. I am not saying it needs to go down the goblin-route, though. I would hate it, if it does. But that said, there needs to be a whole lot of chemistry between the two!

Maybe, they are borrowing them 'peaches of immortality' from baby-faced Luhan! <3 How is Luhan 30? :P

'members like minseok, d.o and baekhyun who refuse to age'....
*cackling*