Chibi

I see you have a way with words. Would you mind writing a tiny FF for us? :)

Hmm, Dosan's character regression here, is worse than JCW's Ta-Hwan in Empress Ki.
And that's a pretty big task to achieve, considering you can't murder a human (the SML) in 2020. xD
Should this be under a spoiler tag? :O

Worst investment ever, time and effort wise :/
On the other hand, could you recommend some sane Fanfiction on this, diverging from ep 4 onwards? I really need to get over my disappointment :D
And while we're at it. could we fix the tags on this drama? Dal-mi isn't exactly a 'nice' FL, and also add 'problematic ML', 'psychiatric disorder'? Thank heavens, there isn't an 'underdog' tag to this :)

Practically-orphaned high-school girl jaded about the hardships of life, finds companionship in a Magician, who claims to be 'real'. She can't quite figure him out, if he's joking or serious, but eventually forms a solid bond with him, learning magic tricks, despite having lost faith in magic over the years. Her only 'friend' back at school is a boy, under immense pressure to perform academically well, from his wealthy parents, and succumbs to forming a relationship with the Magician, eventually ( despite initially being jealous of him, and the relationship the Magician shares with our FL).
As the trio move forward, and the story reveals interesting parallel between the students and the Magician, they finally end up discovering the truth behind him. The Magician ends up guiding them towards a life, where they are both inspired to 'stop by, and smell the flowers' occasionally! :)
The artwork is quite stunning, and full of metaphors, including colour-usage, character and background styling! It's only 27 episodes/ chapters long...you can give it a try! ^^

Well, if it's Netflix, then you can expect them to drop season 1, 2 & 3, each containing TWO episodes, releasing 1 season every year xD

His shaggy hair, the torn-flannel shirts, him knitting scrubbies....I have a niggling feeling his haircut at the end of ep2 was his undoing...
Infact, after the time-skip, it would have been more believable to see Dosan as a frustrated 'cog-in-the-wheel' employee, intoxicated out of his mind in SF, because he traded in his dream (having his name on the door- SST) after his judgement got clouded by money-lust and jealousy! -_-
I am enraged, how them being 'entrepreneurs' did not think of an exit strategy from 2Sto, after landing up in Silicon Valley. Why was there no active talks of restarting SST, after a 3-year hiatus? They seem to have spent those years being nerfed to the max.
A show named 'start-up' but majority of the its last quarter is spent on a time-skip and a wardrobe upgrade :/

I like your train of thought: 'Dosan became his own meme'.... and the writer made him that. I want to pitchfork-her so bad! Dosan didn't deserve that.
He had a debilitating disorder that prevented him from going about and achieving things he had the potential for, needing reassurance and validation at every step. That's already a solid foundation to build plot and character growth upon. Luckily, the writer had HJP to avoid stereotyping the generation as a whole, but the whole purpose of HJP as a character became cheapened to the max, to fuel a tired love-triangle! (ew)
I might have sighed so loudly, the neighbors probably heard :/

Hahaha!. You said it...
I had no idea on his background!....wow, now I have even more respect for this guy! He definitely polished up so well :)
I LOVED him in ydmc, and he couldn't be further from the truth about the relatable guy bit (to put it mildly, the story resonated with me because it is autobiographical to me, upto ep3) ! Start-up was my biggest conflict, but only upto ep 4, because let's say I know a scruffy programmer/ developer myself.... but the dimples and the forehead sealed the deal....jk! :P
Yeah, I think you pretty much guessed what they were trying to imply in ydmc. I mean it's either that, or a two-digit number that's also a position. And they likely fell asleep midway.. xD xD
About the two paths you mentioned, absolutely I can see him as both. The way its going, potentially a hallyu-heartthrob, unless he intentionally pushes on the breaks now! :/ He could end up with multiple awards too, but I think a good indication would be his cross-platform award ceremony performance (aka, if the dramaland has begun to take notice of KSH or not)
Usually with romances, you begin to be known as 'the guy who romanced X in this'; 'who played opposite to Y in that' eventually till you can lead a project of your own. Sadly, its the rite of passage, and I don't see him as someone insecure who'd have a problem being known as 'ABC's leading man'...
Luckily, k-dramas have begun recycling pairings (look at NJH with his 3rd project with HJM) :P While that leaves very little space for newbies to filter through, that blesses us fans who want to watch a pairing in a new project again. And besides, loosening the water-tight circle of a-list drama cast just makes way for more inexperienced talent to end up in stardom much before they actually deserve it. It also means only the really deserving ones can wiggle their way in. There are exceptions, and I can only hope KSH isn't one :D

Yep, they got it express-delivered by the truckload from the Jurassic ages....the writing-fails eventually got exponentially bad.

As k-dramaland continues to gift us characters...err MAIN LEADS in 2020, dealing with genuine psychological disorders than come as a part of belonging to a highly competitive society, I think Dosan's disorder had not been touched upon before in k-dramas, and continues to be highly prevalent among Gen X and Milennials (people belonging to similar age range as Dosan). Thus, his story had so much potential, where he could have blossomed, been nurtured and could have truly come out of his shell...... but the writers just decided to make him rich and gift him a Benz, after the time-skip, and basically forgetting to deal with his 'issues' that kept surfacing only to create conflict, induce tears and build tension; but not resolved ultimately that could have positively contributed to his character growth.
Money, swanky cars, job security, and a river-facing apartment etc. wasn't even his problem to begin with. The writers showered materialistic things over him, without giving him what his character *really* needed. Such a shame. :(

As I read the second paragraph, ngl, I teared up a bit... the potential of this show esp in the first 4 episodes was mind-blowing. I got what all the buzz was about..!
The writers just took a hot, steaming pile of dinosaur-poop, on the plot.
You can fight me, but HJP x Halmeoni wasn't even realized to its full potential. All characters, including Dosan, deserve a do-over!
:/ :/

There were *SO* many moments, where Dosan could have 'snapped for the better', but nope! The writer should have tried harder to redeem his character, if she was trying to get us to root for him.
Like in what world of k-dramas, does the ML start off as 'adorably derpy' and end up borderline hateful... I'm not even touching upon if he's a secret genius versus an actual jerk -_-
I discovered the phrase in literature/media called 'character regression' thanks to Dosan, and I'm sure that's not a thing for any writer to be proud about! :(

Look at us, having shamelessly converted this to KSH's simping-session! ^^
Anyhow, while I hope he doesn't pick up a conventional chaebol role (rich guy with the only thing going on for him, is that he's rich)..meh!.. But he has that energy, where he exudes that 'million'-bucks' aura! :3 Also, rich doesn't always have to be chaebol, he could always be a self-made man, just like in start-up! :)
No, 'doing it' is implied almost in every k-drama. While most ladies wake up prettily in the arms of her ML, what was implied with the 'position' they woke up in YDMC, indicated it was a wild, *wild* ride.... and that's when I lost those brain-cells!
I agree with the Ji Sung vibes, he definitely has those: from boyishly cute to absolute alpha-male! His forehead is a work-of-art, and I wish it costars with him on his next projects :P Definitely excited to see him as a chef and as a construction worker, he'd be amazing! *__*
About younger female stars, give them a good 5-7 years more in the industry, I think a LOT of them have the potential to be the next SYJ/HJM/GHJ... :)

Absolutely, I love watching PMY too, and I think it helps that none of her projects ever bomb! I don't think she has anything to lose collaborating with KSH, because he is a solid actor imo. Speaking of the legendary wwwsk scene, I lost a few braincells at YDMC for what was implied, and although the former is tame by western standards, I don't think I can handle KSH at that level, but heaven knows, I have a good feeling he has a potential for that too! ^^

Do you think mega-star actresses should stop collaborating with younger actors trying to ride off their coat-tails? I am conflicted about it. But I think ultimately their decision should be based on the strength of the script and not necessarily the inexperience/ youth of the costar!

His career trajectory is indeed interesting. He stands at that defining crossroads, that will decide where he lands up in the next 2-3 years. And if he doesn't cash in on it now, it'll be such a waste of his talents, skills, visuals and potential! I admit, some people shine later in their lives, and our Good Boy seems to be at that point! :D

Speaking of costars, SYJ is definitely great, but also a tad younger? I want to see him next to HHJ, SHK, SHS, or SHJ; their age and looks would really complement him!!

KSH is also super lucky, because dressed down, he can play the boy-next door, the goofy or the chill guy. And when suited up, he can pass off for a chaebol (the rangeeeeee!!!~) Infact, at 37+. I don't think ldw, hb or kjw can play the chill guy, but 3 years later KSH still can! :3
Hands down, his forehead needs to appear more. NGL, once 'scruffy, knitting' Dosan disappeared in ep 2, HJP's dimples had me powering through the remaining first half, and his forehead, in the second half.

YDMC was so SO good!!.. K-dramas that pick up concepts from other countries, and add their touch and soul to it, are a standout, as opposed to blatant remakes, and ydmc is one that had so much heart & soul!... <3 I liked his costar there too, she has very pretty eyes and looked amazing next to him! *__*

Absolutely, that's the reason I picked PMY, because she is 'chemistry-queen', who has slightly better chemistry with co-stars who aren't younger than her. (thus KSH fits the bill). She'll come with a solid fan-base, which means more exposure. She also always has the steamiest on-screen kisses, which means again, viral yt videos reaching millions, and more exposure for our Good Boy.
That's why I believe he has to aim for mega-popular actors. Also, normally actors start out with younger, slightly inexperienced actresses (except for JHI lol)...then climb up the ladder to star with GHJ, HJM, SYJ, JJH or JY. (could be movies too!) They are right on top, and I think KSH is on that track already to star with them in 2023, if not 2022.... which puts him in an age-range (37) of what KJW, LDW, HB, etc are now.....and we can get a good idea from the kind of roles they have picked in 2020, to see what his choices will be like, then!
A project with KJW already elevates his position in the industry. SMA's project is the next step, and hoping for a PMY-costarred project in 2022 for him!! I would have even said his agency-mate PSH, but after a project with Suzy, maybe not!
Speaking of PMY, you're right, acting-wise she is yet to blow us away, but I don't think a rom-com genre can give us that. She NEVER has a bad/ugly angle, and thus I see her as a tad-camera conscious. Nonetheless, she comes with all the above I mentioned, which can be GREAT for KSH's career :D
Oh, and like you said, the outfits! <3 We have seen the potential KSH has with a wardrobe upgrade, already in start-up! ^^

I would die to see PMY opposite KSH.... they are the same age and would have killer chemistry. And I hope, its a fun-flirty dynamic like Her Private Life! :3 Nobody thought KJW could do rom-com and he blew everybody's socks off!... :D

HJP deserves *so* much better! T_T

Agreed, show has a really questionable message.
Not to mention, questionable motivations like 'I want to prove to my sister I am just as good as her'..... proceeds to quit job without a plan, and decides to 'open a start-up' with the first guy she sees.
Lady, your dad in heaven must be so disappointed in you. :/

The way I see it, he needs to be paired opposite really successful female Hallyu co-stars (of similar or older age-range) to shoot him to fame. He has upcoming projects with SMA (dimpled queen) and KJW (his fellow-mate from salt)... if those perform well in 2021, in 2022 he needs only *one* script with a mega star, like SYJ, PMY, or JJH.... and that should effectively solidify his position in the industry, to the point where he can be choosy with not just scripts, but do limited projects a year, and perhaps also make a comeback to variety and do theatre parallely! :D
But that's all good conjecture. Hope Salt secures good projects for him in the future :D