I'm sorry about that. I'm actually so confident now that I don't even need hope anymore. I don't think it will necessarily happen until right at the end though. I want the drama to redeem itself in the last four episodes but I'm not going to set myself up for disappointment by expecting it to. I have really low expectations for the rest of the journey but high expectations for the destination.
Proof HJP is endgame- he does dangerous U turns while driving. NDS never does that (edit: and OneAjhussi has just reminded me he doesn't even have a car!). HJP must be the lead after all.
I'm pretty much writing all of my comments now with the assumption that HJP is endgame.
I strongly suspect that at first SDM will go to NDS. I don't know if that means they'll get engaged or what but I think that's what will happen. Then for some reason she will end up going to HJP. Again, I can't guess the details but the amount of times she has said she never regrets her choice has made me think that the writer is setting her up to regret her choice.
I don't actually love the idea of her choosing NDS then changing her mind because as fed up as I am with NDS, it wouldn't reflect well on SDM. The reason I think it will happen is because it's in keeping with a very convincing fan theory that at some point SDM will walk out of HJP's life before eventually coming back to him. I'm hoping if this theory pans out it will happen some other way.
I'm still a little concerned that the writer will cheapen Miji by making it a non-choice as in she doesn't have the option to be with NDS so she goes to HJP. Not sure why this would happen though so I'm not too worried.
I'm assuming that their relationship will have progressed over the time jump but I doubt we'll see any romance between them until after she and NDS part ways. I'm hoping we'll get some hints that her feelings are changing for HJP because otherwise her change of heart will feel too sudden. There should be some build up even if it's subtle. In fact, if she initially chooses NDS then her feelings would need to be subtle because otherwise she would just choose HJP.
Here's my most wishfully thinking hope. From episode 13 onwards, HJP will be more like the first lead and NDS more like the second lead in terms of screen time.
On the whole, this week's episode is going to be the turning point and the deciding factor for the drama!Let's…
I wouldn't bet on this week's episode being a turning point. Many dramas get to a point where everything starts happening really slowly because they have to extend it to last 16 episodes. That's why I've decided to watch the last four episodes on the 6th. I'd rather be able to get through all the painfully slow scenes with her and NDS in one sitting. Like ripping off a band-aid.
And of course the HJP matter, which was not omitted here at all. His meaning is not his love for Dal Mi, but the…
I’m not saying this to be mean but I seriously think you need to brace yourself if you’re rooting for Dodal. I think there is much more convincing symbolism for SDM and HJP. I’ve compiled a list of the ones I’m aware of. None of these were noticed by me, I’m just recalling the ones I’ve come across.
Rain, thunder and lightning. Every time something happens that brings them closer together there’s a rainstorm. It’s said that moving on a rainy day brings good luck in Korea. It happens when HJP finds Grandma, when HJP becomes SST’s mentor, when SDM finds HJP at the old place where they left the letters and most recently when she and NDS broke up.
The two scenes with the ‘scammer’ when they’re drinking. The woman appears in black to SDM and in red to HJP. Black symbolises wisdom and red symbolises motherhood (I’m trying to remember this off the top of my head because I can no longer access this source so I may be a bit off with the details). She tells HJP to trust his ancestors. She also doesn’t know who NDS is when he approaches her and yet she’s very interested in SDM and HJP. It’s been theorised that she’s something like the embodiment of fate.
Let’s also not forget Young-Sil telling HJP his fortune at the beginning. The theory is that the wind of fate (or was it destiny? Again, hazy on the details) just took a detour when it blew the petal to NDS because the original prediction was about HJP.
This link has been posted a couple of times already but it has more examples of symbolism for Miji.
Another thing is that the same person who came up with the fate and destiny theories about SDM and HJP also realised that only those two have love themes. There isn’t one for NDS. I don’t know if that’s still the case but it was the last time I was able to access her twitter thread. She’s since locked it and I didn’t have a twitter account so I wasn’t following her meaning I’m unable to read her theories anymore.
As long as the story is consistent and entertaining... So far there is no reason for Dal Mi to end up with HJP.…
Actually on second thoughts I partly agree with you. I don’t think the romance has been built up enough yet to justify her changing her mind. Maybe it will be built up more in the next four episodes. However, while the romance itself is yet to be built, the foundation has certainly been laid. Not just with the backstory but with the mentorship that HJP has given her. I’m also basing my guess on the symbolism and foreshadowing that has been pointed out in various fan theories. I believe I can see the writer’s intention, the only question is how well will she execute it?
I don’t think it’s problematic for a Miji endgame that SDM doesn’t have strong feelings for him yet but I do think we need to see her falling for him in the next four episodes. Otherwise it will come too out of the blue in terms of SDM’s character development. That being said, in every other way I don’t think it will be out of the blue. I’m referring to the overall plot, rather than the character development. I won’t try to convince you, mostly because I would have to dig up all the fan theories I’ve read and all the analyses that I’ve made myself over the last few weeks, but for me it’s all fallen into place and I’m confident I know where this is going.
If I could, I would give you the link to the theory that I believe has guessed the overarching plot but it’s from a twitter account that has been locked so I can’t unfortunately.
As long as the story is consistent and entertaining... So far there is no reason for Dal Mi to end up with HJP.…
I disagree that it would be inconsistent with the story for her to end up with HJP but let's not argue about it. I doubt either of us will convince the other.
He's very necessary. He was needed to stop HJP and SDM from getting together too soon. There are two possible stories.
1. A story about two young people falling in love while on their shared journey through the business world.
2. A story about a man yearning for the woman he loves and eventually getting her after a prolonged period of time.
If it's the first one then HJP is totally unnecessary. Why come up with such a bizarre way for them to meet and get together? And why spend so much time building it up (an entire episode)? The two of them could've just met at Sandbox.
If it's the second one then NDS is totally necessary because there needs to be a reason for HJP to be yearning for a big chunk of the story instead of pursuing. Even now that HJP has told SDM how he feels, NDS continues to serve his purpose because SDM has feelings for him that can continue to come between her and HJP for as long as the writer wants.
Really??I still have that 1% hope and it's decreasing..
Well I'm expecting the love triangle to continue for a while. It's clear from the preview that she's been pining after NDS. When you stack that up against all the clues we've been getting for Miji endgame I don't think it's enough to tip the scales.
Miji is all but confirmed. My concern at this point is that Dodal fans will try to undermine the ending by saying that the writer changed it because of the response to HJP. I do feel bad for Dodal fans, although not the ones who were rubbing it in our faces when we were all sure it would be NDS, but honestly it's been set up from the start to be HJP. We just didn't see it or we dismissed it at first because we've been so programmed by other Kdramas to expect the male lead to end up with the girl. I may be speaking too soon but I wanted to say that in advance.
Not sure if you have read it, but this redditor had a great analysis on HJP-SDM endgame: https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/jyqbvs/comment/gdf5kub
It's gotten obvious the there will be much more drama. Maybe even another fist fight.The fact that the time skip…
I don't know if she meant to make him unlikeable but I'm sure she knew she wasn't putting as much care into his character. People here keep saying she hates HJP and is biased towards NDS but I really don't know why anyone would think that. In terms of character arc and storyline she's always put HJP first, often at NDS' expense. The revenge storyline wasn't her trying to make HJP the bad guy, it was her trying to make him even more sympathetic. She threw it in to rock his confidence. Showing him beating himself up over it proves that he does have a conscience and isn't trying to hurt anyone. She also gave him a nice scene with SDM to make the point that he has to tell the truth or he wouldn't be doing his job. That's just one example of how the writer is clearly on HJP's side. There are plenty more.
Okay, I do think HJP is endgame but I also think the pain is far from over. I'd love for it happen in episode 14 or 15 but my sneaking suspicion is that it won't happen until the end which means this love triangle will continue to be painfully drawn out. The writer will also probably have written it to make it seem like it'll be NDS but she's already set things up for the twist so don't be deterred by that.
I strongly suspect that at first SDM will go to NDS. I don't know if that means they'll get engaged or what but I think that's what will happen. Then for some reason she will end up going to HJP. Again, I can't guess the details but the amount of times she has said she never regrets her choice has made me think that the writer is setting her up to regret her choice.
I don't actually love the idea of her choosing NDS then changing her mind because as fed up as I am with NDS, it wouldn't reflect well on SDM. The reason I think it will happen is because it's in keeping with a very convincing fan theory that at some point SDM will walk out of HJP's life before eventually coming back to him. I'm hoping if this theory pans out it will happen some other way.
I'm still a little concerned that the writer will cheapen Miji by making it a non-choice as in she doesn't have the option to be with NDS so she goes to HJP. Not sure why this would happen though so I'm not too worried.
I'm assuming that their relationship will have progressed over the time jump but I doubt we'll see any romance between them until after she and NDS part ways. I'm hoping we'll get some hints that her feelings are changing for HJP because otherwise her change of heart will feel too sudden. There should be some build up even if it's subtle. In fact, if she initially chooses NDS then her feelings would need to be subtle because otherwise she would just choose HJP.
Here's my most wishfully thinking hope. From episode 13 onwards, HJP will be more like the first lead and NDS more like the second lead in terms of screen time.
Rain, thunder and lightning. Every time something happens that brings them closer together there’s a rainstorm. It’s said that moving on a rainy day brings good luck in Korea. It happens when HJP finds Grandma, when HJP becomes SST’s mentor, when SDM finds HJP at the old place where they left the letters and most recently when she and NDS broke up.
The two scenes with the ‘scammer’ when they’re drinking. The woman appears in black to SDM and in red to HJP. Black symbolises wisdom and red symbolises motherhood (I’m trying to remember this off the top of my head because I can no longer access this source so I may be a bit off with the details). She tells HJP to trust his ancestors. She also doesn’t know who NDS is when he approaches her and yet she’s very interested in SDM and HJP. It’s been theorised that she’s something like the embodiment of fate.
Let’s also not forget Young-Sil telling HJP his fortune at the beginning. The theory is that the wind of fate (or was it destiny? Again, hazy on the details) just took a detour when it blew the petal to NDS because the original prediction was about HJP.
This link has been posted a couple of times already but it has more examples of symbolism for Miji.
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/jyqbvs/startup_episode_12/gdf5kub/
Another thing is that the same person who came up with the fate and destiny theories about SDM and HJP also realised that only those two have love themes. There isn’t one for NDS. I don’t know if that’s still the case but it was the last time I was able to access her twitter thread. She’s since locked it and I didn’t have a twitter account so I wasn’t following her meaning I’m unable to read her theories anymore.
I don’t think it’s problematic for a Miji endgame that SDM doesn’t have strong feelings for him yet but I do think we need to see her falling for him in the next four episodes. Otherwise it will come too out of the blue in terms of SDM’s character development. That being said, in every other way I don’t think it will be out of the blue. I’m referring to the overall plot, rather than the character development. I won’t try to convince you, mostly because I would have to dig up all the fan theories I’ve read and all the analyses that I’ve made myself over the last few weeks, but for me it’s all fallen into place and I’m confident I know where this is going.
If I could, I would give you the link to the theory that I believe has guessed the overarching plot but it’s from a twitter account that has been locked so I can’t unfortunately.
1. A story about two young people falling in love while on their shared journey through the business world.
2. A story about a man yearning for the woman he loves and eventually getting her after a prolonged period of time.
If it's the first one then HJP is totally unnecessary. Why come up with such a bizarre way for them to meet and get together? And why spend so much time building it up (an entire episode)? The two of them could've just met at Sandbox.
If it's the second one then NDS is totally necessary because there needs to be a reason for HJP to be yearning for a big chunk of the story instead of pursuing. Even now that HJP has told SDM how he feels, NDS continues to serve his purpose because SDM has feelings for him that can continue to come between her and HJP for as long as the writer wants.
ItsV sent me the link below to the latest theory. The first point in particular (the noodles) is very telling in my opinion.
https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/comments/jyqbvs/startup_episode_12/gdf5kub/