Purple Orchids

What's most disturbing to me is that the SL is being punished for the honesty of his words while the ML is being rewarded for the toxicity of his actions.

Yeah he's a manipulator with anger management issues. And I think it's so wrong for him to be the one telling Jipyeong about Grandma's eyes. He had no business telling Jipyeong and Grandma had asked him to please keep it a secret. I was appalled that this was how the writers made Jipyeong find out.

Same, I've been waiting to have these issues addressed. I'm most bothered by the Dalmi and Grandma confrontation that never came. She didn't even want to ask why? And she doesn't want to know how grandma knows Jipyeong? It feels like all these are swept under the rug for the Dalmi and Dosan romance.

Dosan has anger management issues on top of all his other issues

I'm still watching because of KSH. The only highlight of this drama is I got to discover KSH. Jipyeong's crying got me emotional and Dosan's crying made me roll my eyes.

Everybody Lies
Deceptions of an Opportunist
Dalmi and the Catfish
Everybody against Jipyeong
Sam San Fools
End Up
The Dumb Sans

Why did they name it Start-Up?

That I totally agree. But when did I or anyone else criticize the actors on MDL? You said everyone and y'all. So far, I've only seen criticism for the characters and drama. That has nothing to do with the actors. That's on the writer. In fact, I see a lot of I love ____ but I hate his character. People know the distinction and just because someone likes an actor doesn't mean they have to ignore how poorly written the drama and the character is.

Nope, I'm criticizing the drama for being poorly written with little character development. I'm surprised that a drama called STARTUP is actually about a bunch of lies and a love triangle. I'm baffled by how many unlikeable characters are all congregating in one kdrama. I feel sad for Kang Han-Na who is casted as a female lead but has less airtime than Yongsan and her character is given very little existence and thought. I'm surprised that instead of female empowerment, I see that both female leads are given bread crumbs. The idea that the drama is normalizing and romanticizing toxic relationships and behaviors is disturbing. And how irresponsible they are to throw around such a sensitive topic like suicide. Oh yeah, did I mention how little business is actually discussed in this drama? So no, I didn't come to watch a drama called STARTUP for the male leads and romance. But it's just what drama decided to be instead.

I'm currently watching Search WWW and honestly, Startup is laughable in comparison. Search WWW is so much better. After the first episode, I thought Startup would be a bit like Itaewon Class since it's the same kind father who passes away in a car accident. I was so sad seeing Dalmi's father on that bus heading to the last station (death) so I was invested in her success initially. But no, the drama turned ridiculous and includes a lot of ridiculous characters and a ridiculous love triangle. Startup had so much potential but it has been completely wasted.

Loved it! Nice analogy!

I agree. Very nicely said. There are just so many things wrong with this drama on so many levels that it's frustrating and baffling. There are just so many wrong messages in this drama.

HJP asked legitimate questions and as CEO, Yongsan's brother should've been prepared to answer. This is the real world and this is the business world, no one is going to handle anyone with kiddie gloves. If Yongsan's brother couldn't handle it, then this is not a good fit for him and he should've pursued something else. If the writer wants to throw around a big name like Steve Jobs, she should've learned more about what he was like. HJP isn't even harsh in comparison. And I'm very bothered by the way this drama is handling the suicide topic. It is a sensitive topic that should've been handled more carefully.

Yes, totally! And this part is so ridiculous "Seo Dal Mi dreams of becoming Korea’s Steve Jobs". Does the writer not know anything about Steve Jobs and just wanted a big name to throw around? Steve Jobs be wheezing in his grave. The business aspect of this drama is really laughable. Sandbox sounds more like a school campus and Jipyeong is one of their professors than anything startup. The only thing Dalmi has in common with Steve Jobs is dropping out of college for financial reasons. But Steve Jobs may have dropped out of college but he also dropped in on the classes he wanted to take. And what he learned did ultimately help Apple. But Dalmi just dropped out completely. She didn't do anything all those years until she met Injae again and felt the need to lie and then need to find Dosan to help her keep up her lie. The character most like Steve Jobs in this drama is actually Jipyeong.

I don't know if I even want a Miji endgame anymore. Jipyeong deserves so much better. I never really liked Dalmi much as a character. She was okay and I was rooting for her because of her dad. She doesn't make a good CEO and her behavior in the recent episodes is just weird. The writer didn't just squish Dalmi's shoe into cow poo, she rolled the script around in cow poo as well. What did I just watch... ?

I don't want to see HJP save these ungrateful selfish unprofessional ridiculous brats from themselves. Failing is a method of learning. Let them fail. Let them learn to be accountable for their actions.

Don't know about S. Korea but a way to try and void this contract is to have them claim as the incompetent party to this contact. If a party does not comprehend the nature and consequences of the contract when it is formed, they are regarded as having mental incapacity. And seriously, they both lack mental capacity and I'm saying it in the nicest way possible. And there is enough evidence in the past 8 episodes to help them both prove their case. Insane morons...

Lack of chemistry doesn't bother me as much as the toxic and unhealthy relationship they have. It's unbalanced and clearly lacking healthy boundaries. They are essentially stunting each other's growth as people and their relationship is built on weak foundation. The stalking and making Dalmi his dream is already bad enough, but he also tries to fight her battles for her. They don't share the same values and Dosan sometimes just doesn't get Dalmi. I also don't agree on the love part. What Dosan has is infatuation, not love.

I agree. The relationship between Dosan and Dalmi is rather unbalanced. Not to mention, unhealthy and clearly lacking boundaries. He keeps fighting her battles for her such as smashing the stepfather's name plate and fighting Injae. His approach is already wrong and not to mention these are Dalmi's battles and her opportunity to grow as a person. He is interfering in things that are not his business and he's not doing it in the correct way. Then there is the whole stalking thing and making her his dream part. People keep saying they share the same dream. No, they do not. Dalmi's dream is to succeed and Dosan's dream is Dalmi. Not the same dream and Dosan's dream is kind of disturbing. They don't share the same values either. I disagree that Dosan fell in love with her at first sight. That's infatuation, not love. Infatuation is the attraction and connection you feel when you first meet someone and love is knowing the good and bad of someone and still loving them all the same. Infatuation is the quick fireworks that dissipates and love is the slow burning campfire that keeps on going.

I like Jipyeong and Dalmi's dynamic more. He guides her and is honest with her. She learns from him and then goes to fight her own battles, as she should. He will be there to protect her but he won't stunt her growth as a person. In turn, she helps him on the emotional front. I like that when she first brought him the incombustible bag and he initially declined it, she actually fought him to accept it. He then learns to also accept the food she gives him. They fight each other for each other's own good. That's more real than some guy agreeing to anything and everything you say. What they have is more balanced.

Very true. Probably why many are still watching the drama to find out what happens to HJP. I know I am.

I might add about the 4 attachment styles I mentioned. Anxious-preoccupied attachment style can also apply to Dosan, which also explains a lot of his behaviors. Including the stalking and the making his dream "a person". It's toxic and unhealthy and one of the things I really don't like about this drama and all the wrong messages it's sending.

Regarding Oedipus Complex, I can sort of see it but maybe it's hard for me since the age range for Oedipus Complex supposedly is around 3-6 of age. And I can't see the similarities between Dosan's mom and Dalmi. And probably because Sigmund Freud literally sexualized everything. I mean, he went on with castration anxiety and penis envy.

This is probably why I've been avoiding the Reply series as I don't want to torture myself lol. I did not expect Startup to have a triangle so I basically walked into a trap and suffered intense SLS. I don't want to get my hopes up but I just find it interesting if this is the writer and director's intentions. If it's not, at least I want to see HJP have a good ending. I hope the writer will not disappoint.