kdramafan

Agreed. There are some contradictory scenes with this ‘sailing off without a map’ line. So I am also not sure if DalMi finds it endearing or not. What is the writer trying to tell us? Sail with or without a map.

Personally, you need a bit of both based on cost/benefits. Anyway, let’s see!

Haha. I know!

If I remove my kdrama hat, it is all a bit ridiculous. Who obsesses like this for years on end for a short relationship based on mostly lies? Almost no one.

But this kdramaland and so I have to just accept that as a possibility (even if it doesn’t make sense in reality).

For me, there is an obvious choice but the writer has been giving both possibilities weight so far.

So I still feel like anything can happen.

It is absolutely not because of my love for HJP. As I said in the beginning, it doesn't really matter if HJP doesn't end up with DalMi so long as there is some semblance of happiness for all the characters and that includes NDS.

I think I am not able to get through the point I am trying to make which is that the writer is giving hints both ways. I explained both sets of hints -- the ones that point to DalMi liking DoSan and the ones that point to DalMi not refusing HJP just yet and still being close to him.

I can see that the writer is giving hints both ways. I am not sure that you see it as well.

By the way, I actually expect DalMi to choose DoSan but I also know that the story is not over yet and I can see the other side too. So I won't be surprised if the story goes either way.

Anyway, all good. Just wanted to share my thoughts. I am happy that it is clear for you!

That is a question for the writer :) Haha.

I mean clearly they showed that she has lingering feelings. She was staring at Chul-San's vlog looking sad. She went running looking for him when she thought she saw him. She was upset that she looked "disheveled" when he showed up to help them.

Now whether that is just lingering feelings due to lack of proper closure or if it is love, lord knows.

I say the jury is still out.

I am not ignoring what DalMi feels. The first part of my response was about DalMi feelings, not about HJP.

My point was that the show has not shown how DalMi feels just yet. The jury is still out. They haven't shown with certainty that DalMi doesn't feel anything for HJP or that what she feels for DoSan today after 3 years and discovering the lie is love. They haven't really shown what DalMi truly thinks.

You are simply assuming that DalMi is still in love with NDS or that she is not in love with HJP. What is the assumption based on? DalMi has not said or done anything in the last few episodes to make what she feels clear.

As for 3 years being a long time to not be clear. I, personally, agree with you but in this show, that is how the writer has written it -- that she is still not clear. If she was, this would have been very easy, wouldn't it?

What exactly has happened after DoSan come back from SV to make it clear that she is still in love with him? She hasn't said anything or done anything of that nature. She went to look for him in the forest but they only spoke business. They haven't really talked about their love for each other nor have they held hands or kissed. They both discussed that the journey was difficult. That is about it.

They will make it clear in the final two episodes.

That is my whole point. If DalMi clearly rejects HJP and clearly says to DoSan that he is the one she loves, then that is that.

But that has not happened yet. We can't simply jump the gun.

haha.. I am giving the writer some benefit of doubt. It is not over till it is over :). There are far too many things pointing to why she wrote the main love storyline the way I think she wrote.

I could be totally be wrong. Let's see. I have spent 21 hours watching it already. May as well spend another 3 :)

I can imagine. Both characters in R1988 were equally nice and great. It is nearly impossible not to like one of them. You might prefer one more for the girl but overall, you would understand why the other was picked.

Can't say the same with this story :)

Having said that, it is not the worst I have seen. The fact that I haven't dropped it yet means something. The final two episodes will tell me how everything comes together and whether some of the writing decisions made sense or not.

Regardless, however it turns out, you can't just forget the various inconsistencies in writing so far. Also -- the show didn't do a good job showcasing the Start-up world with diminishing focus on it over the course of the episodes. I went in thinking that was going to be main part of the show :) Little did I know that this was primarily a romance.

The cinematography, music and acting has been great. And the show does have a couple of good scenes every episode.

The writing is not that good. There are a lot of narrative inconsistencies and jumps to conclusions. Several characters are underused or rushed. Lot of such issues.

I see where you are coming from but I do believe it is still early to call it.

DalMi has still not outright rejected HJP when she always has in the past with other guys. She is quite aware that HJP likes her and always appreciates it and acknowledges it. For example, in the car -- she says, "this is why I didn't tell you". She knew he is too personally invested because he likes her. And she has left a lot of crumbs as to why she might not have fully resolved her feelings for him -- For example, her saying, 'Of course I do think of you'. Or her being about to call him first when the ransomware issue happened. She saying that she will be nosy with him when giving him the incombustible bag, her going out of her way to give food TWICE. She is super comfortable with him to simple be herself without caring about how 'she looks'., etc. etc.

Anyway, maybe it is smokes and mirrors and she just cares as a friend, who knows. But as of now -- he told her he likes her directly once, indirectly told her to prioritize him another time and told her that he is too personally involved to give advice the third time. Basically, he has made it very clear he likes her. She has still not said, "No. I don't see you that way but only as a friend".

And most people who are rooting for HJP have moved away from the letters. They are rooting for him because he has, time and again, shown what a stand up guy he is -- by always being there for her without expecting anything in return. Being honest and straightforward (at his own detriment) and always looking out for her in even in the smallest ways (whether she knows he is doing it or not)-- everything from turning on the AC to turning off the dashboard lights to waiting quietly in the car, giving her slippers, to quietly giving her confidence when she is stressed, to asking for NoonGil with Alex, to giving good advice, answering all her questions, being there for Halmeoni, turning down the shades, giving her napkins to wipe away her tears, protecting her from strangers, giving her space and time when she needs it, and now he is about to make the biggest sacrifice -- letting go and telling DoSan to go seek out DalMi, so on and so forth. I can go on... these are things the writer deliberately chose to show us.

On top of all this, HJP has never shared the troubles he has had to get to where he is today. He has never complained. He hasn't asked for pity. He hasn't gotten mad. He has been rational and level-headed.

And anyway, because people like his character so much, they want him to be happy whether it is with DalMi or not. That is about it really.

He has a heartwarming story and people want to see him happy in the end. So far in the story -- you have seen crumbs of that when he is with Halmeoni and their family. But the question is -- if DoSan and DalMi end together, how can he still be part of that family? Maybe they get over the awkwardness? :)

We will see what happens.

Again -- everything I said doesn't invalidate that DS is a nice guy too. He is :). He has some growing up to do but he is no villain.

Not at all. This has very little to do with the actors. I really like NJH and KSH. Both are good actors. And both are good looking. WFKBJ is one of my all time favorites. NJH was good in the weird School nurse Files too.

Why would he quit his VC role and run NoonGil? Because of Halmeoni? That would make no sense if the writer went that route. I certainly hope not.

A person like him, their time is better spent investing in the company than running it. If an investor wants side projects, they hire competant people to do it. Not run it themselves

Anyway, its a bad kdrama, so any inconsistent, unrealistic stupidity is possible given how this show has been going. So I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised if that were the case.

I am pretty sure HJP didn’t lose all his money. He was called ‘Director Han’ aka he got promoted.

Thanks for the advice! :)

Not at all backtracking, as his character stands now, for me, the way I see life, he is a loser.

And it is not because he doesn’t make money or built an app that doesn’t make money. But because he is extremely immature, childish, and selfish. I, personally, find his actions intolerable. I liked him in the beginning of the show and I certainly hope he grows up. I thought he was cute, kind, dorky in a lovable way. He was ambitious for the right reasons. He had this pure, innocent liking towards DalMi which was adorable to watch.

But as it stands now, he is an extremely unlikeable character.

What I was explaining to you is that money or the success of the app is not why people like him or otherwise.

Anyway, this is my opinion, everyone can have theirs. I am not sure why we have to argue about fictional characters :).

Who says anything about it not being a person’s choice? Any relationship has to be based on both people’s choice. I don’t think anybody questions or debates that.

I am not entirely sure what is wrong with people rooting for a fictional character’s happiness (with or without a girl). Nobody’s happiness can stem from another human being. Happiness comes from with. I only hope that the show veers in that direction. Where characters are not seeking revenge or seeking external validation or seeking love from others. Where they all grow to find their strength from within.

As for Noongil, it was a good, thoughtful idea and worth praise. Again, nobody debates that, so not sure what the point of the argument was. There was absolutely nothing wrong with it . And the app doesn’t make NDS or SST a loser.

Haha.. I think NDS has a lot of redeeming qualities and was quite likeable in the beginning of the show. And I certainly hope his character will grow up, mature and rightfully deserve DalMi’s love. It will make a good ending if they make that happen. What the character lacks right now is maturity and growth. It might happen in the next 4 episodes. Will be happy for it.

You know what it is? I think had the story not gone down the path of him liking DalMi romantically, it would have been perfect. But seeing that he does and given his story, people want him to be happy.

Honestly, I don’t think people care that he is with DalMi. And the fact that he is being pitted against a loser makes it worse. Had NDS continued to be a lovable, kind guy, as he had been at the beginning, it would have helped.

The way the story is right now, if DalMi doesn’t return his feelings, HJP is going to be even more hurt. Most people don’t want that. If he gets over her and doesn’t care that way, it would be fine. Or he shouldn’t have liked her that way in the first place, which would have been perfect.

Agreed with the others here. I liked both BDS snd HJP in the beginning. I thought NDS was this sweet, nerdy guy who was kind. He was also ambitious. I am an engineer myself and can totally relate. I was watching it for the two of them and their funny scenes and all the shenanigans. I really they will become friends. And both will grow.

But somewhere along the way, NDS went from being sweet and awkward to an insecure man-child who lashes out whose dream is a girl! Instead of growth, he went backwards. He lost me.

I agree. I felt uncomfortable when I saw him push her hand away. Not cool.

I mean there is no way in hell I would be forceful physically with anybody let alone our grandma.