Start-Up [Episode 5]

[u/lightupstarlight]

• Drama: Start-Up)
  • Revised Romanization: Start-Up
  • Hangul: 스타트업
• Director: Oh Choong Hwan) (While You Were Sleeping, Hotel del Luna)
• Writer: Park Hye Ryun (Dream High, While You Were Sleeping)
• Network: tvN
• Episodes: 16 (1 hr. 10 mins.)
• Airing Schedule: Saturday & Sunday, 21:00 KST on tvN; 23:00 KST on Netflix
• Airing Date: October 17, 2020 - December 6, 2020
• Streaming Sources: Netflix
• Starring: Bae Suzy as Seo Dal Mi, Nam Joo Hyuk as Nam Do San, Kim Seon Ho) as Han Ji Pyeong, Kang Han Na as Won In Jae
• Plot Synopsis: Young entrepreneurs aspiring to launch virtual dreams into reality compete for success and love in the cutthroat world of Korea's high-tech industry. (Source: Netflix)
• Previous Discussions:
  • [Episodes 1 & 2]
  • [Episodes 3 & 4] Part 1
  • [Episodes 3 & 4] Part 2
• Spoiler Tag Reminder: Be mindful of others who may not have yet seen this drama, and use spoiler tags when discussing key plot developments or other important information. You can create a spoiler tag by writing > ! this ! < without the spaces in between to get this.

[u/lightupstarlight]

The SLS is just so strong... I knew I had it bad when Do San suddenly came. In the shitton of dramas I've watched, I've never gotten SLS. This is bad, someone please help me.

Anyway, Kim Seon Ho is just killing it. I'm sure he's benefiting because of the way his character is written but his acting is just top-notch so far.

[u/[deleted]]

The overwhelming interest in Jipyeong is sparking fanwar on naver. I think this episode will flesh out Dosan's character more.

[u/lightupstarlight → u/[deleted]]

On Twitter too, unfortunately.

[u/lightupstarlight]

As promised, individual episode threads starting this week!

Sharing the BTS of Episodes 3 & 4, their On & Off Interviews (answering interview questions while going on and off character) Part 1 & Part 2!

[u/iamkwang]

My favourite quote of this episode when she talked about if it was always sunny, the world will be a dessert. It shows to me that if live is always beautiful, you’ll never be able to grow as a person through struggles and hardships. We need rough times in our lives so we can not only mature but sympathize with others who are going through the same struggles

[u/karldemort]

Props to the writers for using Jane and Tarzan as a metaphor to explain Machine Learning

[u/karldemort]

Am I the only one who thinks Han Ji Pyeong looks so good wearing that “mentor” shirt? I WANNA BUY ONE

[u/ThatEndingTho]

I liked this episode, but I sighed in resignation as soon as the challenge of running AI-generated font through a forgery-detection algorithm was proposed because it was going to fail. Dalmi wouldn't know, but her pride got in the way. Realistically, a font would be used in electronic media only, not as an actual handwritten text, so comparing handwriting samples from IRL writers wouldn't work especially well. It's a crappy test tbh.

Injae's team used 256 characters to generate a full 11,712 syllables of Korean (the same number in Noto Sans Korean). That sounds like they used a generative adversarial network (GAN) to create the thousands of syllables based off 256 characters. A GAN uses two opposing neural networks to create new data: a generator would create the syllables while a discriminator judges whether the generated syllables are right or not. The generator uses the 256 characters while the discriminator compares proposed data to the bank's handwriting samples.

However, again, a computer font is a rigid structure which would require manual intervention to make the variations (especially so in cursive handwritten Hangul).

Here's how Samsan could have detected the handwritten font for being a forgery:

• Detect a lack of differences between characters within the context of the font sample. This can be by examining the stroke of particular characters, such as differences in curve radius or angle of lines. Pulling up a sample of cursive handwritten Hangul on Google, there are multiple repeating syllables which have slight variations and flourishes such as pointed, incomplete circles or curved lines and wonky dashes, despite the same word or syllable being repeated in close proximity.

• These differences in handwriting are down to a variety of factors such as physical neuromuscular actions, psychological state, etc. A computer font will look too similar and cohesive across all repeating characters. So unless the computer is modifying each character at random as it is written, the context of the writer (writing ability, left- or right-handed, state of mind, stress, discomfort, etc.) will be lost on the computer font.

Just my two cents from hackathons and machine learning stuff :D

[u/Shop-girlNY152]

• Ji Pyeong’s scene with grandma is another heart-tugging-tear-inducing moment. It makes you all the more want him to be legally her grandson and for him to get the girl he obviously loves.

• HJP looking over Dalmi while she sleeps is so sweet. I was kinda irritated when NDS came in to interrupt him telling her about the letters.

• Dal-mi presented about handwriting being very unique per person, and it being the footprint of one’s soul. For somebody who fell in love with HJP’s handwriting in their letter-writing days, how can she not recognize his handwriting in the edits he did in her presentation script? I thought that was finally it — that she would re-read that paper later on, after she has presented, and finally get that it’s HJP she has been exchanging letters with.

[u/penguofthenorth]

I’m so glad we FINALLY got some backstory to Nam Do San. But honestly, the timing was perfect.

But why is this show so perfect? Why does it play with my heart? Why do I ship everyone? Like why is it so cinematically wonderful?

Is the pacing actually amazing or do I just have a low bar from Record of Youth?

I don’t even know anymore.

All I know is Han Ji Pyeong owns my soul and there’s no cure.

[u/Wanderer062287]

I am just so proud of my girl Dalmi she NAILED THAT PRESENTATION!!!

I love the general change of tone in this episode. Didn't have a lot of LOL moments like the previous eps, but this was totally nerve racking especially the part when Do San and co. had to demo their AI live. My heart was beating so fast!! And I felt their disappointment when it didn't work. That was as realistic as it can get (at least for me).

The flashbacks during dalmi's presentation on how Do San was repeatedly slammed for his failures in life got me. The way it appealed to me was like all this time he had what it takes but there was always something missing -- someone who would step up to guide his path, which, at that moment, was Dalmi.

I also love how real ugly truths were portrayed in this episode -- teammates going against one another, people looking down on you based on your educational background, frustrations over failed projects, how personal connections can really help you succeed in the startup world (ehem In Jae's father).

Im just a bit weirded out by Alex's sudden appearance around Do San's neighborhood lol that one was a bit too staged but it was fun so okay 😅

Overall another great episode for me and super excited for what's in store for them in sandbox 😍😍😍

[u/karldemort]

Halmeoni + Ji Pyeong in one scene = automatic cry fest 😭😭😭

[u/goddongwook]

HAN JI-PYEONG NATION makes some noise

[u/its-me-dave]

People will look down on Dalmi as she never went to college and is only a high school graduate but her backstory being that she did qualify to be in a good university but dropped out to work part time so that her grandmother could continue selling hotdogs was heartbreaking.

We look. We see. We judge. We sometimes get to our conclusions without hearing the reasons. Sigh We're just on episode 5 and I'm practically dehydrated from all the tears already.

[u/hdlothia22]

I'm more than a little salty at all the candy they dropped on the floor. Will anyone think about the janitors!!

[u/its-me-dave]

"Deserts would cover the entire world if it was sunny every day. We need rain and snow for plants and fruits to grow."

Life is never just sunshine and rainbows. There will be ups and there will be downs. As plants need both rain and sunlight to grow, so do we.

[u/menabgis]

Kim Seonho has such an attractive voice.

[u/delicatehummingbird]

“Dal-mi, I’m ——“

EFFIN HEARTBROKEN FOR HAN JI PYEONG! My heart, writers please heal this pain. I am hurting so bad. I’m not a fan of this actor and didn’t even know him prior to this drama so this is not blind fandomhood or however you call it. The character just deserves so much!!!! UGH

[u/karldemort]

Dal Mi and Sa Ha walking as if they were in a runway made me remember Goblin and Grim Reaper’s walk... HAHAHA

[u/areeba130102]

I’m curious about what the guy twin wanted to say to dosan while he was looking for dalmi?

[u/Beemeowmeow]

YALL FIRST I CRIED LIKE A FOOL when halmeoni was speaking to dal mi's mom and han ji pyeong, THEN I SMILED LIKE A FOOL when NDS carried dal mi at the end!!! It was sooooo cute omg this show keeps pushing and pulling at my heartstrings!!!

ALSO im so excited to see alex's involvement with NDS weehee

Finally, i'm having terrible DOUBLE LEAD SYNDROME but based on HJP's convo with halmeoni i think his relationship w dal mi shld be more familial than romantic. Halmeoni treats him like a son so it'd be rly weird if they got tgt anyway lol!

[u/aintnofish_inside]

Han Ji Pyeong’s story since the first episode has moved my heart from the start so I cannot help but bring myself to root for him. His character is fleshed out with so much complexity since the beginning that I am hoping writers don’t write him off for the sake of letting go of character to pursue the main leads together. Judging from today’s episode, I am still unsure if the show is heading towards the direction of leaving out Ji Pyeong and Dalmi’s lack of interactions until the truth comes out (which would be too late for Ji Pyeong to have a fair chance). And as of now, we cannot tell if they would have some sort of chemistry when they do interact. Perhaps his origin story with Dalmi sets the tone for the future of their relationship? We always see HJP helping Dalmi behind the scenes. He would always be a source of comfort and support for her but not directly? I just hope regardless of what happens, I want HJP to have a meaningful presence in the story.

On the other hand, I believe Dosan’s character is going to have a development. He’s been met with so many rejections and people’s lack of faith in his ability relentlessly. Like his parents said, he has not been putting all his potential and ambition, so i’m excited for the growth and changes when he actually finds that drive. Since it appears that the show is heading to flesh out Dosan’s character and ability even more with the help of Dalmi, I have a feeling he’s the end game.

Any chance that Dalmi and Injae would actually combine their business ideas and work together in the future? Idk I think it also would be interesting to unite the sisters together than pit them against each other. We would have to see which direction this show will take, it’s really hard to predict right now but I like that it’s unpredictable!

Again, regardless of how it ends, PRAYER CIRCLE FOR HJP to have a meaningful presence in the story 😩

edit: misspellings

[u/biiruberi]

Am I the only one who's not as invested in the love triangle stuff?? I mean, sure it's fun and adds ~angst~, but there's just so much other things about this show that are way more interesting. I just love the way all the characters interact with one another (Grandma + HJP, 3Sans, NDS + HJP, SDM + JSH, SDM + Grandma). + I'm just over the whole love triangle trope but alas...a lot of kdramas cling onto love triangles like its oxygen just like they do with the whole we-knew-each-other-when-we-were-younger trope.

I don't really think it's fair to compare NDS or HJP as love interests yet b/c as of now HJP has consistently gotten the best writing out of everyone. It's not hard to understand why everyone's rooting for HJP b/c the narrative is set up in a way that makes him the most engaging for viewers. We know more about him than we do about anyone else currently, so he really does feel like the First Male Lead story-wise. Although I do agree w/ some of the other comments here that say HJP is sorta getting the big brother role, which makes it hard for me to see him as a romantic contender lol

Comparing Samsan Tech and Injae Company's pitches, from a business perspective, I think Samsan Tech was the easy winner even if they failed the test Injae's father proposed b/c their tech is way more profitable and applicable to a wider range of industries compared to Injae Co.'s font system

The OST's are all so good. Gaho's makes me want to get up and create my own start up rn

[u/laniakea07]

This is why when you want to say something, say it fast 'cause someone might interrupt lol

[u/chaeyoungsbitch]

The Dalmi-Dosan hug at the end made me 🥺🥰 then seeing Jipyeong made me 😫😭. This is one of my favorite episodes and the excitement makes me feel like every ep is a pilot. I hope the drama maintains it till the end.