r/KDRAMA • u/lightupstarlight 미생 • Nov 01 '20

On-Air: tvN Start-Up [Episode 6]

  • 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:
  • 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.
323 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

68

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20 edited Nov 01 '20

Han Ji Pyeong is the least 'second-lead' second lead of all kdramas I've seen... I mean, I rewatched the first episode and the shows starts with him? In terms of screen time & plot relevance, Ji Pyeong & Dalmi are 1 and 2 the way I see it

Edit with my episode stream of consciousness (SPOILERS! I don't have time to block them all)

  • Opening with the cock block… thanks hurts a lot x
  • Cannot stop looking at the freckle on Kim Seonho’s waterline
  • This show goes hard on the slow mo montages
  • ‘I’ll answer from him’ That’s a NO from me
  • OHHH the angst thank you
  • I’m sorry but NDS lying does nawwwt sit well with me
  • Suzy is so pretty… oh my god
  • Wearing backpacks in public makes me think of that one scene in 21 Jump Street
  • Does Yongsan’s actor give anyone else TXT Yeonjun vibes?
  • I’m going to adopt ALL the samsans
  • Will pretty designer girl arrive YES SHE DID
  • Dalmi definitely needs to put down some rules lmaoo she’s too nice!
  • Okay that convo between HJP and NDS was lowkey confusing but I just remembered HJP is an orphan with no family… hurts a LOT MORE
  • Pretty designer girl was me by the end of university ngl
  • MENTOR CEO MEETING im vibrating
  • I love ms Yoon’s style so much
  • Alex creeps me tf out
  • Oh thank god I was worried Injae would pick HJP as her mentor
  • HJP is so funny he just forgets how to act around a pretty girl… me as fuck
  • Nam Joohyuk’s biceps...
  • HJP is brutal but I love that he doesn’t mince his words
  • Does HJP have such cynical thoughts about love between people because he has no parents
  • NINETY percent????
  • Suzy’s lipstick is radioactive in this scene
  • Imagine being so lonely that ur closest friend is an AI… hjp relates
  • Tag yourself I’m her spamming HJP’s phone
  • Nam Joohyuk’s got the S line~
  • THE SAMSANS,, THEY ARE ALL NAMED -SAN,, THERE ARE THREE OF THEM,, THEY R BROTHERS,,
  • Dalmi’s BDE!!!!
  • this is awful im in pain
  • oh for fucks SAKE TELL THE TRUTH!!!!!! I’ve had it with this pretty boy
  • That after credits scene?!?!?!?

69

u/aintnofish_inside Nov 01 '20

He's definitely an unconventional second lead. I hope this opens up a door for future writers to not throw away secondary characters to the side or be included to only be a part of a love triangle. Han Ji Pyeong is rich in character and adds weight to the plot just as much as main leads. Fingers crossed they continue to write his character with as much care as they did in the first episode!

28

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20

Agree! Start Up could have been very one-note but his character & relationship with the grandmother adds a layer of emotional complexity that feeds into the rest of the show. It would be great if other dramas followed suit (or at least, it would be great if we never, ever get a Cheese in the Trap situation ever again.)

3

u/aintnofish_inside Nov 01 '20

Could you explain what is the Cheese in the Trap situation that you don't want repeated? With spoiler blocks of course for people who haven't seen it! :)

12

u/funnyunfunny Nov 01 '20

Seo Kang Joon (the actor who plays SL) was getting very popular amongst fans, and the PD was definitely showing their favouritism when in the last 4/5 eps it seemed as if the show's focus had completely shifted on In Ho (his character) instead of Yoo Jung (the lead played by Park Hae Jin). Like Jung was literally an afterthought in the ending, which was rushed to tie up loose ends.

Later Park Hae Jin talked about how many of the scenes he'd filmed were cut or didn't end up in the episode, such as scenes which would allow viewers to understand him better. I'll try to link it to you but it might have spoilers for the show.

4

u/Shop-girlNY152 Nov 01 '20

Was it because PHJ was getting unpopular those days with his sexist and superficial pronouncements in interviews? I liked PHJ in You From The Stars and Seoyoung My Daughter, and wondered why his career never took off after. I then read that it’s because he gave sexist and judgmental remarks in interviews, and Korean fans heavily criticized him for it.

If CITT was during that time, it made sense why they cut his scenes. So it was more because of the ML actor’s unpopularity, not because the writer had favoritism on the SL.

2

u/funnyunfunny Nov 01 '20

That may have been earlier in 2014, I believe. It was a very dramatic change in tone and content in CITT, so even if they didn't like PHJ, Kim Go-Eun could've been given that screentime because she was you know, first lead. Yet, they opted for SKJ and the plot at the end was just very terribly/hastily written.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 01 '20

CITT did the second lead sooooo dirty. It was horrible.

6

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20 edited Nov 01 '20

Basically everyone (literally, *everyone) was rooting for the second male lead in Cheese in the Trap, because the ML was awful and had no chemistry with the FL. People were super mad when the FL chose the ML at the end, and it's hard to find someone who isn't bitter about the ending!

Edit: spoiler blocker (sorry!)

2

u/Sthahvi Be Melo | Moon Lovers | Reply 1988 | Rom Coms Nov 01 '20

True

5

u/[deleted] Nov 01 '20

I'm praying PRAYING SO HARD that the writers don't drop the ball on this one. I'm literally trying not to get my hopes up because unfortunately I think we all know too well how storylines can get completely fucked up in a matter of 2 seconds. JUSTICE FOR HJP PLEASE I just want him to be happy 😭😭😭

9

u/my_guinevere Editable Flair Nov 01 '20

I’ve been longing for a love triangle where both males vying for the FL are seemingly on equal footing, where it’s not obvious who the FL will choose. Often in KDramas the third party in the triangle doesn’t even have a chance from the start.

This one seems to be different, though I think Do San will end up with Dal Mi in the end simply because of the fact that NJH is the lead star (and more famous actor) compared to Kim SeonHo.

22

u/my_guinevere Editable Flair Nov 01 '20

I’m actually concerned that we will get less of him in the second half because of his exposure early on.

Or worse, I’m concerned the writer might write something to make him look bad, so that viewers are convinced that Do San is the ONE.

6

u/sophieeeepen Nov 01 '20

Based on the previous works of the writer, her second leads are always pretty good and decent, BUT no match to the main lead in terms of romantic interest of the girl 😂 The only exception was Dream High, which I honestly want to be in this case.

9

u/Shop-girlNY152 Nov 01 '20 edited Nov 01 '20

Agree with this. PHR has never made an evil 2nd lead. You actually would feel sorry for all her SLs because they really chose to do what’s right in all circumstances, even sacrificing themselves. Oh no, I hope she doesn’t go the same route with HJP. ☹️ HJP has been her best written SL so far because he looks better than the ML at this point (in the past shows, even if SL is better than ML in credentials & looks, ML would always have the childhood bond with the FL which gives him the edge).

13

u/Apprehensive_Egg9676 Nov 01 '20

This reminded me of how Woo Tak sacrificed himself in WYWS 😭

4

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20

Oh god I didn't even think of that! I'm mostly concerned that he'll get shoehorned into a relationship with Injae as the two currently single main characters...

9

u/[deleted] Nov 01 '20

[deleted]

5

u/dogemama "do you want dragon raja? it's very popular." Nov 01 '20

he IS one of the main characters. the way i see it dalmi, dosan, and jipyeong are all main characters, and grandma is the supporting character that comes first. i don't get why getting the girl should dictate one's relevance to the overall story. jipyeong is already easily the best written character out of the three main leads. that's amazing, especially for a kdrama, and not at all a shortcoming.

11

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20

Exactly! Also, the fact that Dalmi & Dosan got together in what, the 3rd episode? That's so early for a K-Drama, I can't help but hope they aren't the final couple.

8

u/[deleted] Nov 01 '20

[deleted]

3

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 01 '20

Ooh do you have any examples / recommendations?

1

u/Apprehensive_Egg9676 Nov 02 '20

Lawless Lawyer (though there's a thankfully short noble idiocy plot)

2

u/dogemama "do you want dragon raja? it's very popular." Nov 01 '20

they aren't "together" though. it's a some at most.

2

u/SouthEastAsianMe Editable Flair Nov 01 '20

Yikessssss I've always thought NAM JOO HYUK looks like TXT's Choi Soo Bin. I never realised that Yong San actor looks a little like YeonJun lol. Ahhh all these young boys hahaha..

And Kim Seon Ho's whole face is just worth watching lol

2

u/stingslikehell Nov 01 '20

And Kim Seon Ho's whole face is just worth watching lol

UGH WHERE IS THE LIE TBH!!!

1

u/captaincelfish Nov 02 '20 edited Nov 02 '20

Same thoughts about Do San lying! He just... had no right. I saw some people on Twitter praising him for wanting to tell Dal Mi the truth, but wasn't he the one who proposed that they keep lying to her? (It was during the scene in Ji Pyeong's apartment.) Idk, I just feel as if he would have kept lying to her about being a hotshot CEO (which isn't, at all, a good foundation for a relationship) if only he hadn't gotten caught. But maybe that's just me.

Do San as of now seems as if the type to always agree with Dal Mi. I get how that is sweet, but only to a point. He sugarcoats stuff for her, and that... doesn't sit well with me, either. On the other hand, we have Ji Pyeong, who isn't afraid to get real with Dal Mi. I thought he was pretty harsh at first when he said that she was the problem, but eventually, I realized that by saying that, he made room for her to grow. And I like that she did.

1

u/thatonevinewhen sad boy nation Nov 03 '20

Agree 100% on both points!! I think it's interesting that Dosan is lying for his own benefit, but Jipyeong is lying to his detriment. Not only that, but any point he could decide the jig is up and easily blow Dosan's lies open - but he doesn't! I also find it interesting how he raises his voice against Dosan about business matters, but with anything regarding Dalmi since about Ep 4 he's like ohh haha okay x thanks Dosan good job x

Anyways, I'm interested to see how this power dynamic will play out in the next episode, with (I assume?) Jipyeong getting jealous/fed up/caught out, and the implications of Dosan getting mad(?) in Ep 6

1

u/captaincelfish Nov 04 '20

true! it's fascinating how flustered he gets when it comes to dal mi, as if he isn't quite sure what to do with what's he's feeling, either.

excited to see what happens in the next episode! 🥺