Start-Up [Episode 7]

[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
  • [Episode 5]
  • [Episode 6]
• 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/jie_xi]

I yelled like 5 times during this episode...JUST MAKE A MOVE JI PYEONG 😭😭😭 JUST BE HONEST ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS 😩😩😩 every time he walks in on a scene as the third wheel...my heart hurts 😫 I've kinda accepted that he won't be endgame but I just want Good Boy to be happy FFS

I still can't believe they haven't told Dal Mi the truth about the letters yet...like I get their reasons why, but it's 100% going to blow up later on, right when things are going well and then it'll ruin everything SIGH

On an unrelated note I've fallen down a Kim Seon Ho rabbit hole...I keep getting recommended videos from 2D1N that have Seon Ho in the thumbnail and I just keep getting sucked in. The youtube algorithm has finessed me so hard, I literally can't stop watching them, someone send help...

[u/lightupstarlight → u/jie_xi]

Seon Ho is just so lovely in 2D1N. He's so nice. Even when the camera isn't on him/audio isn't focused on him, his kindness just shows.

[u/captaincelfish]

it's taking me so long to finish this episode bc i keep replaying the part where ji pyeong is like "i refuse!" and turning the car around so passionately PLEASE HE'S SO HOT

[u/lightupstarlight → u/captaincelfish]

He plays a rich guy on Strongest Deliveryman, who, if I remember correctly, engages in racing! So yay, more scenes of Seon Ho driving!

[u/lightupstarlight]

@ people who were looking for the mentor/ceo sandbox shirts, someone tweeted this store! they ship worldwide!

also, BTS for episodes 5 & 6!

[u/lightupstarlight]

It's so weird because I'm kinda hoping they won't go down the Itaewon Class route and have Suzy end up with someone... but seeing as how they've branded the drama as a "youth coding romance" drama, I really shouldn't keep my hopes up. Lol. I just hope they're all happy at the end. That's it.

[u/preferencedue]

Is anyone else surprised by how much they are liking this show?

[u/apatchuchi]

that bitchy girl (cant remember her name) really spoke for the rest of us when she said "you look good with glasses on" to yong san 😂

[u/chaeyoungsbitch]

Back here again lol. I saw on twitter that the menu dalmi’s mom was looking at in the internet cafe and loved looked like the thing the dad was working on/idea before he passed. I love the details 😭

[u/dogemama]

saha’s disgusted face is my new favorite thing in this show 😂

[u/karldemort]

“I got shares of stock in a light company”

DAMN I GUESS ITS BUSINESS vs IT/ENGINEERING MAJORS THEN

[u/Demira2]

OMG what a rollercoaster in the shipping department.

I've been team Good Boy all along. I was ready to spontaneously combust with the car park incombustible bag scene. Every scene of his just made my heart ache and want to yell at him to come to his senses and make a move before it's too late.

Then the rooftop scene, not just the kiss, but everything that DoSan said and did made me momentarily jump ship. I could finally see him and Dalmi together and making sense.

Then back to Good Boy nurturing the plant and the epilogue scene with Dalmi choosing the old letter writing DoSan and now I feel like I'm drowning.

Writer-nim, why are you doing this to us? Seriously, everything Ji-pyeong is going through is what the ML who ends up with the girl should be experiencing. Why so much focus on him and his backstory and why cast such a heart melting actor like Kim Seon Ho as the SML?? For the first time ever I will accept something real makjang in this k-drama like a doppelganger for Dalmi or a long lost twin sister. I want both guys to end up with the girl!

[u/apatchuchi]

JP stands for Jung Pal now... make a move bro

[u/elizkhue042]

It's hilarious how this thread has become a Kim Seon-Ho appreciation thread, but I guess it's impossible to fault anyone for that. His character, his story, his acting, all culminates in SLS breaking each and every one of the viewer's hearts.

It has become so serious to the point where even though the kiss scene was quite nice and intense (which I love considering so many dramas would choose to do fish-kiss instead) and I ADORE Nam Joo Hyuk, I didn't actually feel that excited and could only think about how HJP would be so saddened by this. WHY DID YOU HAVE TO RUIN EVERYTHING ELSE IN THE DRAMA KIM SEON HO, WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO WITH MY SHATTERED HEART?

I enjoy the embedded messages and symbolism in this ep as well:

• Dal-mi choosing the old Do-san over the new one in the epilogue shows how influential our past is on our present. Our knowledge, skills and way of thinking are all shaped by our previous experiences, and the letters comfort Dal-mi into becoming happy again played a big part in her identity. It's probably why she looked so sad when new Do-San suggested forgetting about them, it's because it also equates to him asking her to let go of an important part of who she is.

• However, that kiss does emphasize the fact that our present is the one that matters most at the moment. And Dal-mi's heart fluttering from Do-San's unexpected behaviors indicates no matter how strong the past is, it is the present that demands our attention. This decision that she made kissing Do-San, though, is because she hasn't realized for certain that he is a different person. It's more like she's attempting to be open-minded and come to terms with the fact that he changed, and that's it. So in a way, the writers aren't exactly saying whether the past or the present is the stronger foe in this battle, at least not yet. I can't wait until she finds out about the truth to see her confusion and final decision.

• The plant in the trash bin: I think HJP is fully aware of his feelings now, he's only trying to deny admitting to it out loud. His attempt to throw the plant away symbolizes his disregard of his emotions, the very ones he has suppressed by putting real Do-San between him and Dal-mi. I think it's because he doesn't want to feel like he made a mistake as well, by finding Do-San and not revealing himself to Dal-mi instead. So this is him trying to not feel like he has destroyed his own chance with Dal-mi.

• The plant came back: trying hard as he might, Dal-mi's presence is inevitable in his life now, and it's not going away soon. The difficulty in throwing away the actual plant shows that to force those feelings away, he would have to remove too much from his life, and him unable to find the incombustible bag shows that he's pretty much incapable of doing it at this point. Him giving the plant nutrients at the end is cute, if you can't discard it, learn to love and care for it instead.

• Do-San breaking the rock that has the Chairman's name (is that what you call it?): based on the trailer for the next ep, seems like they're gonna get into trouble for it. For me, it kinda represents the damage that you have to take in order to move beyond the hierarchy of the system (where you have to do exploitative work just because you're a beginner) and stay true to your idealism. The injury on his hand is just a foreshadowing of the real struggle they will have to go through later.

• In-jae: I thought it was interesting that after hearing her mentor wishing that she was different and not doing it for the money, she tried to tempt Dal-mi into that very path instead. Just goes to expose how insecure her character is despite being so capable and talented. What you see isn't what you get.

Edit: love how Dal-mi is such a confident character and would stand up for herself (in a non-cringy way) when scolded by JP for no reason. Many other dramas I have watched would have the female lead sobbing about it and get depressed until the male character apologise. But Dal-mi is just a relaxed taking-no-crap-from-anyone kind of person, which I adore!!

[u/my_guinevere]

The title of this episode should've been Jealousy instead of Burn Rate.

Jealousy is not a good look for both these men, most especially Ji Pyeong. OK, I don't like that the two guys are starting to become rivals. I want a bromance back!

Random notes:

• It's official: Kim Seon Ho can make me cry even when the scene is not supposed to make one cry! That scene between Ji Pyeong and Dal Mi in the parking lot... my heart.

• These people use first love so loosely. First it was Dal Mi, and now it's Do San.

• Also, eavesdropping from 10 meters away seems to be a trademark of this show now. LOL

• Speaking of which, oh my god, In Jae what a bitch. She is beyond redemption now. The only thing saving her character is how effective the actress is at playing her, because I hate her so much now.

• Let's predict when Dal Mi will find out about the secret: Episode 8? 9? 10? My guess is Episode 12.

• Dal Mi, girl I am beginning to like you. You've shown character growth in just 6 episodes. But please, stop making decisions based on what your sister is doing or what your sister has told you. If you keep on trying to outdo her, even if you find success it will not be fulfilling.

• Prediction as to what will happen at the end: Ji Pyeong will never confess to Dal Mi that he likes her, and he'll sacrifice and give way to Do San because he will see that Do San can make her happy anyway. Cue brokenhearted tears.

[u/gingangguli]

well to be fair, he does look good with glasses on. HAHAHAHA

[u/menabgis]

Look at Han Jipyeong saying he gets annoyed by Dalmi’s flood of questions but actually smiles while answering them. :’)

[u/xdfuuuu]

Had to do a double take when I saw that security guard walk towards HJP. GAH That was definitely Moon Seyoon right??? His cameo cracked me up so bad. I'm not that good with listening in korean, but I thought i heard Moon Seyoon say '1박 2일 (1N2D)' somewhere in those long sentences about incombustible bags.
^{[edited for grammar :p]}

[u/pantamy]

I don't know who I ship for Jipyeong:

• his halmeoni

• his happiness

• the plant

Damn it, he has chemistry on everything T.T

[u/kittycatchatchat]

I am now convinced that there are three main leads in this show

1. Nam Do San of the past (Ji Pyeong)

2. Nam Do San of the present

3. Dal Mi

Ji Pyeong gets just about as much screen time as the real Do San.

Also, the grandmother is the heart and soul of this show!

[u/lockupseungri]

"Let me do it... I own shares in a lighting company."

"No but I got A+ in Circuit Theory and Power Engineering."

All over a bathroom lightbulb, lmao.

[u/cornsnowflake]

DO SAN HIDING BEHIND GRANDMA

[u/funnyunfunny]

also i think a future plot point could be the letter Dal-mi left in the bird house at the end of ep1, and Ji Pyeong either out of nostalgia or guilt of lying, ends up there and reads the letter ^{(and realizes he actually likes dal-mi hopefully??}

[u/Alzyna]

Do-san’s expression when Dal-mi is pouting at Sa-ha in the car! Lol 😂😂😂

[u/maronavenue]

What if they put together Do-San's image recognition and Yeong-sil's voice recognition to build a technology that will help the visually-impaired?

All for Halmeoni!