Has the storyline been lackluster towards the second half of the drama? Yes. But has it been a worthwhile watch? Totally.

I know this might be an unpopular opinion, especially amidst the overflowing negative reviews, but someone has to open the Pandora Box so here we go. I was initially drawn to Start-Up for its slick business aesthetics which reminded me very much of Search: WWW and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim. I was also undeniably enticed by the stellar Hallyu cast for the main leads, after all it's Bae Suzy and Nam Joo Hyuk in the house.

However, what began as a rather shallow and superficial interest quickly transformed into deep infatuation as I got hooked on Han Ji Pyeong's backstory and his heartwarming relationship with Seol Dal Mi's grandmother. Nam Da Reum portrays the young Ji Pyeong perfectly, as expected of one of my favourite child actors, whom you may recall from Come and Hug Me, While You Were Sleeping and Pinocchio. As a teenager, Ji Pyeong was always skeptical and vigilant with the people around him until he met Dal Mi's grandmother and witnessed her unconditional kindness towards him, a complete stranger. On the other hand, Kim Seon Ho truly brings out the charms and duality of the adult Ji Pyeong. Unlike most, he tends to show care and support through harsh criticisms which have often made others mistake him as cold and callous. Overall, Han Ji Pyeong shows the multidimensional and in-depth portrayal that most of the other crucial characters simply lack.

I have to confess, one of the most disappointing things about this drama is the weak chemistry between the main leads, Seol Dal Mi and Nam Do San. I feel like too much of the on-screen chemistry is left to Suzy and Joo Hyuk's visual compatibility and the audience hype rather than actual character and plot development. While there are some favourable scenes to justify Do San's love for Dal Mi, his complete disregard for the second male lead and rather blinding jealousy can be exasperating at times. Frankly, I find the chemistry between Ji Pyeong and the robot Yeong Shil (voiced by Yeo Jin Goo) much stronger than that of the main leads.

Romance aside, I do like the female empowerment underlying theme in Start-Up. Suzy did a fairly good job in showcasing Dal Mi's professional side. Although, I wish the drama can invest a bit more into the relationship Dal Mi has with her sister, Won In Jae, and similarly with Ji Pyeong and Do San. Imagine all of the side bromance and sismance chemistry we could have had.

Ultimately, despite the promising cast and production team, the drama was not able to realise its full potential. However, unlike The Bride of Habaek, there are still things worthwhile to watch out for in this drama. If you ever in need of a second lead syndrome, Start-Up's Han Ji Pyeong would be the perfect candidate. I may not have noticed Kim Seon Ho before but I'm definitely looking forward to catching up on his other works now. Personally, I do not regret pursuing this drama, but this does not mean I'm not going to grief over the wasted potential here.