This show’s pilot week episodes (1&2) roped me in. 10/10. Beautiful cinematography especially the cherry blossoms.

This show had great potential only to disappoint me in the second half. But the Hackaton /Demo Day narratives were enjoyable. But this is the show’s fatal flaw: it milked too much on the romance subplot.

I have issues with the character development of NDS and SDM: weak and inconsistent. Nam Do-san has too many red flags esp. his violent tendencies and stalking. He also cries a lot esp. on the second half, which I find unnecessary and an overkill. He was likeable to me on the first few episodes but I totally got turned off when he punched his mentor (which doesn’t make sense to me) then begs for help. He smashes a CEO’s nameplate, almost went to jail but HJP’s advice to SDM to record the meeting got him out of the woods. But I never got to see how NDS took responsibility for his mistakes; even in a simple way like thanking or apologizing to people. He’s full of angst and arrogance more evidently on the second half. He never suffered any consequences for such actions like when he recklessly signed the Acqhire with 2STO, he got rich and became a hotshot in return? How come punishment doesn’t get back to bite him through consequence?

NDS is lucky because he’s got a plot armor working for his advantage. SDM was too hard to read on the second half. Narrative is almost quiet to her POV after the truth about the letters was revealed. But I can never forgive the writer for the emotional injustice and cruelty she brought to Han Ji Pyeong’s character. The show presented him too well with a strong backstory, only to throw him off in the second half. He was overused but nothing really worked for him despite his efforts. Won In Jae was a letdown, underutilized character.

The letters, as a literary tool, was not given a proper send-off. They should’ve at least respected the sincerity, comfort and warmth that went with the letters. HJP and SDM wrote quite a lot but there was never an instance they talked about it at least and gave a proper closure. I also strongly feel that SDM should end up with HJP; if only HJP was given a plot armor for an even fight.

I also have a problem with how underutilized Won In jae’s character. She has so much potential. I’d love more side stories on how she’s winging it as a Lady Boss.

The male and female lead’s love story is too hard to root for. I can never support what the writer is shoving down my throat. A “true love” that is too forced and lacking in chemistry is what I got. In my two decades of KDrama experience, this is the first time I didn’t like the leads coming together. Really, I didn’t find their romance fluttering. No amount of kissing scenes and skinship between the NDS and SDM has convinced me. Too hard-sell romance.

I also find the morals in question: sailing off without a map vs wisdom that comes from experience. As an older audience, you really can’t sail off without a map in real life when lives depend on you. There’s a thing in life called calculated risk.

If you want to watch this, go and just watch the Start-up (business) dynamics or end at EP7. Or if you are curious of the excellent fleshing out of roles of Kim Hae Sook and Kim Seon Ho. A+ for their chemistry. Solid acting from both actors who played grandma and HJP.

The show’s greatest and heartwarming scenes are from grandma and HJP. I am always in tears watching them together. It is very raw, sometimes funny, yet sincere. Get some Kleenex ready. I always look forward to their set.

Character development dark horse hands down is Kim Yong-san of Samsan Tech —low key but flawless. Nothing forceful. But I find his mini-revenge plot unnecessary.

I liked the supporting characters: Sa-ha & Chul-san, and HJP’s hoobae Park Dong Chun.

I barely have time to make a review, so take my word on this. Watching this is like watching your car crash and burn in slo-mo especially the second half. This drama gave me pain and frustration over wasted potential because the foundation was done right but for some reasons, the plot did not make sense towards the end. I will never watch this a second time.

The 7/10 score I gave for its story is all for the first half of the show that is interesting and beautifully made. Rewatch value — I have no reason to see it a second time in full unless I missed Halmeoni and Good Boy (but I’ll go straight to their scenes only). So the 2/10 score is for them.

I place great importance on rewatch value since I also like watching a lot of American series and movies, and I still repeat some feel-good ones like ‘13 Going On 30, ‘ ‘Legally Blonde’, Never Been Kissed.’

Even funny ones like ‘Home Alone’, tearjerkers like ‘Me Before You’, or ‘If Only’, or long series like, ‘The Lord of the Rings’, or ‘Starwars’, I can rewatch anytime despite knowing the plot like the back of my hand.

Start-up is definitely not a 1 or a 10. So a piece of advice, read those who reviewed rating this with 6-8 because they make sense.