I started this drama as soon as it aired because I loved the casting. Seon Ho, Suzy, Joo Hyuk and Kang Hanna made me excited to watch this drama. Immediately after tuning into this drama, I was hooked. The first episode was heartbreaking and so so beautiful. The cinematography and storyline was enticing. Seeing Dal Mi’s passion for pursing her own business, her being a strong female character was amazing to me. I knew for sure I would love this drama.

But then...

Start Up had great potential. The characters stories could have been so much better. At the end, they were all reduced to nothing but a plot for romance. As I kept watching the show, rather than business it became a disappointing love drama. I wished the characters had the chance to grow and flourish but atlas this turned out to be a typical kdrama. With many plot holes and confusing (dare I say: immature) themes I truly did not want to continue this drama.

Han Ji Pyeong is someone who is outwardly selfish but inwardly selfless. He made more money homeless with library wifi as a teenager and came up faster in his career at a younger age with less and more against him than SST boys and the show made the boys want to play the pity olympics in his presence. They genuinely talk to him and about him like he’s some rich man who’s never known struggle. Could never understand their “grind”. Never had to work to get to where he is. Like he’s just always had everything. They never addressed his past and it disappointed me so much. Ji Pyeong himself doesn’t bring it up because he doesn’t want to pity himself. He’s truly selfless. He helped SST from the start, saving them from getting scammed to teaching them how to operate their business.

I’d say Nam Do San is someone outwardly selfless but inwardly selfish. At the start, his character was so lovable and lively. And he definitely had his good points, creating Noongil was inspiring and for that I will always appreciate Do san. I could also understand why Dal Mi would fall for him.

I don’t know when exactly his toxic and insecure side came in but boy was it ugly....

When Yong San wanted Ji Pyeong to tell the harsh truth about the 2STO acquisition, Ji Pyeong (their mentor) did just that. And how did Do san respond? By punching Ji Pyeong. He couldn’t see Dal Mi being disappointed and took it out on Ji Pyeong while making it seem like it’s his fault for talking harshly. That was the most pathetic thing I saw from him. His obsession with Dal Mi was unhealthy. I never once saw him say the words “I like you” or “I love you”. It’s always been “What do you like about me?” To me that’s thinking only about yourself. It’s a relationship without proper communication. After the 3 year gap, he didn’t seem to have changed much. The gap was stagnant and didn’t impact the story at all.

Dal Mi, once a strong business driven women, to a girl who needed a man by her side to succeed. Seeing as how Dal Mi and Do San had only been together for a few months, it baffles me how they both couldn’t let go. At times it also seemed unhealthy. I would understand if they are truly such amazing characters but since most of their relationship at the beginning was made out of lies, it doesn’t make a lot of sense. It became a story about puppy love.

It surprises me that Dal Mi never once talked about the letters with Ji Pyeong, the beginning of the drama was based so much on those letters for it to be thrown away just like that. Like it meant absolutely nothing. We all know that the letters were Ji Pyeong’s true words. But that plot never made it in. Rather they made it seem like it was insignificant because Ji Pyeong didn’t go running behind Dal Mi for 15 years. Which is weird. Why would an orphan do that? He had to take care of himself first before doing anything else. It’s clear the writers did that to kill off any Jidal/Ji Pyeong stans.

Now onto to In Jae, my best girl. While it was EXTREMELY disappointing that we barely got to see this strong woman enough, her character still shone through and it was the best. From being Won In Jae to Seo In Jae again, we could see how family mattered for her too. The story did not do justice to her one bit. How had she not known about Halmeoni’s condition for three years?! Make it make sense. I can’t say much as we didn’t see enough of her but all I know is that I love her.

The story itself became a mess. The situation with the fandom is also a complete mess. It seems like stans just can’t handle criticism to their fav actors. Although no one attacked the actors, stans made it seem like they did and it’s really immature. Critiquing the writing of a drama isn’t hate speech to an actor. I hope these type of stans grow up. I’ve seen many Suzy and Joo Hyuk stans call Seon Ho stans monsters and what not just because they didn’t like the writing. They think we don’t like the show just because Jidal didn’t happen. Which isn’t true at all. We dislike it because Ji Pyeong wasn’t treated right. He wasn’t given anything even until the last episode. I hope these stans understand this and not trash on others simply because they didn’t like the story. It’s a different story if anyone attacked an actor though.

Also, Dodal and Jidal fights are useless. Because we all know Ji Pyeong deserves better anyway and as long as Dodal are happy together we should accept that. I want to keep on writing but I’m afraid it’ll be wayyy too long. So that’s all.