Start-Up (2020)

i enjoyed the last 3 episodes more than the rest of the drama.

there was a trend this year for almost all the dramas I watched: a lot of potential, lost. and sadly start up was also the case.
production was amazing, it was beautifully filmed and only made me want to visit seoul even more now but half the scenes could have been cut short, a lot silence, a bunch of unnecessary dialogue and moments where characters weren't moving the plot forward made it feel like I watched a 40 episode drama instead of 16.

I wasn't really interested in the romance or love triangle, never had a problem to choose between the two male leads because there was literally no chemistry between Ji Pyeong and Dal Mi and the romance between Dal Mi and Do San did not pull me in, even so it was obvious they should end up together. I was more interested in everyone individual growth, career wise because it's basically the only character development we had.
the Grandma, In Jae and Ji Pyeong were the best characters and I wish In Jae spent more time with her family and not only the miserable 4 minutes they gave us on ep 16. But she was a badass all around and i'd die for her.

one thing I did enjoy was the diversity of female characters from all ages and backgrounds I wish we could have seen more of that. Also the OST was really good.

Saha and Chul san were cute.

overall I wish this drama was more that what it was, I wish I was excited about it and I wished I cared about the characters but mostly I was just skipping fillers to get to the "good moments" and the potential it had was lost trying to drag us into an unnecessary love triangle.

I don't have much to say about this one tbh.

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Big potential from the start but turned out average.

This show has big potential to be one of the best dramas in 2020, but unfortunately it is just average due to the downfall of the plot story.

First eps was very good and outstanding; the backstory, the cinematography, the osts, the acting. Everything is just perfect that people drawn into this drama. The drama is very hype because 'Start-Up' itself is a hot topic these days among young adults. The story was good until eps 9. The last few eps doesn't really make sense and lost its direction. I agree with what most people said; this show seems like divided into two story (before time skip & after time skip) because all the plot holes seem to be forgotten/thrown away by the writers and creating new plots instead in the last eps (around ep 14).

The biggest plot twist this drama tried to portray since the mid eps(the hoodie guy) turns out very disappointing because it's not a big deal and doesn't make sense in reality. This twist ended only around 2 eps. The lead characters of this drama are not a good role model due to the wrong messages given to the viewers.

Despite all of this, the cinematography is one of the best in all dramas I have seen. The OSTS are excellent but sometimes it's inconsistent in which scene was used. All actor & actress acting & visual are good, but unfortunately for some characters (WIJ) it doesn't do justice since she is one of the main lead but get less screen time than guest role. Overall it can be an excellent drama with all reasons above but failed because of misdirection plot & lost value.

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Inspirational story, well-produced, with two great guys!

I had been so scared to watch this, because I heard that the sls broke everyone's heart! But no, I loved this drama so much!! I shouldn't have let other opinions get to me! Don't get me wrong, I loved the second lead to bits, but I thought the main leads were better together (#teamdosan) for one huge reason - you get to see both of them grow TOGETHER!

I also heard comments from people that the drama turns bad around the middle, but as someone in the field, I can't see why people are bashing on it - this drama shows the excitement of business and tech more than ANY other drama I've ever watched! Reignited my passion for ideating, thinking outside the box - a passion for entrepreneurship, giving this drama a special place in my heart.

I loved to see how the main couple grew together - their process and progress and how they are on their way to achieving their dreams together - AHHH SO INSPIRING! I loved the episodes before they got famous, although the story afterwards was fun to watch too.

Also, the music!! Oh, I just LOVE the music! I think the OST is what actually convinced me to give the drama a try in the first place! Loved the music, and now am learning to play it on the piano!

The second lead - he's adorable and amazing - and like I want to HAVE him, but I think that it was better that he didn't end up with our female lead. He was her mentor and made her cautious, but Do San is the one who ignites her passion. Ji Pyung was the mentor that they could honestly owe their success to, but sooner or later the mentees need to do things themselves - which is what they did. And yes, the story did focus a lot on Ji Pyung's backstory - but WHO SAID THAT YOU CAN'T FOCUS ON ANYONE BUT THE COUPLE? I was and am very attached to him and his story, and I loved that they put that much focus on him, because HE DESERVES IT - regardless of whether or not he gets the girl. I loved how close he was with the grandma <3 even if he didn't get the lead girl, he has a family now :)

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Waste of my valuable time

After watching this I decided to stop watching Korean dramas. Only to play with viewers emotions they forgot to give justice to the characters and viewers. In somany Korean dramas I have seen, always they give wrong message to society. In this also it is shown like if you are a good person you will will loose everything and end up with nothing but if you do bad or wrong things you can get anything without any punishment or without loosing anything. My sincere expectation is a drama or a movie should exhibit some ethics and morals so that the one who watches it should learn something and should be helpful to society

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Starts up good......ends poorly

The beginning of this drama was magnificent. I was hooked and looked forward to every new episode. The filming was beautiful, the actors were great, and the story was interesting, so I was very intrigued. However, halfway through the show, the writing goes downhill. Undeveloped plots, no character development, and just nonsense. It had so much potential to be one of the best k-dramas out there.
I'd say it is still worth the watch, but just know that the ending is not the best. The actors are great at acting, especially Kim Seon-ho. I am really excited to watch more dramas with him in it!

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This drama went from 100 to 0 in a flash.

The title "Start Up" is a ruse.
We begin with a bunch of inexperienced and business-illiterate individuals who aspire to be the next Steve Jobs or Google. While the first half of the drama offers you hope that this group would gradually learn how to be entrepreneurs and deal with typical start-up issues.... We end up with a group of (very) immature people who rely primarily on luck to secure financing, recognition, and success, then continue to sell their firm in ONE DAY with little regard for their long-term objectives.

The main characters make business decisions based on personal emotions—love life, envy, ecstasy, entitlement—consistently and unrepentant.
I cannot emphasise enough the lack of maturity that a group of 25+ year olds exhibits at work—even teenagers appear wiser in comparison.

The male lead has been reduced to a whining entitled toddler who, like a broken radio, constantly weeping and repeating "I have nothing" just because his love life isn't running well in order to win sympathy points from everyone around him.

The female protagonist transforms from an independent, practically self-raised woman with a strong personality to a damsel in distress who can't function without the assistance of the males in her life.

The action then moves on to a misplaced time jump that grants this team success and wealth from other companies' jobs. One of the most inexcusable time jumps ever. It wasn't just because the scene transition was abrupt. For starters, it deprives the characters of the opportunity to reflect and learn from their mistakes because of when it takes place.
Second, there is no character development in the three years that have passed. Everyone appears to be stuck in time. (stagnation)
Third, all of the formerly struggling characters have attained (fortunate) professional success and affluence, and we miss their path.

It feels actors/actress and producers forces them to change the scripts mid way to please the fans or maintain their image or boost it. Not only on this drama I have seen on so many others where plots gets forgotten the mid way

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So-so Drama Series

It was okay. Im not a fan of Bae Suzy, somehow I found myself trying to get a glimpse of the pilot episode and it was good. The back story was excellent! Esp Seo Dal-mi's dad. So I waited for another week to catch up because i was hooked. But as the week progresses, the drama was slacking. The Writer seem to have been confused too who the Male lead is haha. I can't believe 90% of the audience shipped the second male lead! How did the Writer came up to that plan lol. The drama lacked something I can't pinpoint, the 3rd to 14th Episode made me doze off after 15 minutes watching. The humor was pushy, doesnt come in naturally. Halmeoni and Ji Pyeong's relationship was the best tho, In-jae's badass character was good, although I expected more from her acting because Kang Han Na is a good actress. This Kdrama is just ok with a so-so ending. Not bad and def not good. I can't believe it reaches 16 Episodes with that story. It was short and brief and nothing special.

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This Drama Flops, but is Saved by These Things

Just like Itaewon Class, Start-Up lost everything after episode 10. To be precise, episode 13 destroys everything this drama should have had. In the first week of the broadcast, Start-up hit a rating of 9.0 in MDL. It was high and it was NOT overrated. The drama was really good, thus many anticipated the next episodes.
When it came to the end of the broadcast, the rating fell down to as far as it reaches: 7.9 (when this review is written).

Why does it flop?
1. First, get to know the meaning behind the title: Start-up. Establishing and developing a young company founded by one or more entrepreneurs. Yes, this drama should have been a story about Dalmi and friends fighting to become a top-tier entrepreneur who runs a successful company in the end.
2. Everything about developing a start-up company is the MAIN VALUE of the drama. I believe the writer has researched well for this drama so that it really provides new information about technology and business.
3. From the two points above, you now should have started expecting an ending where Dalmi and friends have successfully established a company from the ground.
4. Everything goes smoothly before episode 13 destroy this drama by throwing out the main value (mentioned in point 2). It skipped like the whole story. Dalmi and friends were struggling in the company, but episode 13 skips it.
5. EPISODE 13 shows you how Dalmi and friends now have successfully lived their life as an entrepreneur WITHOUT showing you THE PROGRESS.
6. I believe the writer/director prioritized the romance instead of the business aspect of the drama. So, when they feel the "fan-service" i.e romance scenes are not enough, they add it everywhere in the part within the episode.
7. Yes, so many unnecessary romance scenes that could be cut for the solidness of the plot's sake.
8. I believe the writer was in confusion about whether s/he should pick Dosan or Jipyeong as Dalmi's boyfriend as the majority of the watchers tends to love Jipyeong.

However, the drama was saved by:
1. Duo Chulsan and Yongsan. Their comedy is the best in this drama.
2. Chulsan and Saha's love lines. This better than the main roles'.
3. Touching family scenes. Ngl, I cried when Injae met her grandma.
4. The complexity and well-researched of the terms about the computer, technology in general, and business.
5. Interesting story in the first half of the drama. It successfully brings the drama far from boring.
6. Solidness plot in episode 1-12. Every event has a connection to other events and it triggers another conflict.
7. Grandmas: CEO of Sandbox and Injae's grandma.
8. Suzy.

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Fell flat

The bar was set so high, so so high on the first few episodes. The concept was exceptional, but the ending fell flat with a great big thud. It was a turd ending and we didn't deserve it.

The only light at the end of the tunnel was HJP.
He deserved better.

NDS was so unlikeable and I feel bad for them because I know they did their best.

This was a writer's failed attempt. It was great at first, but it failed.

What I don't understand is how such a great story can fail so much? We'll, we can learn from GOT S8 and Lost. Those ending were bad as well. Writer's should learn how to end a story better.

It felt like flying a great big kite, and the wind took it to the heavens. It felt like it will soar and never go down. But it got struck by lightning and burned.

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why do all my favourite dramas have the worst reviews ??

like it never makes sense to me, my fave dramas are those like itaewon class, start up, secretary kim but why are the written reviews always so low like bruhhh I don’t freaking understand ? I think these dramas are just so enjoyable man, I’m currently watching start up with my family cause well it includes business and my dad works in marketing so- you get the gist lmao, but it’s really enjoyable the drama, I don’t regret watching it ?

and this review is supposed to be at least 500 characters but idk what else to write so imma just take my time reaching the minimum word limit-

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It's quite a perfect drama with superb acting & it's worth watching

I watched many k drama's. Till date startup just blow my mind with strong cinematography and classic direction. All actors doing great job as specially Nam Joo hyuk . All episode are engaging brilliant to watch the drama no regrets. Specially this drama deals with great concert and plot loving to watch these type of drama. I didn't mention its background music and designing its very unique and cool actually. And bae suzy as usual doing great job actually the cast is perfect. And I'm very excited to see suzy in our indian??movies, she is in indian 2 movie cast it will great to watch her in our movie. At last I'm looking forward to next episode. In EP 13 14 the story is full of boring very bad directing, it's pace gone slow and slow very disappointed after watching EP 14, all things are illogical. In do san mind dal mi has no feeling for him he believes it for 3years but after he suddenly wants to join dal mi company its very illogical. Plot is totally missing. Looking forward to next episode. The ending EP is as usual a happy ending. It's worth watching but as compare to starting the ending EP a little lacking. At last it is a superb drama.. Of romance, sucess struggle comedy, emotional full package of entertainment.
Thank you.
Bye! ?

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sacrificed the potentials of being one of best youth/romance drama for a cliché love triangle.

it's not just a "2nd lead syndrome". dalmi and jipyeong had the most supportive and loving dynamics. a relationship based on mutual appreciation and being vulnerable to one to another. being there at their worst and celebrating their best: THIS a beautiful, realistic and no-cliché drama. no skinship, no small crushes, just pure love.
but apparently this drama was aimed for hopeless romantic teenagers instead of actual YOUTHS?

I somehow enjoy love triangles and - at first - I LOVED startup so much. mix of top tier humor, romantic and bittersweet moments , it reached the point where I was utterly torn between dosan and jipyeong (aka my oddly fav thing in love triangles) then I expected the writer to chose one of these two paths:

1/ flourishing dalmi and dosan relationship along with mutual character development till the very end + dalmi and jipyeong to settle down their past in a healthy mature way + more jipyeong and injae? = fair ending for all leads.

2/ breaking the love triangles stereotype by letting the 2nd lead win.
Jipyeong isnt just a 2nd lead. he was literally the backbone of the story and dodal relationship; this was already a good starter to break the stereotype plus there no written rule that a 1st should always get the girl + making dodal successful business partners who are grateful they met each others thru an accident.

what I did NOT expect:

- building up the most likeable, admirable, selfless and caring 2nd lead (wont say perfect, he did mistakes and owned them which him even MORE adorable) only give him the most disheartening ending ever. only him.

- downgrading dalmi most charismatic, carefree and spiritual personality down to some confused high schooler.

- making dosan, who is respectfully 28 years old, act like toddler without his candy cane and WITHOUT owning up or properly apologize.

the drama had the potentials & lessons for: (that sadly gone waste)

- you will be able to finally receive love back after many sacrifices and selflessness, it will be worth it.
-never revolve your future, self esteem and basically your passion around a person. yes a person could give you a push to start but never dedicate YOUR DREAM to be a person.
- to never sacrifice your spirit and courage for baseless romance. it never worth it.

of course not everyone gonna like a popular drama. popular dramas always get a backflash but this one is PAINFULLY wasted specially with this amazing casts.


this is just a summarized review btw so excuse my poor depth.

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