Minerva's Ramblings: Startup (2020)

 

Gotta admit the first reason I started watching Startup was Kim Seon-ho – having suffered major second-lead syndrome in 100 Days My Prince and then seeing him as the lead in Hometown Cha Cha Cha, I was looking forward to another performance of his. The premise of this show sounded entertaining enough, but nothing spectacular – just the kind of “time-pass” watch I needed at the time.

Wow, was I impressed! I was expecting an average feel-good romance set vaguely against some kind of corporate backdrop, but I was wrong. This turned out to be a sophisticated, entertaining romance-drama with a good dose of sensibility and a great deal of heart.

Being an entrepreneurship consultant myself, the way in which the startup culture was presented really fascinated me. Not that I am about to base my learnings of global best practices off of K-dramas, but still – who doesn’t want to begin their entrepreneurial journey in a place like Sandbox? Not to mention that the colourful environment and free food is enough to brighten up the gloomiest Monday blues (well, almost).

To put things in perspective, Startup is one of the best examples of its genre that I have seen where the setting is seamlessly integrated into the narrative structure without just…hanging there, so to speak. I say this because the romance genre in particular, is famous for giving us random settings that look cool on screen but have little to do with either the plot or characters. Sandbox, however, is not just a plot device for the main characters to run into each other. Rather, it is the heart of the show, defining character worldviews and driving the narrative forward. The little post-it notes on the wall sum it up perfectly, with everyone having their own distinct motives for doing what they do.

I was particularly impressed with how the personal and professional journeys of each of the main characters were intertwined so flawlessly and integrated into the corporate backdrop, without it feeling forced or gimmicky. The episodes are titled appropriately with startup lingo, such as “Minimum Viable Product”, “Key Man”, “Burn Rate” and “Acquhire”, with each term being given a simple explanation on screen, which I thought was a lovely touch! 

A good romance is nothing without great leads. And boy, does Startup have them.

First of all, we have Nam Do-san. This is the guy you cannot help falling in love with. He is smart, kind, humble, gentle and loving. This is the guy who will go all out for you, the guy who will have your back, no matter what. As a friend, a lover, a son…heck, even as a grandson-in-law (is that a thing?), he is someone you definitely want by your side.

Do-san may not be winning any prizes for eloquence, but with him it is all about the actions. Big ones, like when he carries Chul-san on his back to the hospital, or develops an ENTIRE. FREAKING. APP. for his girlfriend’s grandmother whom he barely even knows…and little ones, like when he stares longingly at his own hands to remind himself that, however superficial or random, they are a tiny part of the real him that Dal-mi genuinely likes. 

Can we just take a moment to appreciate Nam Joo-hyuk’s performance? I guess playing an introvert convincingly is more difficult that playing an extrovert, since so much depends on what the character does not do, and does not say. Nam Joo-hyuk simply blew me away. Watching him on screen was like a character study of its own – his eyes, his smile, the little mannerisms with his hands and shoulders – he brings out Do-san’s dorkiness and genius perfectly, while keeping him very much human.

Then we have Seo Dal-mi. She is a breath of fresh, fragrant air, like one of the cherry blossoms blooming at her doorstep. She is so bubbly and cute that you can well imagine why not just one, but TWO amazing men would be falling head over heels for her. Much of it is to do with Bae Suzy’s innate loveliness – her smile alone makes you want to smile as well.

But Dal-mi is not just a pretty airhead. Her character, like the rest of the leads in the show, has a lot of depth. She is not portrayed as a super smart princess to whom everything comes easily. In terms of talent or brains she is in fact quite average, and has her fair share of struggles among people who are more privileged and smarter than her. But her most admirable quality is her innate ability to turn every threat into an opportunity and that, no matter what, she never gives up. Her single-minded perseverance creates the perfect balance to Do-san’s more laidback, dreamy approach, while her tenacity and ability to think on her feet make her a natural leader. 

Finally, we have the man himself, Han Ji-pyeong. This is the guy you most definitely do not want to fall in love with. He is a snobbish, arrogant prick and is certainly not the “Good Boy” that Halmoni insists he is. And yet you cannot hate him. Other than Halmoni, he really has no one who means anything to him in life. We must remember that while Do-san is an extremely socially awkward person, he does have a very close-knit circle of family and friends and therefore, it is not too much of a stretch for him to develop other healthy relationships – something which Ji-pyeong, for all his swag, has never had. Of course he is uneasy connecting with and trusting people at a deeper level, even though these are people he loves.

Ji-pyeong is a character you love to hate. You empathize with his past, admire his success and shake your fist at his idiocy all at the same time. He is brutally self-aware and yet utterly clueless about his own emotions, and Kim Seon-ho plays him with a reckless, charming je ne sais quoi that makes you want to slap him and hug him at the same time (my husband kept switching between wanting him to get the girl and not get the girl between episodes – for a non-K-drama fan, these were some pretty intense reactions).

As any serious fan knows, a good K-drama needs a kickass supporting cast. And Startup has an awesome lineup! From Won In-jae, who seemingly has it all but is desperate to break free and be her own person – to the mysterious Alex, who brings some much-needed conflict to the plot – to Dal-mi’s unbearable ninny of a mother whom you slowly begin to care for, almost against your will – each of these characters is memorable.  

Of course, pride of place goes to Halmoni, played by Kim Hae-sook, the mother (or should I say grandmother) of this entire chain of events (seriously, K-dramas have the BEST grandmas) and without whose bright idea this drama would not need to exist. Truly, her idea of getting an older boy to write anonymous letters to her depressed teen granddaughter using a fake identity is a garbage idea and doomed for failure right from the start. And yet you can’t deny that this is literally the ONLY ray of light in Dal-mi’s life that keeps her going for years, so perhaps grandmother did know best, after all.

Shoutout to Kim Joo-hun, who is clearly a master of his craft. Even with such little screen time, his portrayal as Dal-mi’s dad is powerful and absolutely heart-wrenching. I can never think of nosebleeds the same way again. Likewise, Director Yoon (Seo Yi-sook) who is ultimate girl power goals – if I could have half her wisdom, elegance and wit at her age, I would be very happy!

While the individual characters are awesome, where the show really scores is in depicting their relationships with each other. Apart from the main couple and their obvious chemistry, Halmoni and Ji-pyeong were perhaps my favourite duo, and just seeing them together on screen made me feel all fuzzy inside. I also enjoyed the love-hate relationship between the sisters and how this was handled to show their own personal struggles and growth, without being too much or too little. Do-san and Ji-pyeong are hilarious together, especially the scene where both are stuck at Dal-mi’s house for dinner. The actors were clearly having a lot of fun with these scenes and while I love them both, I must admit that Kim Seon-ho’s facial expressions were simply unmatched.

The humour is excellent and organic, without dragging you away from the narrative. The Samsan Tech trio are all kinds of goofy and adorkable and their interactions are hilarious, especially in the scenes with the long-suffering Stephanie – enter Resting Bitch Face and Classic Eye Roll. There were some genuinely laugh-out-loud moments, such as the music video CODA acceptance speech that Do-san’s cousin cooks up, which literally had me wiping tears of laughter off my face.

Talking about aesthetics in a K-drama is perhaps a no-brainer, but I would be doing this show a disservice if I did not mention how visually stunning it is. The vibrancy of Sandbox made me wish I worked in a place like that, while hubby’s geeky heart was stolen by Samsan Tech’s ramshackle “office”. The costumes were on point, and I so wanted to steal Dal-mi’s and Stephanie’s business casual looks! Ji-pyeong’s outfits were amazing too, as were his apartment (that view!) and matte black Mercedes. Looking around his house made me feel like Lizzie Bennet at Pemberley…like, what woman in her right mind would refuse a chance to live in that house?! His cuteness and dimples was an advantage, too

Which brings us to the elephant in the room. I had no idea that netizens were SO passionate about who Dal-mi would eventually end up with, some going so far as to actually hate the show because she chose Do-san! While Ji-pyeong was a worthy second lead and one who deserved my empathy, there was no doubt in my mind that Do-san was the right choice. The way he understood, appreciated and supported Dal-mi, the chemistry they shared… Yes, he lied but he sincerely repented for his actions – not just by saying sorry and making us and Dal-mi feel sorry for him – but by owning up to his mistakes and then GIVING DAL-MI THE SPACE SHE NEEDED WITHOUT A SECOND THOUGHT, and without being a whiny bitch about it. That is a deeply caring, loving and respectful man right there.

I watched Startup pretty early on in my K-drama journey, but now that i’m more of a seasoned viewer, I can understand why there might have been some confusion over Dal-mi choosing Do-san. In most K-dramas, the rules are very clear on who the male lead is and who the second lead is. The male lead is almost always introduced first. Most likely there will be some kind of childhood backstory, making us empathize more and root for him, despite the second lead also being a pretty worthy candidate (in fact, in most K-dramas the second leads are wonderful characters who often get so much fan love they end up being a lead in their next show!).

Of course, Startup turns all these tropes on their head. Going by K-drama rules, Ji-pyeong is the one who is introduced first, the one who gets the biggest and most sympathetic backstory. And then, suddenly, we realize that he is not the one getting the girl! I wonder if I may have felt the same IF I had watched this later on in my K-drama journey, but – as it was I had no preconceived expectations and therefore the romantic conclusion felt very authentic to me.

All in all, Startup is a wonderful, intelligent drama which gets it right on most counts – a strong script, gorgeous actors, heartfelt performances and genuine chemistry. If you are seeking for something that’s pure romantic fluff, you may find yourself disappointed by what you feel is too much focus given to the other aspects of the story. On the other hand, if you are seeking something of substance which is different from your usual, run-of-the-mill love story – something which you may not be able to fit into a neat little box, but at the same time something that’s deeply satisfying and makes you feel good about yourself – then definitely give this one a try.