Before I start you all have to remember first that I watched “Start-Up” for Nam Joo Hyuk, Not Kim Seon Ho. I didn’t even know that he was going to be in it, because I didn’t watch the trailers or the teaser. So with that in mind, let’s proceed. Also remember that I’m done with the love triangle and I don’t want to speak about it here. I’m just detailing what I feel about the characters.

Let’s talk about flaws. Some people say that Ji Pyeong is not flawed or Do San is not flawed but if we really look behind what is really shown, we can indeed see that the basis of this story is about flawed characters and how they make their way through the world, fall in love, succeed, fail, fall, fight, cry and live. But flaws are a call for help. Do San’s flaws are that even if he is described as the “Living Buddha”, when his emotions take over his rational sense, he goes into a rage blackout even without thinking. We saw him calming himself down with the knitting, but we didn’t know how passionate he could be about something when his entire mind is focused on it. And so seeing his rage blackouts, I’m glad we got to see that he is not just sunshine, but a hurricane in the sunshine. Do San smashing the name plate did indeed mean that he was defending Dal Mi, but he also let his emotions run amok and then when it all calmed down he realized what he was doing. He’s passionate, yes. But sometimes, you have to tone it down to sit down and listen because there might be something important in what the other has to speak. But let’s get to that later.

Ji Pyeong on the other hand had a taste of his own flaw this week: him not trusting Samsan Tech. He didn’t trust them in their initial stage and they got hurt by the harsh truths he had to say. But Ji Pyeong made it quite clear in the beginning that he was not going to sugarcoat stuff. He’s a Taurus, and they are famous as being earth bound, introverted, stubborn and most importantly, realistic. We have seen all these attributes from Ji Pyeong. Considering his entire childhood, he was always stubborn, but that stubbornness to succeed is what made him, (a) successful (b) harsh on the world and (c) more stubborn, but with a realistic view on life. But he is also criticizing. Some people might see it as pulling them from the stove into the fire, but some might look at it a new way: constructive criticism. And as someone who went through a similar story, I have to say even if criticism is not really good, constructive criticism is something that could hone you and prepare you for the real impending doom. But without knowing someone’s sensibility to the harsh truth one shouldn’t just shove it down their throat; as seen through Yong San’s brother. Ji Pyeong didn’t know how his words could affect someone fragile and even is Yong San’s brother believed that someone else’s thoughts and words shouldn’t bother him, that was what drove him to take his own life. Words can have an effect on people in a way some might take lightly...

On a brighter note, its nice that both actors are both fond of one another in rl :)
https://www.cosmo.ph/entertainment/nam-joo-hyuk-kim-seon-ho-rivalry-start-up-a483-20201122

"Nam Joo Hyuk on breaking out of character in some ~tense~ scenes with Kim Seon Ho":

"Do San and Ji Pyeong have a difficult relationship, [especially] if it were something [going on] in real life. Do San is not someone you see every day. As I did my lines, sometimes I, myself, came out. There [were] some times when I felt sorry toward Ji Pyeong for saying these lines as Do San. Those were times we had to film again because it was so funny and we broke out into laughter."

"Kim Seon Ho on his newfound chemistry with Nam Joo Hyuk":

"I met Joo Hyuk through this series. He's sincere and real about everything. Everything he does feels so real. I would just follow along with that energy and it was really fun. For chemistry, mutual trust is really important. Sometimes he would improvise and it would be Do San himself. It was amazing."

Some thoughts: 

- I often tried to pretend to sleep in front of my friends and end up putting an awkward face. I can't even imagine if I need to pretend to sleep in front of my crush like Dalmi especially when Dosan caresses her face gently. It's feels like I pretend to sleep when my parent comes to my room, and they stroking my hair, it's so comforting yet heart-pounding moment 

-Found a post on Tumblr Nam Joo Hyuk in a flannel shirt, from The Light in Your Eyes and Weight-Lifting Bok Joo, each character is so different. For me Joohyuk is the actor that gives us boyfriend vibes, I don't know why, he's not even my favorite actor (I love Park Bogum but I have a hard time finishing Record of Youth). Both of the drama are focused on youthful dreams, family, and stuff but why it gives us a totally different impression. 

-  Dalmi's desperate "Yaaa!" to Dosan feels so real. The girlfriend demands her boyfriend to listen to her but he keeps avoiding her. 

- I can relate to Dosan when he can't let Namsan Dalmi and Saha getting dismissed. I once built a studio together with my friends, we love to share our dream, what will we do in the future together, how we plan out a project just like when Namsan Team spent a hopeful night together brainstorming about their upcoming business, yet it doesn't end up as they thought, a separation comes. For Namsan Tech it's because of a third party, while I decided by myself to leave from the studio. It feels bitter when we know we've shared the same dream with a friend that no longer our friends. 

Im cruel to say this but c´est la vie.

honestly, by now I myself don´t have the slightest trust that life is ever fair

but we can only move forward, what else? just keep moving.

This must be weakest Park Hye Ryun drama. Started so promising but became melodrama from ep 6, where all the leads do nothing but sit and cry most of the time

I have something on my wall that hopefully helps understand what the writer is trying to show. https://www.dramabeans.com/members/amy1009/activity/1170491/

After hearing all the criticism for this drama I want to go back and watch School Nurse Files to get back my Nam Joo Hyuk love.

Please, we all know Halmoni/HJP is endgame. But I’m hoping they would give a twist and bring out the gays by making DS-JP a thing.

I haven't been over here for awhile because I haven't been watching many new dramas. However, Start-Up is one that has really drawn my interest. The thing that amazes me the most about it is all the comments it's drawing everywhere on the net. At Asianwiki there 1,236 comments and one of the commenters said they thought that was a record. A lot of the comments are negative about the writing and the characters. Some think Do San cries too much, he's too dumb, and he's hostile. I think this is funny because after I started watching Start-Up, I began watching, Padam Padam and by the time I finished it I realized that the male lead in it was older than Do San, but very much like him. Kang Cheol was culturally illiterate and immature; he was involved in a love triangle in which he was totally besot by Ji Na; he fought with his male rival with his fists for Ji Na; he would do almost anything to please, and stand up for her; he felt guilty about things he'd done in his past; AND he cried a lot. This seems to be a pattern in Kdramas that occurs occasionally, and I don't dislike men that cry and cry often--in fact I think men crying makes them look more human. But I am really getting tired of love triangles. I'm beginning to think that from now on I'll stop watching a drama if it has a love triangle. So if any of you can recommend Kdamas that don't have them and that are worth watching, pass them on to me, please.

I'm like 12 episodes late to this thread but I managed to catch up. Am I the only one who thinks that Do-San is unbelievably selfish? I get that this is the typical Kdrama storyline where it is imperative the first male lead gets the girl. I kinda just wished Start-up would have a refreshing take on this considering how they built up Ji Pyeong's character. But yeah, I honestly want to be convinced about Do-San being the white knight in the story but fast track to episode 12, it just felt so underwhelming. Maybe his character wasn't as strongly portrayed as it should've been (no offense to NJH), however, the story wasn't dragging to begin with. I'd expect it to flat line by episode 6 but I kept on watching. Episode 9 was well put as most Kdrama's would've opted to keep the story expanding till episode 12 but we got a dose of truth in episode 9 that made the storyline albeit, predicatble but still managed to keep it intriguing. I like the support cast, they make a HUUUUGE difference in really providing the support arc this show needed. Nothing to me can break the realtionship Halmoni and Ji Pyeong has built - the writer should ensure this be well played out till the finale because this story arc was the very foundation of my viewing retention. It would be a travesty if the writers would just throw Ji Pyeong's character under the bus. Gosh, I hope this doesn't happen. I have high hopes that Ji Pyeong will receive the redemption his character deserves. I don't mind if he doesn't get the girl, but the writers should at least give his character enough reprieve to find that silver lining. Bae Suzy in some scenes had the splitting image of Park Shin-hye, I swear. Her acting still needs improvement, but it's nice that she's not always the damsel in distress in every single episode.
I was really hesitant to watch this show, but quarantine had me Netflix'n again. So here I am back to this site and sharing my thoughts. Episode 12 was a doozy because it felt like they had to give Do-san's character a time to pathetically suffer, I'm biased because I've seen this scene in one too many kdramas and I guess I know what to expect in the upcoming episodes. But for what it's worth, Do-san deserves some life lessons. He's been really lucky with almost everything and I honestly don't care if he was guilt tripping the entire time because it serves him right. To begin with, he never got the karma he deserved. He's still a blessed little nerd who gets what he wants even at another's expense. And some people think Ji Pyeong was the insensitive pine nut in this story. Again, I'm just biased. Blame it on the crying dimples.

Kim Sun Ho - you had me at "Welcome to Waikiki 2" and while that show will never be in par with its predecessor, you made me stick around and deal with all the cringing moments of Mun Ka-Young's acting. (ok, I admit, I watched you first in Strongest Deliveryman, but that wasn't your best role)
And now here you are in Start-Up, a second male lead with a well written backstory that for a moment, we forgot about Nam Joo-Hyuk. How dare you make us cry in the first episode, the second, the 9th, the 11th and 12th. You like putting us through that and knowing how we'll anticipate your character being thrown under the bus makes it unbearable for me to wait for the last few episodes. But, I'll stick around because you made this show likeable for me and I enjoyed every second you come up on the screen and making the writer and casting director regret their decision of hiring you only as a second male lead. I'll love you long time my little weepy corndog.