The songs we featured during the recap: My Dear Love by Suzy, Merry Go Round by Kim Dong Hyeok, Tears of Piano by Park Sejun
Listener Jeff’s comment about Yong San’s revenge arc — was it a red herring, and why the storyline ultimately became more about Han Ji Pyeong’s growth than actual danger.
Why this episode is titled “Elevator Speech” - the literal and emotional elevator pitches that change minds in under a minute, especially SDM’s desperate appeal to Do San.
Seo Dal Mi’s humiliation spiral: the hacked company, no back-ups, spilled coffee, pride, and why she couldn’t take Do San’s calls after he saved her company.
Han Ji Pyeong’s complicated tenderness — hiding Dal Mi under the desk, switching from “Dal-mi-shi” to “Seo 대표님,” threatening Do San in the elevator, then immediately confessing the truth.
Do San’s breaking point: the returned baseball from Park Chan Ho, his father’s quiet wisdom, the five-hour bike ride to the cabin, and the symbolism of throwing something away that you cannot forget.
The full-circle moment: Dal Mi once begged to be CEO at the hackathon; now she’s begging the Samsan Tech trio to join CheongMyeong; this time, desperation wins.
Yong San’s maturity arc — seeking out honest criticism from Ji Pyeong, apologizing for blaming him for his brother’s death, and asking the fundamental question: do we want to code or run a company?
Chairman Yoon’s sharp reminder that investors who fund companies without business plans are “garbage,” and a discussion of due diligence and startup discipline.
The sisters’ evolving relationship: Dal Mi accidentally calling In Jae “언니” before correcting herself to “대표님,” and In Jae filing paperwork to change her name back to Seo after realizing her grandmother’s eyesight is failing.
Words that wound: from Ji Pyeong’s harsh Demo Day critique to Dal Mi’s breakup lines — “You’re not the one I loved” — and how language shapes identity and destiny in this episode.
The epic piggyback ride across the land bridge, the bandana wrapped around Dal Mi’s scraped knee, the wrist grab, hair touches, and that meaningful head-rest while she sleeps.
What we’re watching now: Summer Strike, While You Were Sleeping (a mini Start-Up reunion!), The Art of Sarah starring Shin Hye Sun, and narrowing down contenders for Season 14 — including Signal, My Mister, Resident Playbook (or maybe Hospital Playlist!), Our Unwritten Seoul, and more.
References
K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Pandora.
Thanks a lot for another great kdrama season, Sung Hee and Joanna.
ReplyDeleteOn first hearing your choice for ' Start- Up' I wasn' t very keen on watching it. Because of the business related title, I never considered watching it before. It turned out to be one of my favourite shows.Although I go in for it because of the romance and the great acting (above all HJP/ NDS and the Grandmother) ,I find your discussions of the business aspects and terms very interesting and informative. It broadens my mind and that's precious.Thanks again for the time you put into Kdrama Chat!
Naf, I'm so happy to hear that we turned you into a Start-Up convert! I loved this show from the beginning. I'm also glad to hear that haven't gone too overboard with the business side of the show. Haha. It's been really fun for me!
DeleteRegarding the next season, I would love to rewatch Hospital Playlist, Signal and Our Unwritten Seoul.
ReplyDeleteI dropped The Art of Sarah, it's not for me.
For the next season I strongly recommend ' Our Blues'. The series revolves around the lifes of people of various age living on Jeju Island and it depicts their stories in an omnibus format. It features great actors (Lee Byung- hun/ Shin Min-a/Kim Woo-bin/ Lee Jung-eun...), has wonderful cinematography and a good OST.
I would like to starongly add my voice to "Our Blues".
DeleteI believe myself, and Malcolm both recommended it in the past.
It is honestly perfect for this podcast. Thanks to its format that focuses on different characters (but still within the same community) each few episodes we get to see a variety issues and topics. That will keep things fresh.
And the cast is phenomenal (Han Ji-Min can be added to the above list). Also, it has an amazing performance by a young actress (can't remember her name).
I love the series. It is in my Top 10 Kdrama.
Roh Yoon-seo? Who was also in Crash Course in Romance?
DeleteShe is brilliant.
I 'third' Our Blues as the next one to explore on the podcast. The cast is beyond stellar, the OST is gorgeous (contains the only version of Quando, Quando, Quando I ever need to hear on repeat), the stories are raw and real and the setting is Jeju.
What more could we want?
Thank you for the recommendations. This is always so hard!
DeleteWhile this tv episode of Start-Up was so-so for me, I really loved the podcast's 13.14 review. Joanna's point about the "words" theme was really interesting -- I hadn't thought of that! You offered so many great examples.
ReplyDeleteOne major aspect of k-drama that fascinates me is the stark contrast between Korean vs. American styles of expression -- U.S. tv shows tend to let it all hang out, while the characters in k-dramas seem much more guarded and circumspect in their language and expression. And of course the podcast does a great job in discussing some of the important cultural aspects behind these differences.
As a viewer I sometimes bark at the tv "just TELL HER what you feel or mean!" But to be fair, I also do that for some U.S. shows, where an inexplicable refusal to reveal something is often used as a cheap plot device, to get from point A to point B to create conflict and tension.
The second drama I ever watched (after EAW) was Do You Like Brahms? with Park Eun Bin.
DeleteIt is the story of two introverts developing a relationship and finding their life paths, and you might just go crazy waiting for them to communicate directly!
I did love it though. The most accurate portrayal of a classical musical conservatory and classical music performance that I have ever seen in any drama, K or otherwise.
Start-up's whole love story began with words - in letters. :)
Jeff, it will be interesting to hear what you think of episode 15! So much happens in episode 15 that Sung Hee and I struggled to keep our thoughts organized and not talk for two hours!
DeleteI have been inspired by K Dramas in my personal life. I have found the conversations about feelings and perspectives to be great for modeling. I am convinced that K Dramas helped me improve my relationship with my son, when he was in high school and it was during the pandemic.
Words, whether spoken or written, are so impactful!
I’d love your takes on either Signal for its intricate plot, outstanding cast and timeless themes or Hospital Playlist because the time is right for a serial killer-free, non-angsty, feel-good kdrama blessed with a sparkling ensemble cast of stars and individual stories. (Resident Playbook is a superficial also-ran to the original.) I understand some of the Korean popular songs they perform were hits in the day and have meaning I’d like to know more about. And they learned how to PLAY THEIR INSTRUMENTS for real.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, love Signal. It's on the list. We are trying to balance doing a show we love vs. doing a new show so we can explore the show with our listeners, with fresh eyes! Thank you for your comments.
DeleteI disagree on Resident Playbook. Hospital Playlist focused on physicians twenty years out of med school, while Resident Playlist focused on OB/GYN year one residents, which is a whole other experience. I thought the performances and the writing were great taken on their own. Whether the storylines and issues are complex enough for this podcast is a question for Sung hee and Joanna, but I really enjoyed this show.
ReplyDeleteOn the frustration with the “Just say it already!” yelling at the characters, me too on all that, Jeff! But I’ve had an unexpressed crush on a friend, who I treasure, and didn’t want to risk making him uncomfortable, so I understand how that feels. In this episode, I wanted SDM to tell NDS that she was mean to him because she wanted him to take the opportunity, and that she feared he wouldn’t because of the “You’re my dream” statement from him. That might have fixed things faster. But that would compromise the drama!
I meant Resident Playbook! And I do think Signal is a wonderful show.
DeleteI'd be happy with Hospital Playlist or Resident Playbook (both charming in their own way), but since HP is two series, we'd be buckled in for a long haul. Agree about the music in HP, Anonymous.
DeleteSignal 2 is supposed to come out this year, I read?
Hospital Playlist and Resident Playbook are masterpieces. I agree with Sung Hee that HP is better, but both are wonderful. They have completely different perspectives. But you know me and music, HP is full of music AND the actors sing and play the instruments. Will their skills ever cease to amaze us? Jeon Mi-do is my hero?
DeleteFor next season I’d like to request “Can This Love Be Translated?” The Hong sisters have created a masterpiece. The script is natural without being simple. On the contrary, the script is complex. It is not really about the male leads job as a multi-lingual interpreter, but about the effort and patience it takes to learn the the love language of a partner. Will he learn or will he fail. The roadblocks setup that he needs to navigate around are setup by the female lead without being cliché. While the script is near perfect, the acting of the entire ensemble cast is off the charts. Kim Seon-ho once again demonstrates his ability to convey complex emotions in a very real, natural way. As male lead he speaks in four languages while conveying emotions. Go Yuon-Jung is brilliant play essentially two different characters. Credible performances by Japanese heart throb Sota Fukushi plays the third wheel to perfection. He is not the villain but another suitor whose passions are reals; Lee Yi-dam and Choi Woo-sur play the 2nd leads in a very mature and chaotic romance. Directed by Yoo Young-eun to perfection, including leading the brilliant actor Kim Won-he’s to one of his better, and less eccentric roles.
ReplyDeleteThen there is the brilliant and sublime cinematography. Every scene is a masterpiece. Every framing, every cámara movement, every edit is perfection. Every scene a picture postcard. Filmed in four different countries (Korea, Japan, Canada, and Italy). All as a brilliant travel log. I kept pausing and admiring the scenes. The lighting also stands out. And when was the last time anyone was mesmerized by the lighting of a scene?!!!
Finally the OST is perfection. I’ll call out Waltz for Love by Oh Dong-join (music)and Naiv (Lyrics)
So please consider Can This Love Be Translated for season 14
Wow, that's the most passionate review of CTLBT that I have encountered!
DeleteI've steered away from it for the moment, because I don't like to watch dramas with overlapping casts. And because other reviews weren't so effusive.
But maybe I'll watch it after all...