Did #StartUp episodes 13 and 14 met the “glow-up” I was waiting for?
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I think, yes. I believe that Dosan is more confident about his skills and talent now, knowing what he can do, and what his talent is worth. I also think that he has matured enough to take into consideration the feelings of Dalmi (albeit a misunderstanding).
Yongsan’s character “glow up” was the most prominent. His emotional wound was healed and even apologized to Jipyeong for blaming him about his brother’s death. And he was even bold enough to ask for “criticism” (Jipyeong’s honest opinion) about what the three of them should do (whether they do another Start-Up business or partner with Dalmi’s company).
one of my fave scene in Episode 14. Both have matured in the past 3 years, both owning their mistakes.
As for Chulsan, he had the “physical glow-up” that could now match Sang Ha’s elite aura… although still a bit clueless when it comes to dating, I’m happy that he’s also confident enough to “brag” their achievements and success story.
Not only did the three had “glow-ups”’or character developments.
The Seo sisters’ mother also had a glow-up. She’s no longer a mother who cares about wealth but now feels sincere gratitude and appreciation towards the people around her.
In Jae will finally dissolve her adoption, freeing herself from that Won family.
screenshot
Loopholes of this episode:
Three years have passed yet:
Jipyeong who has already confessed his feelings towards Dalmi before and spends the holidays with the family, eventually still didn’t knew what “Dalmi” likes (Big hands scene)
After spending I don’t know how many holidays together, Dalmi is still “uncomfortable” with Jipyeong
*I am not saying that they should have been together. In that three years there should have been a clearer “relationship” between Dalmi and Jipyeong — whether friend-zoned/sibling-zoned not paint Jipyeong as still a clueless, coward guy (he confessed while eating ramen just to be honest then he becomes that?)
Injae didn’t have an inkling that halmeoni is losing her eyesight? Really? Is she that cold hearted not to even ask how she was doing yet when she knew and saw for herself halmeoni’s situation she was prompted to dissolve her adoption (still I’m glad she did)
The three years that passed seemed vague and unclear at some point.
Also, just saying this. Jipyeong came clean to Dalmi about the elevator talk with Dosan (as he was just trying to hold off Dosan to see Dalmi as per her request not to be seen crying by others). So please stop throwing shades to the guy.
He even told her that she could still catch up with him… so where’s being manipulative there?
Last two episodes and we all know it will be Dalmi and Dosan (as also predicted based from their poster 😅), again reiterating my hopes… a happy ending for the everyone and justice for those who deserve it 😉
Oh Hyun Jin is the youngest executive at her company but the oldest newbie mother in the postnatal care center. There she meets with Jo Eun Sung and Lee Roo Da who are total opposite of each other. Together with the two and other moms, they embark on a the journey called motherhood.
THE Feels:
Birthcare Center is a fresh concept for a drama. It’s a fusion of comedy, family & work drama that also seems like a documentary of motherhood from pregnancy to postnatal care.
I was hesitant to watch it at first thinking that it was a “makjang” drama that focuses on family with mistresses… the poster looks very serious. So I just tried to watch the first episode and it was hilarious. One of the funniest series I’ve seen.
Birthcare Center may seem like a hyperbole of the motherhood process but the concerns raised and the points shown were as real as it gets.
Here are some of the concerns and issues that were raised by the series.
Breastfeeding or Formula?
Working Mom or Full Time Mom?
Relative or nanny? (on who’s to look after the kid if the parents are working)
Self-Esteem issues after giving birth (having to deal with weight gain, hair loss among others)
Communication between husbands and wives (we sometimes hide things from them because we do not want to burden the other party— sadly, most of the time, it causes misunderstandings)
Marriage (would you marry your partner because you got pregnant?)
Pain of miscarriage and of losing a child
Loving yourself — the series reminds the mothers that we too are human and that we too should still love ourselves and still deserve our happiness!
There are lines that even hit a spot when I watched this because I was a working Mom before but had been a full time mom for my youngest child, and I have experienced both that’s why I also cried buckets watching some scenes.
This is very true for working moms. And sometimes having to take maternity leave works against for women #sadfactA full time mom sometimes even cut connections to some “friends” because they always make an excuse why they can’t go on some gatherings… thus at the end of the day, some moms feel alone. #sadfact
Also this series reminds us that there might be things we can “plan” when you choose to become a mother but there’s no perfect way of becoming a mother… you learn each day and love with your own way.
My rate:
Story-5 (fresh concept for a series to focus on certain phase of life)
Lovestruck in the City/City Couple’s Way of Love: My Lovely Camera Thief
Kakao TV/Tuesday & Friday, 17:00
📸 Kakao TV
Casts:
Ji Chang Wook as Park Jae Woon
Kim Ji Won as Lee Eun O
Kim Min Suk as Choi Kyung Joon
Ryu Kung Soon as Kang Goon
So Ju Yeon as Seo Rin Yi
Synopsis:
Park Jae-Won (Ji Chang-Wook) is an architect with a passionate and honest personality. He enjoys the small streets in the city and collecting different things. He does not forget the woman who stole his heart and disappeared.
In the present day, Jang Bong-Hwan works as a chef at the President’s Blue House. He has a free spirit, but his spirit somehow finds its way into the body of Queen Kim So-Yong (Shin Hye-Sun) in the Joseon period.
A love story between Ki Sun-Gyeom (Im Si-Wan) and Oh Mi-Joo (Shin Se-Kyung).
Ki Sun-Gyeom was once a popular sprinter for the national team. Due to a case, he quit the sport. He then begins to work as a sports agent. Meanwhile, Oh Mi-Joo writes subtitle translations for movies. She was thrilled when she first she her name as a translator during the end credits. She meets Ki Sun-Gyeom, who just quit being a sprinter. She feels they were destined to meet.
Set towards the end of the Joseon era, Sung Yi-Gyeom (Kim Myung-Soo) placed first in the state examination and he now works at the Hongmungwan (administrative and research department). He doesn’t have a goal or ambition for his life. One day, Sung Yi-Gyeom is caught gambling. As punishment, he is assigned to work as a secret royal inspector. His job is to eradicate illegal acts and corruption by public officers. He carries out his new job with the help of Hong Da-In (Kwon Na-Ra) and Park Chun-Sam (Lee Yi-Kyung). Hong Da-In is a female inspector and solves cases with Sung Yi-Gyeom. Park Chun-Sam is Sung Yi-Gyeom’s servant. Park Chun-Sam is talkative, affectionate, and tearful.
The Korean Business Research Institute has revealed this month’s brand reputation rankings for drama actors!
The rankings were determined through a data analysis of the media coverage, participation, interaction, and community indexes of 50 actors who appeared in dramas that aired between October 28 and November 28.
Kim Seon Ho, who is currently starring in tvN’s “Start-Up,” topped this month’s list with a brand reputation index of 6,024,503 for November. High-ranking phrases in the actor’s keyword analysis included “Suzy,” “popular,” and “2 Days & 1 Night,” while his highest-ranking related terms included “confess,” “vanquish,” and “suspicious.” Kim Seon Ho’s positivity-negativity analysis revealed a score of 82.40 percent positive reactions.
Nam Joo Hyuk came in second place for November with a brand reputation index of 5,787,606, while “Tale of the Nine-Tailed” star Lee Dong Wook followed at a close third with a total index of 5,503,107.
IU who just celebrated her 12th Anniversary in the biz has just been chosen by the men’s fashion magazine GQ Korea’s Woman of the Year. In the interview for the magazine, she talked about her musical career, her insomnia, self-love and her upcoming album.
It was mentioned that IU have already written 54 songs. IU said that out of these songs she can immediately think of “Knees”, “Heart” and “BBIBBI” as ones she’s proudest of. The reporter said that she mentioned in Yoo Hee Yeol’s Sketchbook how Knees was written about adults who can’t sleep at night.
📸 GQ
IU said that she’s been suffering from insomnia since she was 20 and the hospital said that she’s not able to sleep at night because she’s on guard against something. The singer-songwriter, actress said that she’s trying to follow a steadier routine these days where she wakes up around 9-10AM and sleeps around midnight unlike before where her sleep patterns were crazy.
📸GQ
IU also talked about herself in terms of “self-love” and “self-esteem”. The singer said that it was only late that she realized that self-love and self-esteem are two different things. She loves and cherish herself but she still feels that she’s lacking. She said that whether she’s lacking or not, she love herself.
📸 GQ📸GQ
IU said that they are already preparing for an album. She plans to release it next year and the concept will be greeting/farewell because it will be her last album in her twenties.
📸 GQ📸GQ
IU said that since she debuted when she was 18, people have seen her since her mid-teens, but her whole twenties have been spent in the spotlight.
I wanted to share a word of greeting/farewell to those who have been watching over me… not in a sorrowful way, but in a bright way!
Seo Do Won is a detective that lost Han Seo Kyung, his love. In order to find the truth about her death, he crosses the boundary into another world.
THE FEELS:
If you like mystery and crime drama, Train will not disappoint.
What I liked about it was it kept me fictating at first who was the culprit, I found myself “talking” to Do Won that he should realize that if there’s 2 version of him and Seo Kyung, he should also take into account the “versions” of the culprit.
I was saddened by Ms. Oh’s part in the crime, not only because we were namesake, but also because how Do Won have high regards of her. In Do Won’s World A, she took care of him as if her own child (unknowing of the hidden intention).
I especially loved the final episode when everything came to light. I also love the conversation between the culprit mother-son convo:
“ if you were truly my mom, you should have put your handcuff on me. You should have stopped me. Until when will you let me turn into a monster?”
That would be an eye-opener for any parents. How is it to protect or love your child? When they are doing things that they should not do, do we protect them by hiding their faults and their flaws OR do we protect them by making them pay for the consequences of their actions?
In terms of acting, Yoon Si Yoon was great. He had these two unique aura for Seo Do Won A and B. And it was not just the hairstyle that changed, but even how the eyes glare or look, was different. So kudos to Si Yoon’s great acting (as usual).
The only downside I find in this series is that the FL seems lacking in many aspects (apologies to Soo Jin stans). As a prosecutor in World A and as a detective in World B, she lacks the “energy” and “charisma” of a strong woman who’s seeking for justice and/or revenge. And I know that there were no skinship whatsoever, but because her energy was low most of the times in the series, I did not feel any chemistry between the two leads.
Last note and question for the viewers as well: If you knew your fate, what will you do differently in the other world? Would you avoid the things that have hurt you and your loved ones in the other world? Or would you try and change things with the hope it will be a different fate this time?
I also liked the idea that in the last scene they showed a different universe wherein there’s a world C. It made us, the viewers want more.
📸 kpopmap
Story-5
Pacing-5
Acting-4 (Si Yoon was great but the FL is lacking)
These were emotional scenes where I can’t help but ugly cry.
Dosan foregoing his pride with the guy he’s most competitive with for halmeoni’s sake
📹 tvN no copyright infringement intended
Jipyeong witnessing firsthand how Noongil was helping halmeoni and that halmeoni is indeed losing her sight… and he reflects towards his words and realizes his flaws.
📹 tvN no copyright infringement intended
Jipyeong refuting halmeoni’s claim that he is a good boy. Here you can see that he’s still trying to put up walls as a defense mechanism out of shame— for not knowing her condition and for being helpless at that time.
📹 tvN no copyright infringement intended
Halmeoni once again opens up the wall and heart of Jipyeong. Jipyeong’s apologies, his cries really made my eyes and heart cry! 😭 I love every scene with Jipyeong and halmeoni!
📹 tvN no copyright infringement intended
Episode 12 showed the viewers the reality of Start-Ups it’s just sad that I see comments on Facebook still blaming Han Jipyeong for not helping Samsam Tech.
Chingus, in the real world, billionaires don’t just spend money like that. Let’s say that Jipyeong cares for Dalmi (we are not even sure how much is his total net worth) but he can’t spend 6B won just to help out the company for an error their “leaders” made. Let’s remember that he tried to stop that from happening but the emotional Yongsan stopped him. It was him trying to help Samsam Tech there but at that time, they didn’t was his help. Dosan doesn’t want him to be the Plan B nor Yongsan doesn’t want him to interfere. Is it still his fault?
He did tried to talk to Alex (of 2STO) about Noongil when he learned of halmeoni’s condition right? Here you can see him putting an effort… why? because it’s not like him to ask favors… also, he has to put his ego down to ask someone to continue supporting a product that he initially thought that wasn’t going to work. He is letting his emotions rule this time.
Based from the episode 13 preview, many are already hoping that Jipyeong has a chance at Dalmi’s heart after 3 years. I wouldn’t go that far. I think when the preview showed Jipyeong saying that he has the right when Dosan asked him if he could talk to Dalmi, I’m not sure but I think it’s a right other than romantic. As an investor or business partner maybe?
4 more episodes to go and we know lots can still happen in that time. Let’s enjoy watching the rest of the episodes!
Yong Dong Jin, a military dog handler, has only weeks left until his discharge from military when a special mission was created to hunt down a mysterious target in the Secror 21 of the DMZ area. The group will be joined by Son Ye Rim, an elite officer of the KCST, and Dong Jin’s ex lover.
THE Feels:
Search started out pretty interesting for me. With a military concept fused with the unnatural, I was drawn to the story.
I believe that this series would have been better if they added more episodes as there were questions that were left unanswered after its 10th episode:
-Yoon Park’s character. Why was he supposed to be incarcerated before going to the special mission. What crime did he commit? Or did he have a fight with the higher ups? Was he fighting for something- a secret he wanted to reveal, a plot that he was planning or was he just a problematic soldier that needs to be disciplined? I think there’s more to his character that was unexplained.
-Why did Dong Jin and Ye Rim broke-up? There was a slight hint that they fought because Dong Jin is sensitive when his father was mentioned but that was just about it. Them being exes really didn’t bring anything to the story. They seem and acted like just any other former colleagues who knew each other a little well.
-Ye Rim being the daughter of the North Korean defectors. In the start, it looks like that’s one big plot that will have to be unraveled in the end but the revelation turned out to be just an in passing scene.
There were nice things about the drama though:
-Casting was great.
Yeon Woo Jin as Jang Dong Yoon’s father is a great choice because they both have this aura of boyish yet manly charms.
Krystal Jung as an elite officer. I think Krystal’s naturally cold demeanor makes her great for roles like this.
Jang Dong Yoon, Yoon Park and Lee Hyun Wook also did great jobs in their roles.
-Kim Da Jung’s character was interesting. I like her scenes how from being a tour guide she was a fighting machine who came from an elite squad.
-Mac! Search. I like how even after Mac’s retirement in the military he was still with Dong Jin.
My takeaway from this series? Not everything we know is the truth. There are truth that are hidden in lies that were made to be facts. Be vigilant.
