'Start-Up' Ending Explained: Do-san and Dal-mi's love story is not perfect, but that is exactly what we needed
'Start-Up' from the beginning was about a young group of people following their dreams, their dreams of starting a business of their own and changing the world with technology. It was not about how two people ended up falling in love, and neither was it centered on the animosity between two sisters that spurned them off on a new eye-opening journey. These were the subplots of a show that wanted to tell the audience the story of how young people around the world struggle to make their dreams come true. It highlights the problems that youngsters with privilege have foreshadows the same problems that people who do not have the same privilege have and the brilliant parallel is drawn using Seo Dal-mi and her sister Won In-jae.
'Start-up' imagines a world where instead of stopping their kids from playing on the swings because of possible danger, the parents made a pit of sand that would help their kid's fall lighter and less painful. It is about finding people to believe in you, to follow your lead, and dream the same dream as you so that all of you as a team could work towards achieving your dreams in your waking hours. This may sound ideal, but that is what the show doesn't glorify. 'Start-Up' is not about workplace Utopia; so while the ideas and themes behind each episode may sound idealistic, it comes with its fair share of flaws and problems.
Speaking of the show as a whole, Do-san as a character was less fleshed out than the second lead in the show Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho). Especially in episodes 8-12, Do-san was nothing more than a boyfriend filled with insecurities. Of course, all of this got better towards the end of the show but Ji-pyeong's character and his dynamics with Halmeoni will be the best thing about this show. The acceptance, insecurity, jealousy, and even the doubt that Ji-pyeong initially has upon hearing that the bank account has been closed and cleaned out is presented in a way that goes straight to your heart. Even the relationship that Ji-pyeong has with Yeong-sil, his AI speaker that he had refused to invest in, is strangely endearing. For a man who is used to living his life alone, with no companions, or family; his dependence on a piece of tech that he claims to be flawed gives us more insight into who Ji-pyeong is as a person than anything else.
All of this thought came together in the last episode of 'Start-Up' as episode 16 begins with the interview that Director Won had set up, to ruin the reputation of Dal-mi, In-jae, and Do-san's company. After Dal-mi succeeds in getting the permit for the self-driving car with flying colors, Morning AI's team is not confident. Considering how they had poached the developers from working under Dal-mi, it is clear that they are not ready to lose to In-jae and Dal-mi as much as the sisters don't want to lose against this man. He is a figure who is the exact opposite of Dal-mi's father and that includes his business ethics as well. However, after having been manipulated by 2STO once, both Dal-mi nor Do-san are cautious. We saw how Do-san had figured out the connection between hostname Artemis and Apollo, the Greek Gods who also happened to be twins, and connected it to the developers who worked with Dal-mi before. Do-san very quickly realizes that the ransomware that Dal-mi's company had been attacked by was a set up by Morning AI.
So instead of directly speaking to Director Won and negotiating as they did in the past. They go to the authorities and begin an investigation into the ransomware attack with the proof that they have. This careful thought and consideration that both Do-san and Dal-mi put into their actions are the result of the failures and obstacles that they had faced in the past and thereby, all of the troubles that came their way explains how Dal-mi and Do-san were able to emerge victorious. So their win is valid and realistic, instead of it being a melodramatic moment. This is also the reason why this Start-Up story is relatable and impactful. Yes, the main guy gets his girl. The second lead finds a way to move on from his one-sided love for her but instead finds a relationship that was unexpected but furthermore fulfilling and that happened after he met the person behind Yeongsil's voice.
The cameo by Yeo Jin-goo as Yeonsil's voice, and a Start-Up CEO who has an idea that would connect young orphans who are let go from their orphanage with little to no amount of money find sponsors who would help them adapt to the society. This is a call back to Ji-pyeong's own past when he had little money and no one to help him. It was at this point that he had met Halmeoni who had changed his life for the better. So he hopes to pay her favor forward. Life comes full circle moment for Ji-pyeong who seems more at peace with letting Dal-mi go.
Finally, we have Won In-jae, Dal-mi's sister who was drowning in guilt all this while for not choosing her father. She had however made it seem as if she did not regret her decision and had even tried to prove Dal-mi wrong for choosing her father. However, over time, she understood where she went wrong and before this, In-jae had touched a low that not many had expected her to. Which made this sibling patch up that took place later a lot more intriguing. The more time that In-jae spends with Dal-mi, it makes her realize how much she had loved being a part of the family and so she decides to return to them as Seo In-jae officially. Do-san's friends also find closure. Yong-san is better now after learning that his brother's death by suicide was not Han Ji-pyeong's fault and Chul-san sees his feelings for Sa-hye also get reciprocated. That is how everything was wrapped in a pretty box!
'Start-Up' and can be streamed on Netflix in the US.
