'Start-Up' Episode 3 Review: Ji-pyeong, Nam Do-san might both fall in love with Dal-mi, hide truth from her
'Start-Up' episode 3 begins with Seo Dal-mi meeting the real Nam Do-san at the party that is arranged by Dal-mi's sister In-jae. She had only asked him for a favor - to accompany as her date just to ensure that her mother or her sister wouldn't pity her and the choice she made in the past. However, it is after meeting her mother that Dal-mi ends up becoming entirely emotional about how this woman, who was supposed to be her mother, abandoned her and now seems to expect some kind of heartwarming reunion. When Dal-mi ends up betting with her sister that she will ensure that she is a lot more successful than her in three years, her mother creates confusion by telling her that she is rooting for her and hopes she would win. This confuses Dal-mi further and that is how she ends up in tears in front of Do-san. The fact that she trusts him enough to open up to him and tell him about her family, plus the fact that she is proud of him is what makes Do-san also interested in her. Initially, he had done this as an exercise to find himself an investor through Han Ji-pyeong. Now though, he is interested in her without any ulterior motives.
In-jae, on the other hand, believes that her sister will not succeed despite working hard for three years. However, what she is not aware of is the fact that her father, or in this case, her adopted father, has other plans for his company is something that she didn't expect. She is putting a lot of pressure on herself hoping to inherit the company, but of course, her father also has a son who is eligible of taking the company over. The question lies in his capability and this is exactly what her mother had warned In-jae about. However, despite working harder than everyone and being talented, she is left in the dust because she was not related by blood to her father.
While In-jae is trying her best to hold on to the position that she had held all this while, her sister attempts to break free of the position that she had held in her company where she was employed as a contract worker. She was promised a permanent post, however, because they tried to use her, she believes that it is time to not let others push her around. She quits and heads straight to Do-san's and tells him that he is her inspiration and tells him that she feels comfortable in her decision because of him. She also tells him that she now plans on beginning a company of her own, just as he had done. She is not aware of how he is still struggling, and has signed up to be in the same competition as Dal-mi and surprisingly, In-jae as well.
Turns out, In-jae is sick and tired of currying favor with her adopted father and this time, for once and for all, she decides to let go of his connections and attempts to make it on her own. Will she do it the right way or will she attempt to ruin Dal-mi in the process of proving herself right? While we wait to learn what happens, we have a great idea for a thank you video if in the future we require one thanks to Do-san's acceptance speech video that he made after winning first place in CODA. In fact, Ji-pyeong believes that Do-san even has a chance at winning at Sandbox because he has made it in CODA and this brings about a change in Ji-pyeong's original plans. Initially, he was all for telling Dal-mi the truth, but now, it turns out he wants to let her continue to dream and believe that the Nam Do-san who was her pen pal is the same man who she has met recently. By the end of it, what is clear is that both Ji-pyeong and Do-san might be falling for Dal-mi. Where is this leading?
'Start-Up' will air on tvN on Saturdays and Sundays at 9 pm KST, and can be streamed on Netflix in the US.